BY ELEAZAR BARRICK PETER & NEVILLE TIMOTHY SANDERS
KUCHING: The 20th Kuching Intercultural Mooncake Festival (KIMF) is back with a dazzling array of unique delicacies, promising an unforgettable culinary experience for visitors.
From September 20 to September 29, more than 180 stalls will be showcasing a wide variety of foods, drinks, and exquisite crafts, enticing visitors to indulge in the festivities.
During the opening ceremony on September 21, the New Sarawak Tribune had the opportunity to speak with some of the stall owners, who shared insights into their distinctive offerings.
Qaisarasumiyyah Razali, a seasoned vendor at the Kuching Intercultural Mooncake Festival, proudly shared her family’s involvement in the event for the third consecutive year.
“With over a decade of experience in this business, we have always been selling our signature item, the kuih keretapi. Additionally, we offer delightful treats like bomboloni, kuih pengaram, and apam balik,” said the 31-year-old Qaisarasumiyyah.
The star attraction, the “kuih keretapi,” resembles a waffle, with four oval-shaped ovals connected like a train. It comes in a range of flavors, including chocolate, cheese, peanut, and a classic plain variant.
The bomboloni, another popular treat, is available in flavors such as Oreo, chocolate, cream cheese, and twelve other enticing options.
“For the plain kuih keretapi, the price is RM5, while the ones with flavors like chocolate, cheese, and peanut are priced at RM6. Each bomboloni costs RM3,” Qaisarasumiyyah explained.
Despite the unstable economy, Qaisarasumiyyah emphasized that they have maintained the prices of their food, ensuring affordability for all.
When asked about the origin of the kuih keretapi, Qaisarasumiyyah credited her mother, Latipah Tomik, 66, for the idea and the inception of the business.
“All of this is thanks to my mother. When she stopped making kuih keretapi, I decided to follow in her footsteps and continue selling this delightful treat,” she added.
Qaisarasumiyyah revealed that their journey began with the Kuching Festival, where they participated for three consecutive years before expanding to other festivals, ultimately leading them to the Mooncake Festival.
“My friends encouraged me to explore other festivals, which eventually brought my family and me here, to the Mooncake Festival. My hope for this festival is that our items will sell out every day, leaving everyone satisfied,” she expressed.
In addition to the Mooncake Festival, Qaisarasumiyyah and her mother also operate food stalls at Kubah Ria on Saturdays and Sundays, offering their delectable treats to customers throughout the year.
Another stall owner, Alex Sim Wee Kiat, 29, shared his passion for pastries and highlighted their stall’s focus on selling an assortment of delectable treats, including bagels, supreme croissants, and sourdough bread. The cream cheese bagel, introduced last year at the Kuching Festival, quickly became their star product.
“When we joined the Kuching Festival last year, we were initially unsure about what to sell. However, we wanted to introduce unique food trends that hadn’t been explored in Kuching. That’s when we brought in our new item, the supreme croissant—a round-shaped croissant with a delightful custard filling,” Alex explained.
Promoting his food stall, Alex urged food enthusiasts to venture into the world of pastries and bread by visiting their stall at the festival and trying something new.
He expressed his hope that the people of Kuching would continue to embrace culinary innovation, encouraging the exploration of diverse cuisines and flavors, especially during festive occasions.
Beyond the gastronomic delights, the annual festival will feature mesmerizing cultural traditions, captivating performances, and enchanting music, creating an immersive and unforgettable experience for all attendees.
