One Religion, Many Cultures - Borneo Talk

FoodTalk
Smells good, tastes great
Sarawak is blessed with many races
living harmoniously together. The
locals will happily inform a visitor
to the state that and this leads to a
whole smorgasbord of food choices.
While Chinese and Malay cuisine
dominate, the other indigenous races,
namely the Iban, the Melanau and the
Bidayuh also have their own delicacies
and unique way of preparing them.
When in Kuching, Aroma Café is
the go-to place to try the very best in
authentic Bidayuh food. The eatery
is famous for its lunch meals, which
are prepared in the local fast food way.
So popular is the fare that people
often order takeaway and some even
bring their own stainless steel food
containers to do so. The fast food
lunch is finished by 1pm.
available. It can be served steamed
(teo chew or tom yam style) or deep
fried sweet and sour with Thai sauce.
Of course for those who prefer to eat
fish fillet, it can be served buttered,
with black pepper or Thai style. Red
telapia asam pedas is cooked in a
claypot. Those into eating catfish will
be happy to discover that it is grilled
here too and served with a special
sambal sauce for lunch every Tuesday.
Apart from fish, there is a wide
selection of squid and prawn dishes
that promise to tickle and titillate the
taste buds.
Over the years tourists from other
parts of Malaysia and from the rest
of the world have flocked to the café
to sample the food. Three things
stand out when it comes to the items
served here: reasonable prices, good
taste and generous portion size. The
fast food lunch meals (with rice) cost
from RM3 to RM5.50, and it must be
emphasised that this is the very best
in Bidayuh cuisine especially cooked
by the owner’s sister. Returning
customers continue to frequent Aroma
Café because they are truly satisfied
with the dining experience here. What’s
more two hotel-trained chefs are on
hand to cook up a variety of Western
and local fare. Be it grilled chicken
chop or wet beef kway tiaw, they
can cook it to perfection. Customers
are always pleasantly surprised to
find that they are spoilt for eating
choices at Aroma Café. There are
even those who patronise the place
strictly for a particular favourite dish.
Aroma Café is situated close to the
heart of town and is within walking
distance from the major hotels and
lodging houses. Aroma Café also
specialises in food catering for event
and entertainment services. Special
function includes wedding, company
anniversary and product launching.
Seminar and meeting packages are
available too. The café easily seats
a hundred people. Operating hours
are from 7am to 10pm. The café
is closed on Sundays and public
holidays. Do come give Aroma Café
a try. It’s where the food smells good
and also tastes great.
Of course there is more to Aroma
Café than Bidayuh cooking, which
contains lots of veggies and also
the local ulam (salad). The Bidayuh
like eating poultry, and are famous
for their ayam pansuh, or chicken
cooked in bamboo over an open fire.
The bamboo helps give the chicken
its distinctive smell and taste, and that
is what this eatery is all about. Unlike
many other eating establishments
in Kuching that serve this delicacy,
the ayam pansuh is cooked upon
ordering. This spot cooking insures
that the patrons get the freshest
ayam pansuh in town. This popular
food item is available daily.
Fish lovers can rejoice in a fine fish
selection. According to season,
Sultan Fish, red Telapia, Sea Bass
(Siakap), Kerapu or Black Pompret is
Ground Floor, Sub Lot 126, Section 33, KTLD Jalan Tabuan, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Tel: (6) 082 417163 (GL) Fax: (6) 082 246881
Email: dearoma@streamyx.com (Opening hours) Monday – Saturday: 6.30am to 11.00pm (Closed on Sundays & Public Holidays)
32 | BorneoTalkJul-Sept2009