Cover Build your best snack plate for the ultimate moreish meal (Image: Getty Images)
Build your best snack plate for the ultimate moreish meal (Image: Getty Images)
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The viral snack plate on TikTok has people exploring the art of mixing and matching ingredients. Here’s how you can make yours, and support your local businesses
Girl dinner this, savoury girl snack plate that. It’s never-ending in the world of TikTok, and as of late, savoury foods have taken over. Snack plates filled with different pickles, cheeses, crackers, and dips have given rise to the world of mixing and matching ingredients—making condiments the hottest thing to have in your pantry.
What makes the snack plate so appealing? It’s an adventure. It’s about exploring flavour combinations and yet not being constricted to only one realm of flavours. Every single bite could be a different bite if you want it to be.
This festive season, make your hosting life easier by stocking your pantry with produce from these local producers. Their products not only make a great conversation starter, but also great gifts.
In case you missed it: Girl dinners: The coolest restaurants and cafes for small plates in the Klang Valley
Pick a Pickle
Run by a father and daughter, this duo has a line of condiments inspired by traditional Teochew pickling, giving it a modern, fusion twist. Their bestseller is the Garlic Pickle that is good enough to eat straight from the jar. Other options include pickled petai, and an extra funky bitter gourd pickle that pairs amazingly well with soft cheeses—who knew?! They are zesty, crunchy, and funky in all the best ways, and they certainly deserve a place on your savoury snack plate.
LocalPasar
“You are what you eat” is the guiding principle of this Malaysian brand, LocalPasar. The team behind LocalPasar is passionate about giving customers a direct line from you to the farmer, allowing you to trace the journey of your food from the farm to your plate. Ridiculously fresh, peak-season vegetables that can be delivered straight to your door, that are not only healthy, but also delicious.
Oylhaus
Kulim Oil is not an ingredient that many may know of, but it comes from a wild-harvested nut that is often referred to as bawang hutan, or jungle garlic. The flavour of this fruit lends a fresh garlic and earthy truffle flavour, and Oylhaus has made it into the perfect finishing oil for your meals. Drizzle it over your cheese, dip your breads in it, or enhance your sauces with this oil, giving you an automatic upgrade in flavour.
Babylon Vertical Farms
Babylon Vertical Farming is a hyper-local Malaysian brand growing high-quality, pesticide-free greens right in the heart of the Klang Valley. Upgrade your snack plate with microgreens—nutrient-dense and extremely flavourful. From sage and sweet basil, to huacatay, these fresh herbs easily add brightness and complexity to a meal and give it an instant gourmet boost.
D’Artisan Cheese
What snack plate is complete without cheese? This local KL-based cheesemaker is a pioneer in introducing local cheeses to the Malaysian palate. Whether you’re looking for burrata to pair with your tomatoes, or stracciatella for your sandwiches, they have it all. In their inventory exists not only classic cheeses, but also those with Malaysian flavours. Try out their kerabu, sambal, and rendang flavoured cheeses, or subscribe to their Cheese-of-the-Month Membership to get surprise cheeses delivered to you every month.
Find out more: The art of cheesemaking: How a husband and wife duo craft over 140 unusual varieties of cheese
Keandra's expertise lies within writing deep dives into the culture and anthropology of food, sometimes with a philosophical twist. With a background in London's F&B consultancy scene, she's excited to be back in Kuala Lumpur to champion the local dining scene.
Reach her at keandra.hing@tatlerasia.com, @keandruh
