By Wilfred Pilo
Initially, it was a tedious task for 25-year-old Stephenie Bong, a local mixed ice dessert or ABC connoisseur, to perfect the preparation of one bowl at a time—starting with a scoop of sugar syrup, cendol (green pandan-flavoured jelly noodles), cincau (grass jelly), and kacang merah (red beans), followed by shaved ice, drizzled coconut milk, and other sweet syrups.
After six years of perfecting her craft, Bong has mastered the art of dessert-making and now customises her creations to suit the tastes of her regular customers. When she finally ventured into the business, she chose the name Scoop’s Ice for her stall.
“I now have no problem preparing this sweet dessert that locals love. Since I started operating the stall in this café four years ago, I’ve been able to make up to 15 varieties of mixed ice desserts—all featured on my menu.
“Of course, the customers’ favourite is the classic local ABC—a mixed ice dessert with cendol (green pandan-flavoured jelly), kacang merah (red beans), topped with coconut milk and grenadine syrup. This simple treat is always a hit at my stall,” she shared with DayakDaily.
Bong said most of the dessert ingredients are homemade and prepared by her aunt and business partner.
“We want to make sure the flavours stay true to local taste buds and remain as authentic as possible. For example, the Nipah palm sugar syrup is further refined by my aunt.
“From our customers’ feedback and their continued support over the years, we know they’re happy with our desserts. My partner and I are proud that we’ve mastered the art of making this local ice dessert,” she said with a chuckle.
To complement her ABC iced dessert, Bong also serves a scrumptious local rojak—a refreshing mix of cucumber, pineapple, and fried tofu—tossed in a special sauce made from her aunt’s secret recipe.
“The combination of our refreshing rojak and ice desserts has become a popular afternoon treat, especially after lunch.
“It has also drawn customers from all walks of life to our humble stall,” she said enthusiastically.
Bong said she remains committed to refining her craft and pursuing it as her lifelong passion—a journey made possible through the unwavering support of her family.
“I’m part of the second generation in my family’s culinary trade. We’ve grown up in this environment and are grateful to be able to make a decent living from it,” she shared.
She expressed hope that local-style ABC and rojak would continue to be well-known and preserved, recognising them as cherished staples of the local street food culture.
“Many of my customers grew up with these desserts and dishes. I feel happy serving them, especially when I see them coming back to enjoy our ABC and rojak,” she said with a smile.
“It’s a real satisfaction for me, and for us as stall owners,” she added with a chuckle.
Bong’s Scoop’s Ice Stall is located at New Wonderful Place Café in Hui Sing Commercial Centre. It is open daily from 12pm to 5.30pm, except on Sundays. For more information, call 011-6506 9566. — DayakDaily
