A Taste of Sarawak@Dapur Sarawak!

Friday the 3rd of February. 2023

I have always looked forward to enjoying my friend’s Sarawak Laksa and the variety of colourful, patterned layer cakes from Sarawak during Hari Raya. She is from Miri, Sarawak and always hosted fabulous open houses to celebrate the end of Ramadan.

I have often thought of hosting an Enak! offering a taste of Sarawak. I asked my dear friend for recommendations and it was Dapur Sarawak ‘Hands down’ for delicious and authentic food from the Land of the Hornbills. She made contact with Mr. Din from the Restaurant for me and I met him to discuss our Enak! Lunch. Mr. Din was very welcoming and served me a small bowl of Laksa Sarawak and a piece of Penyaram (traditional dessert made from palm sugar).

I was immediately taken by the fine and tasty ingredients of the Sarawak Laksa…no wonder it’s listed as one of the 10 best foods of the world by the late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain.

Mr. Din seemed to have an understanding of what Enak! was about and suggested that Dapur Sarawak (Operating in Kuala Lumpur since 2008) prepare for us a selection of Sarawak Authentic Food that Enakers must try. He came up with serving us a small portion of each of the foods listed below:
 

Mi kolok/ Kolo Mee  most popular dish in Sarawak…Noodles tossed in a light sauce & topped with chicken or beef pieces.

Laksa Sarawak rice noodles (bihun) cooked in shrimp-based broth made from ‘sambal belacan’, sour tamarind, garlic, ‘galangal’, lemongrass and thickened with coconut milk. The dish is served with bean sprouts ‘taugeh’ , prawns, omelette strips, and shredded chicken.

Nasi Goreng Dabai fried rice with the preserved ‘dabai’ fruit.

Ayam Pansuh (Bamboo chicken) / Manok Pansoh is a unique traditional Iban dish cooked in bamboo.

After a couple of unavoidable changes in dates we ended up with a most enjoyable and fun experience (for many of us the 1^st time) trying the flavours of the different food from Sarawak. Originally, we had 27 enakers sign up but with the Restaurant’s request for a change of date, we ended with 20 enakers and guests. If possible, we can perhaps repeat this Enak! sometime in the future.

It was great to have a former MCG president Pam Currie and MCG and Enak! member Cheryl Hoffmann with us at this lunch. They were here on a visit to Kuala Lumpur.

Address:- Restoran Dapur Sarawak,  No. 19, Jalan Sarikei, Off Jalan Pahang, Pekeliling, 5300, Kuala Lumpur. (Jalan Sirekei is the road next to KPJ Tawakkal Hospital)

Dapur Sarawak has Restaurants in Putrajaya & Shah Alam as well!