Brunei food reviews

appetite

Due to the constant modernization of everything, the snacks and dishes of the past have evolved with the changing times. Our grandparent’s favourite haunt at the tamus have closed down, traditional cuisines are resigned to being monthly specials at restaurants and that ice dessert that only that auntie knows how to make has melted for the last time. There’s always that niggling fear that certain traditional delights will get harder and harder to find and, eventually, cease to exist altogether, only known to the current generation as a thing of the past and an occasional treat to savour. So it comes as much of a relief to us when we find that these aged snacks or classic dishes live on and are given new life and accessibility in a new wave of businesses, both online and brickand-mortar. Here are five of them that we think you should know about:

Our Tea Café

Being health and eco-conscious is the name of the game and Our Tea Café is a top player (evident from their tagline “Powered by Plants”). But aside from its wide array of delicious vegetarian and vegan bites, what we really made a beeline for was a taste of their Lei Cha. A legendary dish from Taiwan dating all the way back to the Han Dynasty, Lei Cha, also sometimes known as Thunder Tea Rice, is lauded for the sheer amount of health benefits the dish provides. Served in a big bowl loaded with seven types of fresh vegetables, tofu, dry radish, gluten-free brown rice and peanuts for a nutty kick, the star feature is none other than the powerful herbal tea as a soup base. Cleantasting but far from being tasteless, the herb-laden brew is a pounded concoction composed of tea leaves, herbs, seeds and grains which are traditionally grounded with mortar and pestle. Some say it’s an acquired taste but we’re suckers for that refreshing taste. Pro tip: request for some fiery We can’t say the same for everyone but, we absolutely Mouthbomb sambal on the side for that spicy kick! Lei Cha is available in Our Tea Café on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. For to-go orders, bringing your own reusable containers are highly encouraged. •• eat, drink love our raw fish! Whether it’s sashimi, poke bowl, ceviche etc., we are steadfastly nondiscriminatory. And out of all the sashimi platters that we’ve stuffed Brunei Unit 4, Block B, Warisan Mata-Mata Complex, Gadong BE1718, BSB Open: 9am-8pm (TuesSun)/ 2pm-8pm (Fri) Tel: 673-2450430 our faces with, nothing delights us IG: @our_tea_cafe more than Borneo’s very own raw fish delicacy, umai (similarly known as hinava if you’re in the Sabah area). A traditional Sarawakian delicacy with humble beginnings starting from Melanau fishermen who would prepare the dish out of convenience when at sea, the dish, raw fish marinated with the juices of an acidic fruit (usually lemon, lime or assam paya), onions, chillies and a pinch of salt, is simply unforgettable. Cue Yvonne, born and raised in Miri, currently residing in Brunei where she fulfills the cravings of umai lovers with her own unique recipe. Alongside the traditional tenggiri umai and prawn umai, Yvonne also offers premium Norwegian salmon ceviche to her doting customers, made with love and heaped to the brim with equally good ingredients. “We are very strict with our quality control and leave no stone unturned”, says Yvonne. How’s that for assurance? But our favourite part hands down has got to be knowing that that authentic Sarawakian taste is only just a simple order away. ••

IG: @mouthbomb_bn Tel: 673-7294944

Would this list really be complete without a mention of Ah Mit’s? In our last issue, we waxed poetic about their ondeonde and raved about their iconic nasi lemak. Far from being the only things of note on the menu, they also have a wide variety of everything-traditional-and-delicious-to-keep-yourstomach-happy. With a reputable name which rings familiar from a 50-year-stint of selling their popular kuehs at the Kianggeh Market, we’re glad that Ah Mit’s now exists with its very own storefront in Kiulap’s Impiana Jaya Complex helping to keep our traditional kueh cravings at bay. ••

No 13, Grd Flr, Impiana Jaya Complex, Kiulap Open: 7am-6pm (Tues-Sun) Tel: 673-889 0024 (WhatsApp) IG: @ahmitsdelicacycafe

Minumlu

We’ve never met a cendol we didn’t like. To put it quite simply, there is no such thing as bad cendol. But to come across the perfect cendol drink that caters exactly to the whims of your palate? Practically unheard of. Good cendol? Yes. Perfect cendol? No. Until we met the cendol of our dreams: Minumlu. A simple stall with big dreams, their classic recipe is passed down from their grandmother (hence, the famous Cendol Nini). The usual combination of green rice-flour jelly, three types of milk and delicious gula Melaka, we can’t pinpoint exactly what it is about this traditional Southeast Asian ice dessert, but we love it like no other. For those who want a little bit more excitement, we recommend trying their

Cendol Oreo or customize your sugar level and add your own toppings (boba, red bean and ice-cream). Until then, have a drink! Or as the locals say, Minumlu! ••

Kampong Jangsak at Seri Yasra Sdn Bhd Tel: 673-8214339 IG: @minumlu.bn

Jia Jia Traditional Desserts

As comforting as the piping hot dishes our grandmothers used to make for us were, nothing beats a steaming pot of sweet natural delicacies and herbal desserts, often fortified with tasty rock sugar or red dates, and always met with toothy smiles and eager stomachs. Jia Jia recreates that nostalgic vibe in her menu of traditional Chinese desserts such as Snow Fungus and Peach Gum dessert, fresh puddings and a variety of herbal teas we were always told were good for us. With a deep knowledge of each ingredient’s underlying health benefits and experience gleaned from years of helping her mother out in the kitchen during festive seasons, the owner of Jia Jia now shares her love and knowledge of these sippable childhood memories to her keen customers. If you’re looking for a delicious way to nourish yourself and quench your thirst, then head to Pan & Wok Jerudong or The Korner, located in the Pantai Jerudong Specialist Centre where you can find Jia Jia’s delectable herbal teas.

P.S. If you’re looking to surprise a treasured one in the healthiest way possible, Jia Jia also gladly accepts special requests to turn their desserts and drinks into dainty gift boxes. Yummy and thoughtful! ••

IG: @Jiajia.bn Tel: 673-8761718 (WhatsApp)