By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Jan 21: For 34-year-old Devin Chong, the operator of a ‘chai kueh’ (steamed vegetable dumpling) stall, he feels a deep sense of accomplishment when his parents decided to open a stall for the popular traditional Chinese snack passed down from his great-grandparents.
Chong shared that his parents’ business venture began four years ago, following three generations of perfecting the traditional snacks beloved by locals.
He added that his parents would have made his great-grandparents proud, as they both coincidentally came from a local family of ‘chai kueh’ connoisseurs renowned for their expertise in the snacks.
“They were good at making ‘chai kueh’, and according to people who knew them, they (my grandparents) often get ‘special’ orders from their neighbours to make the snacks for them.
“My parents inherited the recipe from their parents. They never thought of commercialising the snacks until now. It’s a blessing that my parents could do and share it with people.
“It feels great to be the fourth generation in my family to share these snacks and make a livelihood out of it,” he told DayakDaily.
Chong expressed that their stall could be the first to establish itself in the heart of the bustling BDC Commercial Centre, featuring an open kitchen where ‘chai kueh’ is made.
“We hardly see any such ‘chai kueh’ stall like ours these days, and I believe my parents were bold enough to start it here. I hope this helps preserve our local culinary traditions,” he said.
The stall allows customers to see the dumplings being made, which Chong said was good as they were able to learn more about the traditional snack.
He further suggested that more traditional Chinese snacks should be prepared in open kitchens at eateries, allowing patrons to experience the preparation process and enjoy the delicious taste firsthand.
On ‘chai kueh’ preparations, Chong said it was easy to make and used simple ingredients.
“These days, modern culinary equipment is readily available, making it easier to mass produce them,” he said.
Chong shared that the person behind the stall was his mother, who managed the stall’s operations daily.
“After four years, we honed our recipes, and I am glad we have regulars who enjoy our savoury snacks.”
Chong revealed that in honour of the paternal side of his family, the stall was given the name ‘Mama Chong’.
“My mother doesn’t have qualms about the name as she is more concerned about the chai kueh itself. After all, we all contributed to ensuring that the family recipe is shared and people enjoyed the snacks,” he said.
Chong’s mother, Madam Chai, is proud that she and her husband could share their parents’ traditional recipes passed down to them.
“It would justify their culinary talents. I hoped my son would be proud of his ancestors.
“Now, after four years here in this eatery, we are glad that our snacks are well-liked and are proud to share them, whose recipes continue with the fourth generations and more to come.
“Perhaps another outlet is in the pipeline,” she chuckled with confidence.
Mama Chong’s stall is at ‘A’ One Cafe at the BDC Commercial Centre. It operates daily from 6am to 1pm except Mondays. For more information, call 016 575 7576. — DayakDaily
