The Diang Biang Hu - Exotic of Sibu

 

The "Diang Biang Hu" stand along with Kampua and Kompia as the three representative of Sibu Foo Chow's culinary culture. Unlike the other two, the Diang Biang Hu receive relatively lesser attention in terms of fame. It is very rare to find this delicacy outside of Sarawak. There is a  stall at the narrow alley of Blacksmith street which is so synonym with this traditional delicacy. I had their version with extra ingredients added. Priced @ RM3 a bowl, it comes with pork slices, home made fish balls, cuttle fish, black fungus and golden needle flower.  ^^ 

 

As the name suggested "Diang" is the wok, "Biang as the side of the wok and "Hu" is the grinded rice paste.  The grinded rice paste will be splited to the pre-heat wok. This will form a thin layer across the wok. The "sifu" will then crush the layer of the rice goodness into the wok and cook it with soup before served with ingredients wanted.

Krim Soda in a Carlsberg recycle bottle. This is a "Made in Sibu" soft drink. A soft drink that I personally enjoy a lot when I was little. The "Zhu Jian" Sarsi and krim soda. Pure classic and only goes @ RM 1.20.

Dinner @ Rejang Park, Sibu

 

The neighborhood of Rejang Park used to be quite well-known among the gluttons in Sibu. The area was at it peak during the 80s and 90s. It was even the dating spot of my parents back in those days. My family used to live in this neighborhood before my younger brother was born.  We will still having our family dinner here every now and then. Most of the restaurant in this area serve their tables alfresco style. Which make it a perfect place for family gathering.

True enough that you can get better food around Sibu. As for my family, it is all about the nostalgic moments and getting together.

 

A mixed platter of fish fillet, yams and mixed vegs ala steamboat style. The price here is listed reasonably as well. The dinner came out to be RM60 for the five of us including fried rice, kuey teow, and some other vegetable dishes which were not included in the photos. Family reunion = Priceless.

Chicken Soup Mee Sua - First meal in the year of Tiger.

 

Chicken soup with mee sua has been so synonym to the Foo Chow in Sibu that we will have it without fail on the first day of the Lunar New Year as the first meal of the day. As for my family, we will have two boiled eggs in bowl of chicken broth or rather the essence itself. I just love my mom's chicken soup, the broth is rich and tasty enough for me to savor. And with a dash of Foo Chow red wine, it forms a perfect meal to kick start the year of Tiger in style.

Dinner @ Good Happiness Restaurant Sibu

  

I went to Good Happiness Restaurant last night with my family for an annal dinner of some Insurance firm. The dinner was set the way as in any usual Chinese wedding dinner will be. Or maybe rather in the favor of Sibuian Chinese. This was a dinner that I had long anticipated for. I had not been to such dinner for more than 5 years now and needless to say I miss it so so much.

  

Ever since I was little, I always get excited with the first course. The mix platter. It will usually be either a cold platter or a hot one. Good happiness restaurant has been thoughtful enough with their presentation. The lighting was switch off while the whole floor was only lighten up by the flame in the platter set.

  

And when the lighting resume, the platter was already 20% gone !!

  

The shark fin soup with very limited fins.

  

Grilled chicken. 

  

Steam "unknown" fish. Nian Nian You Yu.

  

 Mixed set of broccolis, mushrooms, squids, chickens, shrimps.

  

BBq pork with Kangkung. Yes..they served us kangkung too #@$%

  

Siow Bee(Dumpling) with Sweet Yam.

  

 And the dessert to round off.

  

The dinner was rather forgettable for me. But the organizing committee had been kind and thoughtful enough to instead giving out RM 1 in an Ang Pao to each and everyone of us. They opted for a Mega Toto lucky number. Which the return can be millions. Only if the lady luck is on your side. 

 

The Good Old Traditional Way of Char Kuey Teow

  

Sibu too, have their very own version of Char Kuey Teow. The mandarin description on the signboard indicating : Char Taugeh (Bean Sprouts) Kuey Teow. The stall is located in Aloha food court and judging by literally at least a plate on each table, you will know how well known their Kuey Teow is. When i was a primary school pupil, my father used to pack this version of char kuey teow very often for me. I still remember the "Da Bao" version usually been wrapped with newspaper. It is said that this method can actually keep the food warm.

