M’sian chef a hit in Sydney

Long queue: Jackie M’s stall at the Hyde Park Noodle Market in Sydney.

DUBBED Australia’s high priestess in Malaysian cuisine by Time Out Sydney, Malaysian-born Jackie M has paved the way for authentic Malaysian food in Australia. Since humble beginnings serving Malaysian cuisine at Sydney’s Organic Food Markets on the weekends, the Seremban native has since become the chef with the second-widest reach on social media in Australia.

“When I started out, I operated my business on a shoestring — this meant no marketing budget and no recognition or write-ups in traditional media about my restaurant and other activities. I relied solely on word-of-mouth recommendations for business, and that was enough for me to enjoy generally brisk trade.