Well, this certainly was not what I thought it was…
My friend, Jimmy, from Bintulu gave me these and I thought they were those pineapple cakes from Taiwan (currently on clearance sale at Ta Kiong, Sibu at over RM3.00 a box). The box certainly looked very impressive and to my surprise, it was from a bakery in Bintulu itself (Oopsss!!! Pardon the spelling error there! LOL!!!)…
The pineapple cakes were very nice, very generous with the soft and moist pineapple filling…
My missus loved them a lot – she said they were really very nice but personally, I would prefer more cake and less filling as it was a tad too sweet for my liking.
Jimmy also gave me this jar of cincaluk (fermented shrimps)…
I thought he had bought it from somebody he knows in Bintulu or one of his students’ mums like those that he had given me before. These would usually be of a higher quality and a whole lot cleaner than those sold at the market. Boy, was I surprised when he told me that he made it himself and instead of plain water, he used air kelapa (coconut water) instead…
It tasted nice – it was different somehow but I only tried a teeny weeny pinch that day – maybe if I really take it and eat it, I will be able to say more about it.
Now if you’re guessing that I got these from him too…
…then I’m afraid that it isn’t what you think. LOL!!! They’re from my friend, Clare, in Kuching – she was home for the long weekend and she brought me a HUGE pack of these rempeyek. They were nice – lots of ikan bilis (dried anchovies) and peanuts and very fragrant with all the spices used in the making…but they’re a bit hard though compared to the ones here. Ours would be thinner and so brittle that they may crumple easily, even upon touching…but for one thing they’re much kinder to my old gums. Wink! Wink!
Now, after my post on the Hokkaido cupcakes the other day, Annie-Q commented that her mum got some that were cheaper – at 3 for only RM4.00 and eventually, she told me that she got them from the shop where I would go and get those yummy chicken pies.
Of course, I wasted no time in dropping by there to grab a packet to try but it seemed that they called them “Bavaria cupcakes” and they did not have any “snow” or the sprinkling of sugar on top like those Hokkaido ones…and they looked somewhat sunken, don’t you think?
Comparing the two, there was less cream in these…
…but I thought they tasted a little bit nicer. The texture of the cake was nicer too than those previous ones that I tried…but all things considered, though they were pretty good, to me, they were both nothing more than just cakes with cream inside…with or without the sprinkling of sugar on top and I wouldn’t think I would be going back for more. I would much sooner go for their chicken pies instead…
...STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS! 
Hokkaido cake is selling like hot cakes (pun intended) here in KL but can you believe that I’ve NEVER tasted one before?! -.-
I think the current craze is just a passing phase – the novelty of the thing. To me, it is just cake with cream inside and a sprinkling of fine sugar on top. I would much rather go for many other types of cakes that are a whole lot nicer actually…
Those are definitely some fascinating dishes. The pineapple cakes do look moist — just like you said. You weren’t kidding about the anchovies, are the rempeyeks a type of cracker? I find them fascinating, never seen them here.
Yes, it’s a cracker…with some fragrant spices added and the anchovies and peanuts on top. Not too sure of its origin, maybe Indian…considering the spices used.
Home made cincaluk? And with coconut water too? That is amazing. I bet it taste much more fragrant than the usual ones then. Love it on its own or even cincaluk fried chicken 😀
You mean you marinate the chicken in cincaluk and then deep fry it? I’ve done that with pork and oooo…it was so very nice. But I prefer to steam it – no oil used. I’ve posted on that at least twice before and another one coming soon.
Do blog about the Cincaluk more when you really have a proper taste. I’m very intrigued about the usage of coconut water.. makes sense, actually. Love the rempeyek but not too sure if I would like the Taiwanese style pineapple tarts as I’m not a fan of the pastry. I was sorely disappointed with Hokkaido cupcakes. Had a taste, darn expensive and yet there is no satisfaction in eating one. It’s almost tasteless 😦
They’re just cake – plain cake with cream inside – something like that in cream puffs…or worse, those plain cream they have in some buns…and they sprinkle sugar on top. I was curious as to the name…and somebody told me it was because of the sugar – looking like snow on the mountains in Hokkaido, Sapporo or where… Tsk! Tsk! Might as well call it Alpine or whatever, nothing Japanese about it. How much is one over in Auckland?
Everybody’s talking about the cake and making a beeline to the shops to grab or baking their own…but I really wonder if they know what or where Hokkaido is. Even the mille crepes here: https://suituapui.wordpress.com/2012/01/04/arthurs-theme/ in KL, they call them Hokkaido mille crepe cake, dunno why.
Not crazy about those pineapple cakes from Taiwan. These are nicer…and fresher also, I guess but still, you would not see me rushing back for more. As for the cincaluk, I think I will finish the bottle my brother-in-law gave me first. This will have to wait for a while… 😉
that cake looks nicer, too. something i would eat. i am not into fillings…want my cake chiffon and clean 🙂
Ya…all that cream and sugar…not good for the figure, I’m sure.
