SKILLED: Youngest contestant wins laksa-making contest with ‘Laksa Kami’
LANGKAWI: NURUL Ashiqin Ismail, a 20-year-old student, beat 19 others in a laksa-making competition held during the inaugural Langkawi International Laksa Carnival recently.
Nurul Ashiqin scored 185 points with her version of laksa called Laksa Kami (Our Laksa), and walked away RM1,000 richer.
Her fellow competitors were all older than her, making her the youngest contestant in the competition.
"It was totally unexpected. It was my first time entering such a competition," said the final year art and design student at UiTM Merbok.
Nurul Ashiqin won over the panel of judges, comprising chef Shukri and chef Daisy Lee, with her laksa served in a carved-out pineapple.
On why she used pineapple as her "serving bowl", the Kuala Teriang native said the fruit was able to eliminate the fishy smell.
"My mother taught me how to cook this. She is my inspiration," she said.
Nurul Ashiqin added that she will use the money to fund her final-year project.
Thirty-eight-year-old Nur Asyikin Che Rahman finished second, and walked away with RM700, while Muhammad Nor Efendi Saidin, 26, one of only two men in the competition, went home with RM500.
The fourth- to 10th-placed contestants did not go home empty-handed, with each receiving RM150.
The competition, which took place on the second day of the carnival, saw the 20 contestants competing in a battle of the cooks. Divided into two groups of nine and 11 contestants respectively, each person was given 20 minutes to come up withhis or her version of laksa.
The three-day carnival was organised by the Langkawi Development Authority.
A contestant stands by as Shukri (left) and Daisy Lee sample her laksa.
A contestant making her laksa dish before an audience.
With two giant prawns, this woman is certainly catching the attention of the crowd.
Nurul Ashiqin Ismail, 20, who eventually won over the judges, preparing her laksa dish.
Delailah Abdullah, 53, from Kuala Lumpur presenting her laksa to the judges.
The winning Laksa Kami dish served in a carved-out pineapple.
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