BY JASMINE BADUN
KUCHING: People are spoilt for choices whenever they go shopping at the various Ramadan bazaars in the state around this time of year.
It is a fun problem to have again as Ramadan bazaars are making a comeback after a forced two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
At Emart Matang Ramadan bazaar, for example, the place is a sea of both common food items and delicacies to satisfy even the most discriminating of tongues.
The bazaar was declared open on Thursday, after which shoppers surged forward to find their favourite dishes, drinks and other food items suitable for breaking the fast.
A group of reporters who surveyed the bazaar declared that there are five most interesting stalls that customers ought to check out.
Seafood umai
Firstly, the bazaar is a great destination for lovers of seafood, especially umai and crabs.
Nur Hamiza, 32, said customers are always looking for umai, especially during Ramadan.
“Other than jellyfish umai, we also have prawn umai and squid umai.”
As for other dishes, she recommended Melaka asam pedas, which is different from similar dishes sold in Sarawak.
All types of umai on offer is RM5 while the Melaka asam pedas costs RM3.
Hamiza who had five years of experience operating a food stall also sells from her home during normal days because she has regular customers.
Fried crab
Norzila Ramdi, 34, who operates a seafood stall, said, “I am offering crabs to people who love seafood, especially people who come from far away.”
She is helping her family who also owns a seafood shop at Stall no.2, R&R Family Cafe in Telaga Air.
Among the crab menu at her stall are fried crabs for RM6 to RM7, and butter crabs for RM8 to RM9.
Bird’s nest roti canai
The next stop is Sepull Canai stall operated by a guy who identified himself as Saiful. He had a sister, Roadah, with him.
An eye-catching dish named roti canai sarang burung with two omelletes on top is sold here.
Saiful, 39, said he is inspired to make the bird’s nest-like dish by imitating the shape of a bird’s nest with the roti as the nest and the omelletes as the bird’s eggs.
According to Roadah, 43, there are only a few others who sell roti canai sarang burung. The price of one serving is RM4.50.
This stall also sells chicken murtabak, beef murtabak, egg roti canai, mozzarella cheese roti canai and sardine roti canai.
Putu Mayung
Located quite far away from other stalls, a stall operated by one Abu Amin, catches the attention of passersby with green stringy delicacies.
The 23-year-old stall operator said in the past, putu mayung was made as dessert mostly by Indians.
Putu mayung, often known as putu mayam, used to be sold by vendors who went around using motorcycles and bicycles.
“My father sold ‘putu mayung’ on a motorcycle since 1996, so I am the second generation.
“The dessert is made by mixing sugar and grated coconut,” said Abu, who also sells Edam, a traditional kuih made from brown sugar. It costs RM2 for 10 pieces.
The putu mayung are available in three sets — small (4 pieces for RM4), medium (8 pieces for RM7) and family (30 pieces for RM24).
Abu’s famil also has kiosks in Emart Matang, Plaza Merdeka mall and MYDIN Petra Jaya.
Ayam gunting
The last must-visit stall is Pyorr’s ayam gunting stall.
The marinated chicken breasts are deep-fried and cut into small pieces using scissors.
Customers can choose flavours sprinkled over the crunchy pieces such as spicy, sweet cheese, salty cheese and sweet-spicy.
The director of Pyorr bazaar Emart Matang branch, Mohd Firdaus, 36, said they started selling ayam gunting in 2020.
Pyorr stalls also operate in Kota Sentosa (Batu 7) bazaar and Desa Ilmu, Kota Samarahan bazaar.
Emart Matang Ramadan Bazaar is open daily from 2 pm to 7 pm.
