By Wilfred Pilo
When the afternoon heat starts to bite at Jalan Song, Tabuan Heights, customers at Little Sky Cafe know exactly where to head—Bernice Gan’s ABC counter.
For 18 years, the 34-year-old has been shaving ice, pouring colourful syrups, and piling sweet ingredients into bowls of icy goodness, earning her a loyal following and the affectionate nickname of the ‘ABC lady’.
But behind the cheerful smile and busy hands is a family tradition that began with her father.
Bernice learned the art of preparing traditional sweet desserts and shaving ice from her father before he retired. Rather than letting the family skill fade away, she turned it into her profession and livelihood.
Her journey began after SPM, when she took up a regular 9-to-5 job which lasted just three months. Bernice quit because she wanted to do what she loved.
“Since my teenage years after leaving school, I have loved doing this. From 2008 until today, it has been part of my daily life,” she told DayakDaily.
Her best-selling desserts include ABC—a colourful mix of red beans, sweet corn, assorted jelly, sago jelly, and cendol (green rice flour jelly), topped with shaved ice and drizzled with gula apong and coconut or evaporated milk.
Other favourites include White Lady, Cendol Kacang, ice kacang, fruit ice and Metahorn. The cafe also serves a wide selection of hot and cold beverages.
In the early morning, hot drinks are more popular, partly because Bernice’s mother also operates a kolo mee stall at the cafe. But when the temperature rises, Bernice’s icy desserts take centre stage.
“The hot weather makes our ice desserts popular,” she said.
Bernice is also no one-trick pony, as her creamy Kopi C has become another customer favourite.
“Our coffee is a must if you like local brewed coffee,” she said with a smile.
By mid-afternoon, the small cafe can get particularly busy. Whenever Bernice steps away from her counter, the little bell at the stall seems to ring incessantly as customers wait for their ABC—as though the bell is calling the ‘ABC lady’ back to duty.
Bernice can often be seen darting between her ice dessert counter and the drinks section, serving customers while keeping an eye on the cafe. However, the work is about more than simply making a living.
“Rain, shine, hard times or good times, this is my profession. I just love doing it,” she said.
She hopes to continue moving forward and, most importantly, make her family—especially her father—proud of the culinary skills he passed down to her.
Her advice to others is as straightforward and cheerful as her personality: “If you are enthusiastic about what you are doing, just do it with energy.”
And at Little Sky Cafe, Bernice does exactly that—one bowl of shaved ice at a time.
Bernice’s stall is located at Little Sky Cafe, Jalan Song, Tabuan Heights. It operates daily from 5am to 4pm. For enquiries, call 017-400 0819. — DayakDaily
