Cover Henry Golding and Antoni Porowski pose with Peter in Batang Ai (Credit: National Geographic/Annice Lyn)
Henry Golding and Antoni Porowski pose with Peter in Batang Ai (Credit: National Geographic/Annice Lyn)
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The duo embarked across Borneo, celebrating Golding’s cultural heritage
In case you haven’t seen it all over social media, Queer Eye star Antoni Porowski and beloved actor of Iban descent Henry Golding were recently in Sarawak filming a key episode for No Taste Like Home, a docuseries that explores celebrity guests’ culinary roots. The pair explored Iban traditions, trying dishes associated with indigenous cultures of Borneo, travelling through longboats, and traversing jungles.
We speak to Porowski who shares about his exciting experience in Sarawak, his first time in Malaysia. He shares his favourite snack, some key ingredients that stood out to him, and what he hopes to experience when he comes back to Malaysia.
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Above Henry Golding and Antoni Porowski try Tuak
Henry Golding and Antoni Porowski try Tuak
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What were some of your favourite Malaysian dishes you tried?
Eating sticky, glutinous rice straight out of the bamboo. We would roll it in our hands, and have a bite with some of the sautéed local ferns and it was so delicious—the crunchiness reminded me of celery, the sweetness like apples, and the wild eggplant we tried was also so good.
Something that was very interesting was also durian, which I tried for the first time. I love funky and earthy flavour profiles and our camera operator said it tasted like sharp garlic and fresh Camembert. I also loved the fresh seafood, which we ate with torch ginger.
See also: ‘No Taste Like Home with Antoni Porowski’: A docuseries of delicious anthropology
Above Antoni Porowski
Antoni Porowski
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What was the most impactful moment for you while filming?
When we were in the jungle, we went to visit [Golding’s] maternal side who are Iban, and when we arrived at the longhouse, the locals all had offerings, so we delayed filming and walked through the communal space to introduce ourselves. Some of the kids stayed back from school and did a dance, the women were preparing food, and I noticed around 40 stainless steel pots.
[Golding] explained that every family, as a sign of generosity, had prepared rice, which I thought was so incredibly sweet, as these people had taken time out of their day without knowing us to do this. It was an environment like nothing we ever experienced, and while it was a shame we did not capture it on camera, some things are meant to be remembered as a memory.
What is something you learned from Golding during the episode?
I always felt [Golding] was incredibly connected to his roots as he has done documentaries on Ibans and even has traditional tattoos. I was nervous he was not going to be surprised but we found things he did not even know. It made me realise, even though I always thought he knew so much, we can never really reach an end point when it comes to learning about our heritage, and that really inspired me to learn more about my Polish heritage too.
What surprised you the most?
The heat. I was really hydrated but when I came out of one of the long boats, I felt curtains coming down on my eyes and I felt so dizzy from the humidity. It was next level!
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Something that you want to tell all Malaysians?
There are a lot of stigmas against indigenous tribes but there is also so much we can learn from them in terms of food culture, sustainability, and community. There is also a sense of generosity and values we should all adopt. I hope Malaysians see they have these wonderful traditions that are dwindling, and that it is a gift we should treat with kindness and respect.
What would you look forward to during your next trip back to Malaysia?
I used to work in a restaurant called Fatty Crab before which had amazing Malaysian food, from nasi lemak and beef rendang to chilli crab, and I would love to explore more of the street food in Kuala Lumpur and Penang and learn more about food practices here too.
The series can be streamed on Disney+ Hotstar.
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Katelyn is the dining and travel editor of Malaysia and Indonesia. Based in Kuala Lumpur, she offers readers an inside look at the movers and shakers in Asia’s growing food and beverage industry.
