by FH2o on August 8, 2008
My latest Sarawak Laksa discovery in Kuching @ 98 Kopitiam, Tabuan Jaya Baru. Yummy!
I do love my laksa (amongst other things), so when a friend alerted me to this new Sarawak Laksa stall which he claims is comparable to my favourite laksa stall at Chong Choon, Abell Road; I immediately arrange to meet up with him to have lunch there.
Let me cut to the chase – its bloody good! And it’s a bargain too at RM3.50 with generous servings of prawns and the all important gravy. Sure the “bee-hoon” (rice vermicelli) was slightly overcooked (too soft) and they had just run out of coriander which to a true Sarawak Laksa connoisseur is a must-have garnishing.
I think their business can only get better with the eagerly awaited (by all Kuching IT geeks) opening of OneTJ ICT, Kuching’s equivalent of KL’s Low Yat Plaza for all things IT, in October 2008 which is just next door.
And as if it’s an omen of more good Sarawak Laksa discoveries to come; I woke up the next day to a brilliant ‘Sarawak Laksa’ coloured sky the next morning! Here’s wishing that great discoveries awaits you this weekend. Whatever.
Sarawak Laksa coloured sky in Kuching. 7th August 2008
by admin on January 29, 2008
On account of work and other factors, I’ve been away from the waters for nearly a month now. This is a deplorable situation and if I don’t kayak soon I think my spirit will be toast! *sigh*
What sustains me on the kayaking bit is Huey’s juicy dangling carrot of ‘paddling the super volcano’ in March which I’m hoping that all will go accordingly to plans and which you’ll get to read all about it here that’s for sure … eventually!
The ‘toast’ sustenance bit is easy - what with “Kayak & Toast” opening their 4th outlet in Satok in addition to their existing outlets at Central Park, Petanak (where I frequent due to easy parking and spacious airy interior - they’re not air-conditioned) and Tabuan Jaya. In conjunction with the Satok outlet opening they have also launched the latest addition to their menu, the traditional and much loved Malaysian dish, Nasi Lemak Special and Tuna Sandwich.
For the ignorant ‘angmohs‘ amongst you - the Nasi Lemak Special comprise of rice steamed with coconut milk accompanied by sambal, marinated chicken drumstick, fried egg, peanuts, anchovies, pickles and topped with papadum cracker. Yeah, all the right ingredients designed to raise your blood cholesterol! So if you’re health conscious or “kia-si”, stick to the Tuna Sandwich made up of bread filled with tuna, garden-fresh salad greens and cucumber - or at least that’s what Kaya & Toast’s director, Joseph Tan claims. But don’t take his or my words for it - go check them out yourself and their prices wouldn’t break the bank either.
by FH2o on January 20, 2008
The best ‘Yew Char Kueh’ in town can be found at Petanak Market.
While most school kids their age are still sleeping in bed on the weekend mornings, the Goh sisters (form 2 and 4) who are studying at Kuching High School are already up before sunrise and are busy taking charge of their parent’s ‘Yew Char Kueh’ stall on the first floor of Petanak Market; making as well as selling them.
The best example of fine young people can also be found at the “Yew Char Kueh’ stall, 1st floor, Petanak Market
While I relish their delicious ‘Yew Char Kueh’ (which stays crispy and not soggy), I am more in admiration of these two girls whom in this day and age are true gems sparkling of sacrifice, enterprise and grit. All the more so with their cheerful disposition and proud that they are the third generation in the family tradition of making ‘Yew Char Kueh’ - their uncle has a stall in Green Road, an auntie with another in the 7th Mile and on Saturdays at the Satok Sunday Market. Somehow I feel that with their education and qualities; this would likely be the last of the Goh generation to be selling ‘Yew Char Kueh’ - unless they make a franchise out of it,
Note: I love my Yew Char Kueh lightly toasted (to make it crispy) and spread with kaya on top - dunked into freshly brewed hot coffee, it’s simply divine!
by FH2o on January 16, 2008
A fool’s avenue for expensive hawker food in a loud & sweaty place in Kuching.
NOTE: I think I’d better moan about something else other than work today lest I turn into a boring old bore … so I’ll moan about something else today!
Some places you’ll probably visit just once or twice (or never again!) - and this is one of them!
‘Food Avenue’ is basically a pimped-up outdoor food court with the same average hawker food you find in coffee shops or hawker center - except with pimped up prices! With a ‘glorified’ sounding name like ‘avenue’ in a down to earth like Kuching; what do you expect? Expensive bland tasting empty calories that gives hawker food a bad name I would say. I saw a ‘Wi-FI’ sign - so presumably ‘free’ wi-fi is available although I do not find it conducive to do any web surfing in the non-airconditioned place in the daytime.
There’s huge projection screen which should please football fans or those who just want an excuse to hang out with their beer mates. If you are one of them then head towards 4th Mile Road and it’s just after Boulevard facing ‘Everise’. And you wouldn’t find me there!
by admin on January 9, 2008
It was not planned but this morning I became the first walk-in customer to “Chicago 7″, a new fast food ‘restaurant’ which just opened their doors for their ‘soft opening’ a day ahead of the opening of “The Spring”, apparently the greatest, largest and best shopping center in town, and which is eagerly awaited by all the country bumpkins Kuching folks!
The latest fast food restaurant, at 2 1/2 Mile Rock Road, to open in Kuching
I was looking for a parking space near my office but couldn’t find one and had to go round the block where I spotted an empty space in front of “Chicago 7″ which occupies the last 2 units in that row of shophouses (where MayBank used to be). They had been undergoing renovation works for the past few months and this morning though it was empty it looked open with a few staff at the counter; so being the ever busybody curious person that I am, I walked in to check it out. They were open and I ordered a cup of cappuccino as it was too early in the morning to have a burger or fried chicken(!)
The duty manager told me that I was their first customer and while we were chatting one of the owners, Bernard Sim, walked in to welcome me as well. Bernard explained to me ‘Chicago 7′ is not a franchise as I originally thought but their own branding. Only the “broasters” are franchised from the U.S. “Chicago 7″ is just something catchy that he thought of - and nothing to do with 7 Chicago gangsters that I was speculating on or the 7 who were charged with conspiracy to riot during the 1968 Democratic National Convention. Even though I think that all fast foods are a conspiracy to undermine our health. Hmm
With the Chicago 7 crew and one of the owners, Bernard Sim. Even though I’m the one who looked like the ‘boss’ in the pictures!
