food
Malaysian-born food-sharing service lets you dine in a stranger’s home
Travellers and locals alike come together for an authentic dinner like no other. – October 14, 2015.Not sure where to eat? Why not try inviting yourself for a meal in someone else's home?
Dubbed the AirBnB for food, PlateCulture is a food-sharing service which offers patrons a chance to dine in a stranger's kitchen, experiencing both the culture and the personal touch that goes into every home-cooked meal.
Founded in Malaysia in 2013 by Lithuanian Reda Stare, PlateCulture works by connecting passionate home cooks with foodies who are interested in a cosy home-cooked meal with an adventurous twist.
Home chefs set up a profile and wait for PlateCulture ambassadors to pay them a visit for a dinner experience. The chefs are then verified and ready to serve waiting guests.
“The ambassadors try out the food, talk with the chef and also look around. All this is with the purpose to give the first review and rating and to help future guests to choose,” said Reda, an avid traveller and foodie.
Once their profiles are approved, home chefs will set a price and the menu, and interested foodies can simply choose the ones that suit their preferences.
“PlateCulture was born from personal experiences when I had an opportunity to travel for a year through Southeast Asia and India,” Reda told The Malaysian Insider in an interview recently.
She said she first got the idea for PlateCulture when she was invited for a traditional dinner in Kerala, India.
”Our host prepared amazing homemade South Indian dishes, which I haden‘t tried over my whole two moths in India. It was one of those amazing evenings when you get to taste the best food and see all the culture from inside,” she said.
Bridging cultural gaps
PlateCulture also acts as a platform to bridge the gap between different people and cultures. One one hand, it lets travellers meet new friends and enjoy food the way locals would have it.
On the other, locals who are interested in trying out a new cuisine can find authentic renditions of it without having to visit a restaurant or leave the country.
Diners share not only a meal, but their cultures and experiences too. – October 14, 2015.It does away with the middleman, which in this case is the restaurant, and takes you right to the heart of the food in someone's kitchen, making for an authentic and intimate experience. After all, nothing brings people together like a good meal.
“It is not only about the food but also about people getting together and sharing the culture over the plate,” Reda said.
“Well-cooked risotto is really hard to get. And the biggest surprise was that it was prepared by Alex who lives in Kuala Lumpur and originally is from Penang,” she said of one of the best meals she's had on her PlateCulture adventures, showing just how cross-cultural exchanges can happen.
In fact, Reda herself will be hosting an event in Lithuania where she will be preparing some Malaysian dishes.
Breaking through Southeast Asian borders
According to Reda, PlateCulture fits perfectly in Malaysian culture because of the country's multiculturalism and wide use of English.
Since its inception, the dining-sharing experience has expanded to 24 countries in Southeast Asian and beyond.
“I believe it works great in Southeast Asia as people here are really friendly and value their food culture,” she said. – October 14, 2015.
You can try out PlateCulture for yourself at www.plateculture.com or through their app on your Android phone. An iOS app is currently in the works.
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