KUCHING: The Kenyalang Food Fiesta 2023 presents a plethora of choices with 92 stalls set up at the carpark near Pandalela Rinong Aquatic Centre here.
Running from August 30 to September 3, this event offers a wide range of unique delicacies, from popular dishes to indigenous cuisine.
New Sarawak Tribune took a stroll through the festival grounds to explore the offerings of the Kenyalang Food Festival 2023.
The Duckq’s smoked duck burger
Smoked duck, a cherished classic in Chinese culinary traditions, undergoes a delightful transformation at The Duckq, thanks to the culinary prowess of Dino Ajileh.
Dino’s aim is to make this delectable dish accessible to a wider audience, particularly the Muslim community.
“Halal smoked duck is not common around here, which is why we want to challenge ourselves and create something that hasn’t been done before,” said the 39-year-old chef.
The smoked duck burger combines the rich, smoky flavour of smoked duck with a handcrafted sweet sauce, resulting in a harmonious blend of savoury and sweet that will leave you craving more.
The smoked duck burger is priced at RM15, and they also offer smoked duck rice and smoked duck pasta.
Manggo Float Master
Amidst the sea of drink options at the festival, Manggo Float Master stands out as a refreshing choice.
Crafted by Fifi Fathesa, this drink brand emerged in January with a unique vision: offering affordable, genuinely fresh fruit drinks free from excessive sugar syrups.
“We wanted to be different, which is why we took the approach of using ‘fresh’ fruit drinks that do not rely on cordial or syrup,” said the 25-year-old businesswoman.
After receiving positive feedback at the Dayak Food Festival, they decided to bring their drinks back with new recipes and a new menu.
Manggo Float Master’s offerings are priced at RM9 for fruit drinks and RM10 for fruit drink floats. Buyers can also customize the sugar levels according to their preference.
SNA Pulut Panggang
Pulut Panggang, a delectable delight of roasted glutinous rice, remains an enduring favourite among local street food options.
This cherished cuisine has seamlessly woven itself into the hearts of people from diverse backgrounds and walks of life. Siti Nur Ashikin, a 21-year-old businesswoman, has been helping her mom prepare and sell this food at various places around Kuching for many years.
She mentioned that they have been selling for five years at Uptown Desa Ilmu and this is their first time participating in the Kenyalang Food Festival.
Despite its familiarity, Pulut Panggang’s enticing combination of smoky richness, sweet sticky rice, and spicy savoury filling continues to make it a sought-after choice, especially due to its affordable price of RM2 for a generous serving.
Mat Bond Sotong Bakar
Mat Bond’s Sotong Bakar is a familiar delight to regulars at Kuching’s food festivals, with the enticing aroma of their grilled squid wafting through the air and seemingly engulfing the entire event.
According to owner Azlin Rasdi, they are no strangers to Kuching’s night market scene.
“We have sold at various food festivals and night markets around Kuching. We are hoping to establish our own shop soon,” said the 35-year-old chef.
The succulent and perfectly grilled squid is priced between RM13 and RM18, depending on the size, making it an affordable yet delectable treat. They also offer other seafood options such as fish and cockles.
