Billy Law is that guy from MasterChef Australia. Or that guy from popular Australian food/photography/travel blog, A Table for Two. Yes, that guy, the cool Asian-Australian with the cheeky grin, infectious energy and fondness for checked shirts.
But now Billy Law is also that guy who published a cookbook.
Have You Eaten? is Billy’s first book and it covers his culinary journey from growing up in Ipoh, Malaysia, to landing in Sydney, Australia and learning to cook. It’s a gorgeous book full of mouth-watering photography, eye-catching design and Billy’s trademark enthusiasm.
Like Billy, my father was born in Malaysia (Penang) and came to Australia to study. So Billy’s book was a poignant read for me as it featured so many great Western dishes as well as Malaysian favourites like Curry Laksa, Har Mee (Prawn Noodle Soup), Nasi Lemak (Coconut Rice) and Char Kway Teow (Fried Rice Noodles).
Curious to learn more about the man behind the book I recently asked Billy a few questions.
Congratulations on your first cookbook, Billy! How did it all come about?
Thanks Christina! Remember I first met you earlier this year for Tasting Australia in Adelaide? I met my publisher Paul McNally exactly at the same event two years ago and became good friends. I didn’t tell anyone that I was on Masterchef last year, then he saw me on TV cooking up a storm and next thing I know I received an email from Paul asking me whether I’d be interested to write a cookbook with Hardie Grant. The rest is history. It all happened very fast; we started the project in Oct 2011 but then everything has to be put on hold during Christmas season. In Jan 2011, that’s when everything was going ahead in full swing and it took me five months to write, cook, test, photoshoot everything until is finished. It was hard work but rewarding, especially when I have to cook at least 15 recipes a week!
When you sat down to think about which recipes to include, how did you decide which dishes made the cut?
It was difficult to decide which recipes to include in the cookbook. I guess ‘Have You Eaten?’ covers some of my favourite dishes that I grew up with in Malaysia and also the dishes that I learned to cook while living in Australia. So the cookbook is a nice balance of Malaysian and Western recipes that everyone can relate to.
Which of the cookbook recipes are you most proud of? Which of your recipes do your friends and family like the most?
The recipe that I am most proud of has to be my mum’s vinegar braised pork belly: I’m calling it now to be my last meal. I think my friends would love the roast pork belly with crunchy cracklings. Who doesn’t love it, right?
Your photography is stunning, Billy. How did you learn about photography? Did you ever imagine it would be such a big part of your life now?
I am a self-taught photographer, just like cooking. I bought my first camera when I was 14 years old with my own pocket money that I saved up. It was a fully manual SLR film camera, the best way to learn all the technicalities about photography. I like to be creative all the time, whether is photography, cooking or even web design (my old job). It is the best way to express myself.
You share your expertise and knowledge of photography via your food photography workshops. Are there three key tips you can share with us today?
My three tips – learn how to white balance, the photos should always tell a story, and lastly, learning how to edit and retouch photos goes a long way.
A lot of people must think, Billy lives such a charmed life – he gets invited to all these amazing food events and writes cookbooks etc etc. But it’s actually hard work, isn’t it? I know from the Tasting Australia famil that you were constantly working, even when some of the journos were sleeping on the bus. How many hours would you estimate you work each week?
Haha! Too many hours! It’s difficult to sum up my weekly activities at the moment because it is all over the place! Lately I’ve been juggling with way too many projects – the book launch, cooking classes, pop up dinner events, and there is still a food blog that I have to keep it active the whole time! Food events are the icing on the cake where I get to network with people from the industry, but once is all over, that’s when the homework starts. It usually take 2 to 3 days to write a post and I can do 3 – 5 posts per event, so it is not all fun and games.
What has been your most memorable food-related trip this year? What made it so special?
This year will have to be Tasmania trip. I’ve visited Tasmania twice about seven years ago and my recent trip has made me fall in love with this tiny island down south all over again. The objective of the trip was to showcase some of the best produce this island has to offer. I got to meet and talk to the locals, farmers, bakers, fishermen, to find out where the food come from, the whole experience made me appreciate and respect food even more!
When you hit the ground in Malaysia do you head for your local hawker stall or a fine dining restaurant? What do you order?
Definitely hawker stall! I think is like a ritual, desanitise myself with a plate of Char Kuey Teow and then wash it down with a bowl of Ice Kachang, there’s simply no other way.
Now back to the kitchen. Are they any cooking tools or gadgets that you consider essential?
Sharp knife is a must, my KitchenAid food mixer, stick blender with a small bowl attachment, a scale, a spatula, oh and chopsticks. I use chopsticks a lot – to stir, drain, whisk, you name it.
What time of day do you typically cook and shoot?
Depends on the dishes that I am cooking. If it is a dessert like a cake, I can cook any time because it will keep well till the next morning then I can shoot it during the day time when there is better natural lighting. I rarely shoot my dinner unless is a big pot casserole dish, then I can always save some in the fridge and reheat again the next day for the shoot. If I am on assignment to do the shoot, then I cook early in the morning and shoot in the afternoon before the sun goes down.
Who is your favourite dining companion and why?
I only have one regular dining companion, who is my partner AKA The Pom, hence my blog A Table For Two. HA! He eats everything I cook really, even just one bite on something that he really hates! LOL.
What’s next for you and A Table for Two?
Funny you asked this question as I’ve been thinking about this a lot recently. Since I am now slowly converting myself to work in the food industry, I slowly understand the hard work and effort that restaurateurs and chefs have put into running a restaurant, so I will be gradually doing less restaurant reviews. Also, since I am planning to open a restaurant myself in the near future, I don’t think it is the right thing for me to review others.
Have you Eaten? is currently available at all good book stores.
Win Have You Eaten? by Billy Law:
Thanks to Hardie Grant, I have one (1) copy of Have You Eaten? to give away.
- This competition is open to Australian residents only.
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All images are of Have You Eaten? by Billy Law. I took photos of Billy’s book i.e. they’re photos of his photos.
