By Wilfred Pilo
A simple bowl of mackerel fish ball soup has become a familiar favourite among customers in Sungai Maong, thanks to 68-year-old Rose Tiong, who has been serving the dish for 15 years.
Her stall at You Liang Food Court in Lorong 5, Jalan Sungai Maong Tengah, Taman Mayling, has become a regular breakfast stop for customers seeking a simple, fresh, non-spicy meal.
For Rose, however, the soup means much more than just food. It keeps alive the memory of her late sister-in-law, who taught her the recipe many years ago.
“I am grateful that I learned her recipes and can still prepare them today,” Rose told DayakDaily.
Although Rose has adapted the original recipe to suit her customers’ preferences, she has preserved its traditional flavour.
Her clear seafood broth can be served with mackerel fish balls, meatballs, pork liver or pork, accompanied by noodles or steamed rice.
“Of course, I have other noodle dishes, but my mackerel fish ball soup remains the main attraction. People like the simple and plain seafood taste of the broth,” she said.
A Foochow Chinese from Bintangor, Rose has lived in Sungai Maong for 47 years.
Before becoming a hawker, she worked in an office in a regular nine-to-five job. After losing her husband and seeing her children grow up and become independent, she decided to start her own food stall.
What began as a way to spend her retirement years gradually became something much more meaningful.
Today, the grandmother of three enjoys meeting customers, making new friends, and seeing familiar faces return for her food.
One of the things that makes her happiest, she said, is seeing regular customers who live overseas return to Kuching and visit her stall almost every day during their holidays.
“That is how I know they like my food,” she said with a smile.
The stall can get busy during breakfast, with customers sometimes having to wait for their turn. But Rose is happy to continue serving for as long as she can.
“I intend to keep serving my customers for as long as I can. It gives me comfort knowing that I have created a dish people will remember,” she said.
For Rose, every bowl of mackerel fish ball soup carries a little piece of family history.
It is a simple dish, but behind its light seafood flavour lies a sister-in-law’s recipe, a lifetime of memories and nearly 15 years of friendship with the people of Sungai Maong.
And with every bowl she serves, Rose keeps that memory alive.
Rose’s stall operates daily from 6am to 1pm, except on Mondays. For inquiries, call 019-611 3355. — DayakDaily
