By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, May 9: Ping Yuan Cafe proprietress Shirlee Tnay’s journey to developing the popular pork soup noodles served at her establishment was inspired by a bowl of pork noodles sold by an elderly food stall operator in a West Malayisian alley.
Tnay said she never expected that stumbling on that incredible dish could change her life, as she later was able to turn the inspiration into a lucrative business.
“I remembered the elderly man, and when I tasted a bowl of pork noodles that he served, it moved me deeply. Tears welled up in my eyes as I savoured the incredible taste.
“How could it taste so good? I asked.
“That flavour remained etched in my memory. When I returned home, I continuously experimented to replicate that incredibly delicious pork soup flavour.
“After countless attempts, I finally mastered the taste and eight years ago I started my business,” she revealed, as she told DayakDaily about the start of her culinary journey in making pork soup noodles.
Tnay further revealed that the secret behind the delicious flavour turned out to be the use of natural ingredients and the love of making the dish.
She elaborated that when she returned to the same alley in West Malaysia she could not find the elderly man or his tasty pork soup noodles.
“So, I resolved and hoped to carry on his legacy and share that flavour with more people, allowing them to taste this seemingly simple yet incredibly challenging (to make) bowl of pork soup noodles,” she said.
Tnay said that the quality of Ping Yuan’s dishes is due to their high standards and selection of ingredients. She opined that every ingredient used must be all-natural and of high quality.
“For example, it has to be minced meat (from fatty and lean streaky pork), and premium cuts of pork (tenderloin) as they are known for their tenderness and marbling. For offal, we specifically choose soft liver for its soft, texture and smooth taste, and sweet intestines.”
Tnay shared that the flavourful soup base is made from a large quantity of pork meat bones and vegetables simmered for at least 8 hours.
To add an extra punch to the aroma of the dishes, she uses premium fresh pork lard and insists on frying fresh shallots to enhance the flavour of the food, and using premium cooking wine to garnish.
Tnay revealed that to maximise one’s enjoyment of a bowl of pork soup, it must be paired with soft-boiled eggs as it is a perfect combination.
While the price of RM16 for a regular bowl of pork soup noodles may seem pricey to some, Tnay insists on giving the customer 100 per cent fresh pork from a local supplier.
She explained that since her business is customer-centric, she does not mind paying higher prices for local pork.
She added she gets her supply from local supplier Precious Food Product Sdn Bhd which sells Borneo Fresh Pork products as the meat suits the local palate and has no smell as compared to imported meat.
“We got an explanation from the supplier because the cost of production had increased, and culling due to African Swine Fever (ASF) caused shortages in pork meat locally in the industry and escalated the price. So a few years back we have to hike our price too.
“That (maintaining quality and taste) is why our customers have always followed us even though the price of our pork noodle soup has gone up but the taste suits them.”
Tnay stressed the importance of marketing efforts to promote her business.
“I have come to understand the importance of marketing. No matter how excellent your product is, without marketing, no one will notice it.
“We continue to organise activities to thank our customers, hosting lucky draws with prizes such as phones, travel packages, and cash. Our goal is simple: to provide our customers with tenfold or even hundredfold value.”
Tnay said at the end of 2021, she opened her first branch in Batu Kawah and she believed it would lead her team to greater heights.
“I am confident that as long as I follow the right methods and work hard. I want everyone in Kuching and the whole country to know about our Ping Yuan Cafe pork soup noodles,” she said.
Ping Yuan is located at Lot 119, Lorong Datuk Abang Abdul Rahim 5, Kuching.It operates daily from 7am to 3pm except on public holidays. For inquiries, call 012-832 3147. — DayakDaily
