By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Sept 30: The morning rush has barely begun when the first aroma of poached chicken starts drifting through the Good Taste Food Court at Hui Sing Commercial Centre.
Behind one of the stalls, Jenny Lee is already at work.
Chicken thighs are being prepared, portions checked and ingredients lined up as the 60-year-old gets ready for another day of serving one of Kuching’s most familiar comfort foods, chicken rice.
There is little time to waste.
For Lee, every morning begins with one simple question: How much chicken will she need today?
She checks her expected orders before heading to her supplier, carefully selecting the amount she needs. Back at the stall, each piece is prepared with care, destined either for the poaching pot or the frying station.
The goal is simple: tender chicken, savoury rice and a meal that reaches the customer quickly.
It is a routine Jenny has perfected over 14 years.
“I used to work in this establishment, where I learned that food must be served quickly and taste great.
“I wanted to have an efficient process because food court customers want their food fast,” she told Dayak Daily.
Lee never imagined that she would spend more than a decade serving chicken rice.
She had not set out with dreams of becoming a stall owner. But after years of working in the food court, she began to understand the unspoken rules of feeding hungry customers: keep the food good, keep the price reasonable and, most importantly, do not keep people waiting.
That was where the humble chicken thigh came in.
For Lee, it is a practical cut, easy to prepare, full of flavour and well suited to local diners who enjoy chicken with a little bone.
But there is another reason she sticks with it.
She knows what her customers like.
Over the years, she has learned to gauge the day’s appetite almost instinctively. By lunchtime, the poached and fried chicken thighs that filled her stall in the morning can be gone.
And when the chicken runs out, Lee does not simply switch off the lights.
She turns to her frying station, where a selection of noodle dishes offers hungry customers another quick and satisfying meal.
“In this way, I can still offer them something quick and tasty,” she said.
It is a small example of the adaptability required to keep a food stall running.
“Although my main focus is chicken rice, working in a food court where speed is important has taught me to multitask,” she said.
For Lee, multitasking is not just about moving quickly. It is about knowing what needs to be done next, preparing an order while watching the stove, keeping an eye on supplies and making sure the next customer does not have to wait too long.
Fourteen years have also brought changes that every food operator knows well.
When Lee first started, a plate of her chicken rice cost RM4. Today, it is RM7.
The price of ingredients has climbed, but she remains conscious of the customers who have supported her over the years.
“Although the cost of ingredients has gone up, we still try to keep our food affordable while maintaining the quality,” she said.
Lee said she is grateful to the food court proprietor, who encouraged her to open her own stall and supported her along the way.
She also values the camaraderie among the food vendors, describing the friendly atmosphere as part of what makes the food court special.
Lee admitted that there is nothing particularly glamorous about her work. There are early mornings, hot stoves, repetitive preparation and the constant rhythm of orders.
Yet there is satisfaction in knowing that something as simple as a plate of chicken rice can become part of someone’s routine.
Kuching has no shortage of places serving chicken rice. But at Hui Sing Commercial Centre, Lee continues to do what she knows best, selecting her chicken, preparing it with care and serving it while it is still good and fresh.
For her regular customers, it is not just about the chicken or the rice. Sometimes, it is about knowing that when they walk into the food court, a familiar plate and a familiar taste will be waiting for them.
Jenny’s stall is located at the Good Taste Food Court in Hui Sing Commercial Centre. It operates daily except Thursdays, from 6am to 1pm. For enquiries, call 014-686 8068.
