I was very excited to get a message from a friend in London who was taking her man out for his birthday dinner to Mandalay, which is a very good Burmese restaurant in London, one of the few Burmese restaurants outside of Myanmar in the world. There is also a very good one in San Francisco and a couple in New York, if anyone else knows of any others, please let me know!

Burmese food is really it’s own thing and I highly recommend trying it out if you get a chance. Kat’s message follows:

I just got back from the restaurant and the food was fantastic! I had that coconut chicken noodle soup (Kaukswe) that you recommended and it was divine! It reminded me a bit of Penang Laksa only better ‘cus they use chicken breast which I prefer! So no bones or funny offal stuff that you sometimes get in noodle dishes. I had battered veg for starters a bit like tempura and some lovely chicken samosas. For dessert I had a tapioca pudding in coconut milk (a bit like Gula Melaka) and Jake had a lovely semolina cake (pictured above).

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One of my favorite places to get this cake in Yangon is at at little hole-in-the-wall fresh coffee shop on Sule Pagoda Road. In Burmese this cake is called San Win Ma Kin.

• 1/2 c semolina (substitute cream of wheat)
• 1/2 c sugar
• 1 c coconut cream
• 1 c warm water
• 3 eggs (beaten)
• 1/4 t salt
• 2 T clarified butter (ghee)
• 2 T raisins
• 2 T poppy seeds

Method: Toast semolina until golden, mix in sugar and water. Let stand 30 minutes. Beat eggs and add to mixture.

Heat clarified butter in a large pan add semolina mixture and cook stirring constantly until thick. Add the raisins, coconut cream and salt and 1 T poppy seeds, keep stirring for about 5 minutes and the mixture leaves the sides of the pan.

Put into cake pan smooth and brush with butter and sprinkle with remaining poppy seeds. Bake at 180 degrees F for 15 minutes until top is golden. Add caramelized coconut as a topping.

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This recipe was found in an old out of print community recipe collection. Very delicious and creamy, it is a variation on creme brulee and was served at the Hotel St. Regis in New York by Chef Paul Moreau.

Serves 4-6

• 4 c milk
• 1 t vanilla extract
• ½ c semolina
• 3 egg yolks
• ½ c sugar
• ¼ c raisins
• fruit compote

Method: Boil milk with vanilla, add semolina and cook gently until mixture thickens.

Beat egg yolks with sugar and gradually add semolina, stirring briskly with a beater. Return to heat for 2-3 minutes and fold in the raisins.

Press into a small mold that has been well buttered and sprinkled with sugar.

Bake in a very hot oven (500 degrees F) for a few minutes to caramelize the surface. Remove from mold.

Decorate with slices of compote or fruit.

Just before serving sprinkle with Kirsch and set aflame. Serve with a sauce of apricots.

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