The pineapple cakes, are they something like pineapple tarts? I’ve seen them sold at here but wasn’t too sure if it would be something nice to eat. The homemade cincaluk and those rempeyek look pretty good.
Something like that but the pastry’s different. Seems very popular in Taiwan, everyone going there will buy home. Saw in the shop here the other day – the Taiwan ones, not bothered to buy, not something I would crave for, that’s for sure.
I think the pineapple cake is as delish as the one we can get from Taiwan. Next time buy this as ‘hand letter’ for me ar…**thick face**ahahhahaha. Hokkaido cupcake….sigh I am missing Quay Po’s homemade ones.
The Taiwan ones not nice leh? I tried before…and cheap sale RM3 a box here, I did not even bother to give it a second glance.
These are from a bakery in Bintulu – a lot nicer. Sure would want to buy and bring over – no worries about them going bad, no need for refrigeration…but they’re not from Sibu. Bintulu is some 3 hours away by car…and our roads are so terrible, not like the nice highways in the peninsula.
Yea..the road reminding me like sitting on a rocking boat…LOL!! 3 hours like I go back to the down south. Never mind next time I go there myself..no need to go Taiwan also can get hor…
Yalor…and I bet it is a lot cheaper here as well…other being a lot nicer! Hey! Your highways there, where got like that? All so nice, so wide, so smooth – that’s why they always say…we got cheated liao – all our oil money taken to bulld nice highways and everything else the other side.
I read somewhere the Hokkaido cakes were initially called that as they were made with Hokkaido milk/cream. I’ve had Hokkaido bread made with cream (Hokkaido or not, I can’t tell and they won’t tell, that cost me RM19 a loaf … Whoa! Just curious, you know. I’ve since replicated that at home, no need RM19, yessss).
Anyway, that pineapple cake has caught my attention at the stores as well but have never got the courage to buy them (since I make pretty passable tarts *ahem*) and looking at that much filling …. I doubt I’ll like them. Like you, I’d prefer more pastry than filling or at least a good balance of both without one overpowering the other. Jelak.
Yes, your pineapple tarts are definitely a lot nicer than these “cakes”. These lo9cal ones are nice but not nice enough for me to be craving for more. Just something to eat when there are some lying around in the house, not something I would go out and buy.
Oh my! Hokkaido mille crepe, Hokkaido bread, Hokkaido cup cake…now what is not Hokkaido? LOL!!! I am not bothered about names – just taste…and if that is the best they have to offer…bye-bye, anything Hokkaido.
Rm3 per box is very cheap. I bought around RM25 per box in my last trip to Taiwan. My family loves pineapple cakes very much and will always remind me to buy them whenever I’m off to Taiwan. Loves the rempeyek, my dad’s favorite. But it is hard to find homemade one here…Hence, we will buy a lot during Raya times 🙂
Omigawd!!! So expensive in Taiwan? They’re not that great leh? Not as nice as these local-made ones. My friend gave me before – just so-so…not something I would want to buy and carry all the way home.
The RM3 per box ones – maybe the expiry date is drawing near. That place always like that – expensive imported biscuits around RM8-10 – my missus bought RM2.50 about a month to the expiry date…and we went again a week later, RM1.50 only.
Yes, very expensive…Taste is ok only, but my family and colleagues loves them, so I have to bring them back. Some of them is too sweet to my liking. Price is not a problem when i’m on travel because i’m claiming from my company…Shhhhhhhhh *quiet*
Oooo…lucky you! If that is the case, I must place my orders quickly. From Taiwan, I love the Taiwan Sun Biscuits – with its buttery fragrance. Sooooo very nice. Next time you go, you buy for me, ok… Then you send over by post lah…
Hahaha…Well noted Arthur 🙂
Hehehehehe!!!! Thank you, thank you! 😉
wow…so many goodies! And the best part is the homemade cincaluk. Have you tried mixing cincaluk with chopped shallots, cili padi and some lime juice…to eat with white rice or plain porridge. Its really appetizing! 😉
I do that all the time…something like what I did with the budu’ aur that I had not too long ago. Finished that batch…and so tempted to make some more. Have to control though – too salty, can only take once in a long while.
yaya!! something similar…did you add a bit of sugar into it?
Not usually, for cincaluk…but for the budu’ aur, yes…as it is really very very very salty and I had to tone it down a bit.
the packaging and the pineapple cake surely looks very taiwanese.. but scrutinizing the box, i found they have written there 黃梨酥 instead of 鳳梨酥.. so obviously this is local, hahaha~~
Oh? They call pineapples phoenix pears in Taiwan? I didn’t know that…
have not tried any so-called hokkaido cake before.. if it’s like RM4 for 3 pieces then i may buy some to try.. often than not, it’s almost RM4 for just a piece over here, too expensive for me to get this little cake..