  

Do not expect fancy ingredients such as cockles or prawns as in the Penang version. Our Char Kuey Teow is just as simple as how it should be. A lot of bean sprouts been fried together with egg and covered on the top of Kuey Teow. You have to mix the egg, bean sprouts and kuey teow with each of your serving. Lets us savor the very traditional way of Char Kuey Teow as much as how our parents used to enjoy it.

A plate of the medium portion is only priced @ RM2.50. ^^ 

Sugar Bun - The McDonald's of East Malaysia

  

I still remember there was this fast food restaurant right opposite Sacred Heart secondary school which was selling their hamburger at RM0.99 each. But none of this local fast food restaurant managed to sustain in this competitive industry. Sugar Bun as a fast food chain from Sarawak was the first of its kind in Sibu. They used to be Sibuian's favorite fast food right before McDonald's invasion. 

   

Sugar Bun has the status of the McDonalds of East Malaysia. They started off by just selling burgers and fried chickens. But now in order to stay competitive, their management bring in Asian fusion such as Nasi Lemak, Assam Fish Head, Char Kuey Teow, Claypot Rice plus western culinary including multiple kind of spaghetti. The comfy ambiance is just like any modern kopitian/fast food chain with WIFI connection at your convenience.  

 

Sugar Bun claimed their chicken are broasted fried instead of deep fried. It means that their chickens are been prepare on a pressure fryer. Broasted chicken  is said to be crispy on the outside and moist on the inside just like traditional fried chicken but less greasy.

 

So here we go, a piece of the broasted goodness to try on. It makes no different with any other fried chicken. But it was definitely above average. True as the description juicy from the inside.    

  

 Once a favorite of mine. Sugar Bun's signature fish fillet burger. I prefer theirs version than the McDonald's fillet-O-fish. Do not expect chunky fish patty as this is just a fillet. It is quite reasonably priced @ RM5.90 consider this rather inflated economy.

  

This is such a classic musical box. I reckoned you will only find this in both of the Sugar Bun chains. I used to insert RM 1 coin (when it was still in used maybe 12 years ago ?) into the machine in order to play my favorite tune. Those were the era of Backstreet boys and the SPICY girls. I wonder if this machine is still workable? Judged on its torn look, i highly doubt it. Yet another old time innovation failed to sustain in the fast pace reality.

Sibu Pasar Malam ( Night Market )

 

I decided to head down to the pasar malam (Night Market) tonight since there is no home cooking.

  

If you are in search for something exotic, you will be disappointed. The closest you can get here is the different parts of Oink Oink (Piggy) either braised or deep fried. As for the more adventurous gluttons, i will suggest you head to some of the Sunday Market in rural town. You might be able to get some rather exotic wild life there. 

  

Instead of the usual chicken or beef Satay, this stall serves chicken butt or if you call it the bishop's nose, chicken heart and liver Satay. Which i got myself one each to try out. It cost RM 1 per skewer. 

  

They also have these really big grilled fishes that I'm really tempted to try. Hmm...perhaps next time around.  

  

The Siow Bee/Siu Mai in Sibu. 5 for RM2.

  

The Tao Fu Hua. I prefer the one in Sibu here as they don't use caramelized sugar as their soup base. Hence less sweet.

  

I was rather disappointed at first. I thought it was just another porky Bun. Till i tasted this Chinese Sausage in it. Well, that was what I'm paying for anyway. The combination of Chinese sausage in Bao is something rather new to my taste bud. Not bad at all. 

I spent nearly 15 bucks on street food in the night market itself. This is rather on the high end as of Sibu's dining standard. I find the food rather disappointing. The Pasar Malam once was a crave for me but it does not suit my taste bud anymore. I wonder if i started to be picky on food ??

When a Sibu-ian Trying to Mimic Kuching's Kolo Mee..

