Best eats: Wan Junaidi and Fauziah (right) buying local kuih at the Satok Ramadan bazaar in Kuching. — ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE / The Star
KUCHING: Traders at the Satok Ramadan bazaar here had a pleasant surprise when Sarawak Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and his wife Toh Puan Fauziah Mohd Sanusi dropped by for a visit.
The couple arrived at 3pm on Thursday and made their way around the stalls, chatting to sellers and buying a selection of local delicacies.
They also made time to greet the public who were also shopping for iftar – the breaking of their fast.
The Governor and his wife were accompanied by state Deputy Utility and Telecommunication Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi and Kuching North mayor Hilmy Othman during the visit.
At a stall selling grilled squid, locally known as “sotong tutok”, Wan Junaidi tried his hand at pounding the squid with a hammer – the traditional method of preparing the snack until it is flattened and soft.
“Sotong tutok is a tradition of Kuching folk. It is usually sold in the villages during the fasting month and the preparation is all done by hand, not by machine,” Wan Junaidi told reporters when met after the visit.
He said his must-haves for breaking fast are local delicacies like bubur pedas (a traditional porridge dish with spices) and kuih bongkol (traditional sweet snacks).
“I bought a selection of dishes from the bazaar. If possible I would like to buy all the varieties, but I chose a few,” he added.
As for Fauziah, she said her favourite dish is bubur pedas.
Meanwhile, sotong tutok seller Salim Brahim was thrilled to entertain Wan Junaidi at his stall.
“He tried hammering the squid, then he bought some,” he said.
Salim, 65, said he had been selling the snack since 1990.
“I can hammer the squid while looking at all the people walking by without hitting my fingers,” he said.
The Satok Ramadan bazaar, which has 95 stalls, is one of three set up by the Kuching North City Hall and will run until April 9.
The others are the Semarak and Sukma Ria bazaars.
