By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Oct 14: Hailing from Kampung Tebakang in Serian, 55-year-old Dayang Hajunah Tadong moved to Kuching city with hopes of creating a life for herself there.
But never in her wildest dreams had she thought she’d end up owning and running a popular eatery.
Like every young person from her village, Dayang Hajunah moved to Kuching as a teenager, with her parents’ blessings, to find a job.
She initially landed a job in a supermarket before becoming a kitchen helper in the same eatery she owns today in the BDC commercial centre—Azie Food Corner.
She told DayakDaily that as a former SMK Tebakang student, she was inspired by her former school principal, who later became a public figure in Sarawak.
“I always remembered the principal, an academician who spurred us to succeed all the time in what we do. In a way, I succeeded in the culinary industry and made it an honest profession,” she added.
She revealed that before entering the culinary trade, she had become a kitchen helper with a food operator who managed the same eatery.
While Dayang Hajunah helped prepare the dishes, she also honed her skills to become a better cook.
She elaborated that her former employer was a West Malaysian, and all her dishes suited their taste.
“It was too hot and spicy for the local palate, and after I took over, I made changes to some of the dishes, which customers accepted,” she chuckled.
She disclosed that while she was an employee, her employer encouraged her to have a stall at the eatery.
“This way, I could cook and at the same time help her serve fast food. I did that until she moved and opened a bigger eatery.”
Dayang Hajunah said before her kind employer moved out, she had asked her to take over the eatery.
“I consulted my husband, who agreed, and we had the eatery for 27 years. However, it was 20 years ago that we changed the name of the eatery to Azie Food Corner after my daughter, Nur Fazirah Murzuki.
“My daughter now helps and makes beverages as my other child is working somewhere else,” she said.
Dayang Hajunah shared that the BDC commercial centre has changed with more Malay eateries opening, but she sees it as healthy competition.
“We serve many dishes like the ayam masak merah, chicken curry, daging masak kicap, ikan masak pedas, umai udang, sambal, local vegetables, and many more.
“Some of these dishes are served during festive seasons. So those craving these dishes can come to our eatery.
“Among our customers’ favourites include the corned beef fried rice and nasi aruk,” she said.
She also said she is determined to continue doing what she does, especially now that her daughter is helping her.
She said she would not want to give up the place nor open an eatery elsewhere as she believed that the eatery had blessed her and her family.
“As a village girl who just wanted a job in the city and never dreamed of owning a business in the city, I think I have been doing well for myself and my family,” she said.
Azie Food Corner provides catering services and is located at BDC Commercial Centre. It operates daily from 7am to 3pm except on Sundays.
For more information, call 014 578 8226. — DayakDaily