I went to e-cafe for my breakfast today. Although I had been warned by SuiTuaPui’s post  that the kolo mee there is nothing near the original version, I still decided to give it a damn try instead of the recommended Laksa.  

  

True as what been described by SuiTuaPui, presentation wise it was perfect. Taste wise it was rather bias toward Sibuian's Kampua mee than the Kuching version. The only linking point that i noticed was the rather red in color sauce (red coloring from the so called char siew ?)  that they used to "lou" the noodles and some minced meat on top. I opted for extra "Bian Siek" with RM1 extra.  

  

A usual RM3 bowl will serve you with two pork balls, two fish balls, boiled red color meats (I'm not going to call that char siew) some minces and vegs. It was a great steal considering the amount of ingredients that you get @ RM3. Still rather pleasant to savor if you treat it as Kampua Special instead of Kolo Mee. As it just does not do our Kuching counterpart any justice.

  

On the other hand, i have been taking rather heavy lunch and dinner everyday. My mom will stuff her cooking full in a metal plate. I need to force myself with this portion for dinner even my lunch is only 20% digested in my stomach. The portion is just a little too huge that makes the process of savoring like a race against food. I know it is all about love. I know how much i will miss my mom's cooking again when I'm oversea. 

 

A Sibu-ian's Sunday

 

 Whenever I'm back in Sibu,  i will usually do things that i don't frequent. For instance, I wake up early to attend a Sunday mass. Well, not the one in Vatican City but St. Teressa's Church @ Sungai Antu.

 

Then I ordered Tomato Kuey Teow during my family lunch at Chui Shian Court. If i will to order my "Wa Tan Hor" in KL with tomato sauce i wonder what will be the respond from the "Dai Chow" Sifu ? And i paid only RM3.50 for this plate and what ?? Rm5.50 in KL ??

 

Fried fish fillet with Oat. My first affair on this was in Sibu too. It was like a new trend when i first had it 7 years ago. This version is everywhere now. We paid RM 7 here in Sarawak and what ??? RM15 in KL.

 

They named it three colors egg. Century egg + salted egg + your normal egg. Creative enough but taste wise it failed miserably.

 

The Yu Lung San Tien En Si Temple/Pagoda. One of the symbolic tourism spot here in Sibu. Only if we do have a tourism industry.

 

The ever mighty Rejang river. The heart and soul of the indigenous.

 

The Kong Piang sharing the same crown with Kampua as the pride of Sibu's Foo Chaow. The Kong Piang are usually served in two different version, dry and wet. I prefer the soggy wet version.

 

Five flavor soup. Light and refreshing. Its status is like the cup of tea during the English tea time.

 

By the night, i find myself hardly have an inch in my stomach for extra food. But i still forced myself with this flat noodles version of Kampua for supper. All simply because it is very cheap. RM 2.20 for a plate. How can i resist that ?

 

And NO...I'm not exotic enough to savor this good creature. I'm not a big animal lover. But this one is just too adorable.

Sibu...I Love You

 

Flying to the moon. Sibu, home sweet home. Ever since you step into that little boarding platform to Sibu, you will be flooded with Foo Chow dialect from both your left & right. When literally 90 % on the airplane are speaking Foo Chow, you know that you are on the right flight.

  

I call this little town, home because it brings me comfort, love and calmness.

  

My Mummy will stuff me with her home cooking which make me feels eating home is like a race against food. And just in case if you are wondering, i have my meal cook, not raw. 

  

Sibu is the only place that you can find pirated DVDs hanging/display on the rack as in nobody business. The usual rules and regulations do not work here ..... most of the time. ^-^

  

Sibu is so lovely that you have crystal clear blue sky.

  

That within a second, be expect to get yourself wet. It is so unpredictable.

  

Even the Sibuian's gecko/lizard like to drop their tail. 

 

 Kampua is like Sibuian's first love. It is not about how beautiful, how sexy she is. It is how she turn up to be your best companion whenever your sexual desire(Hunger) is on. We talk about memory, the sweetest memory of the first time. When we savour Kampua ever since as a toddler. First time is the deepest and i keep going back for more !!

Now you know how much I love Sibu.