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By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, June 18: Prepare your taste buds for a culinary adventure at the 2023 State-level Gawai Dayak Bazaar, where you can savour a smorgasbord of food and drinks including the iconic Dayak dish ayam pansuh (chicken cooked in bamboo); one of Borneo’s most exotic cuisine—sago worms (if you’re feeling particularly brave); dabai, the indigenous seasonal fruit made into ice cream, and tuak (Sarawak rice wine) available in a variety of flavours.
The Gawai bazaar, which is being held on the grounds of the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) community hall from May 16 to 25, has managed to attract a multiracial crowd, demonstrating Sarawak’s multicultural harmony.
As the sun sets and the moon rises, a vibrant atmosphere envelops the Gawai bazaar. Many locals make it an outing with their families, while foreigners come with their trusty DSLR cameras, ready to capture the essence of the experience through their lenses.
During a visit earlier today, DayakDaily stumbled upon the ‘Lifespantree’ booth which offers an array of authentic Sarawakian dishes in cans. That’s right, in cans.
From the savoury ayam pansuh to the tangy ikan terung assam (fish cooked with sour brinjal), each dish was conveniently packaged in cans. Lifespantree has certainly taken a fresh approach to showcasing and sharing Sarawak’s rich culinary heritage.
Lifespantree’s products include ayam kampung pansuh, ikan terung assam, chicken with green nangka (chicken with unripe jackfruit), rebung rebus belacan (bamboo shoots boiled with shrimp paste), chicken curry, and dhall curry.
Lifespantree spokesperson, Nazrin Abdullah, told DayakDaily that they first launched their products at the Gawai Carnival at The Hills, Kuching here, which was held for two days from May 13 to 14.
When asked how the idea of showcasing Sarawak’s local dishes in cans came from, Nazrin said, “Marian Chin, our founder, came up with this idea. Our commercialisation goal is to assist small-scale farmers from various villages, so we get our produce from them.
“We obtain ingredients from the small-scale farmers, such as ayam kampung, nangka, and terung assam, and then prepare and package the recipes in cans.
“So we are a social enterprise that assists small-scale farmers from various villages.”
He revealed that the ayam kampung pansuh recipe they use came from his colleague’s father, and had been passed down through the generations.
“We want to promote our Sarawak heirloom recipes not just in Sarawak and Malaysia, but also internationally,” he added.
Furthermore, Nazrin emphasised that the canned goods have a two-year shelf life and contain no preservatives.
“So how do they last if there are no preservatives in the canned goods? Well, we use a pasteurising machine that heats the cans to a very high temperature to eliminate all bacteria, allowing the food to last up to two years.
“The smell and taste of ayam kampung pansuh are exactly what you get from (the product) inside our cans.
“We try to keep it as fresh as possible; You simply reheat it later. This is how you get a taste of home,” he explained.
“I have a friend working in London. She really loves ayam kampung pansuh but she can’t get it.
“Some ingredients to make the dish cannot be found overseas. Where can she get access to bamboo or tapioca leaves there? At Lifespantree, we are able to export overseas.”
He also disclosed that the ayam kampung pansuh, followed by the chicken with green nangka, and then the ikan terung assam have been Lifespantree’s best-sellers thus far.
The ayam kampung pansuh is priced at RM15 per can, while the other dishes are priced at RM12 per can.
Those interested in purchasing Lifespantree’s canned food may contact Nazrin via WhatsApp at 011-31991685, as they are not yet available elsewhere.
Aside from food and drinks, the 2023 State-level Gawai Dayak Bazaar also features a variety of exquisite indigenous handicrafts created by local entrepreneurs.
The bazaar is open from 5pm to 11pm on weekdays, while on the weekends it is open from 10am to 11pm.
At the Gawai bazaar, visitors will also be able to enjoy a variety of entertaining events and activities. — DayakDaily