If they’re anything like what we have here and selling at RM4 each, then you might as well just forget it. Maybe those over at your side are special and a whole lot nicer?
yikes, 1 box of pineapple cake for Rm3 is soooooooo cheap, mind to send some over? Prease ra…… 😛
Dunno still got or not…or expired already or not. Was there when my friends from KL were in town some two weeks ago. Oooo…they bought so many of the expensive imported biscuits – selling at RM1.50 a packet…about two weeks to the expiry date. Normal days, normal prices…I would not be able to afford those!
Love the pineapple cakes and cincaluk, the best of the best. The interesting part is using coconut water to make it. Quick, quick, post about it after you have really tasted it. . Keen to know the taste.
You probably will have to wait for a long time. Still have my BIL’s one bottle of cincaluk – haven’t started on that one yet. LOL!!! 😀
The texture of the cake certainly looks nice and I’ve never had home made cincalok with coconut water before. It sounds promising! 🙂
That’s really good presentation for Bintulu! For export/tourism? 😀
I wouldn’t know but Bintulu is best noted for belacan and cincaluk. If for export or tourism, it should have been Sarikei, the pineapple town. Must have been somebody there cashing in on the local craze for those pineapple cakes from Taiwan which aren’t so great, if you ask me… 😦
Taiwanese pineapple tarts are pretty nice, but I still prefer the Chinese flaky pastry type.
Yup! Give us our local pineapple tarts anytime. These cakes in sealed packages have a certain smell, maybe the essence or artificial flavoring used…or worse, the preservatives. Eyewwww!!!!!
Arthur….such nice friends you have 🙂 Will send the stuff to you this Saturday…hopefully I won’t forget to the take the envelope out with me when I go marketing 🙂 Have a nice day !
Yes, I am truly blessed. Everyone is so kind and generous…and I feel bad as I am not able to reciprocate but I will try in my small little ways as token gestures – the old folks would say.
Yer I hate pineapple tarts! ;P
cause it’s very buttery and over-sweet!! *dislike*
On the other hand, the snack made by Clare looks superb! I know how crunchy it is just by looking at ’em! ;P
It was from Clare but I don’t think she made it herself – probably homemade, one whole big packet of it! You mean these pineapple cakes or those tarts that we have around here – I saw some giant ones at a nyonya shop in Malacca. You hate those? I’m ok with those but I do know a lot of people simply love them to bits.
Oh..pineapple tart / pastry, i won’t touch that, i don’t eat pineapple.
Cincaluk? eeeeeeeee….but it sound interesting, using coconut water? I wonder how they do cincaluk.
Hokkaido cupcakes /cake or what so ever, not really a fan. I think the first bakery selling this one japanese bakery at Taman Desa named RT pastry, their hokkaido cupcakes once out, can gone within 5 mins, no joke!!! Then suddenly, i see everywhere are selling hokkaido cakes and cupcakes, even morning market they sell too.
Must be quite easy to make, that’s why you can see it everywhere. Cincaluk – have to clean and clean the bubuk and then soak in salt water and allow it to ferment…I think. I only know how to eat! LOL!!!! Oh? You don’t eat pineapples? That’s new! I thought ladies love pineapples. I’m not a fan either unless in rojak or with rojak sauce – I prefer bananas and papayas.
Cincalok – yum with steamed chicken. Do you just take it plain? I like it with lime juice, shallots and chillies. Some people steam chicken with it too.
About the ikan bilis and peanut brittle, these used to come with the entire piece filled with peanuts. Inflation, I guess. Also, nowadays, these snacks (including other fried stuff) have been known to be fried with oil that has plastic bags dissolved in it. You probably have read about it sometime ago. The plastic prevents the snack from going soft due to exposure to air. Scary, huh?
Of course I do take it plain with chilies & lime. I steam pork with it – one post on that coming up and I had a post on steaming chicken with it sometime ago. And of course, I had the posts on the cincaluk omelette…and also my cincaluk fried rice. All nice!!! See!!! You missed all that as you were not following my blog in the past… 😦
You want to complain some more. This already very good – you come and see the ones we have in Sibu – one kacang, one ikan bilis and small piece only. Taste good though…so sometimes, I will buy. The plastic thing – there was a reporter here who went out and checked…and carried out tests – seemed that it was an urban legend – not true one. Problem is some use oil that has been used again and again…and some even say they buy the oil cheap from places like KFC. I don’t eat that often anyway…so it wouldn’t be so bad.
the cupcakes looks so delicious?
something similar to those hokaido cakes?
Same, minus the sugar on top and the name is different.
Those pineapple cakes look good. It is a very famous product of Taiwan. So far I only tried Hokkaido 2 times over here. I find it too creamy for my liking.
The ones here do not have so much cream inside – maybe that is why they are cheaper…and the cake is just cake, nothing special. Not something that I would want to eat again and again.
Oh my favorite. So they are called rempeyek OIC. Would buy them at R&R on the NS Hiway but stopped recently as not to eat too much fried stuff & nuts. The nuts get to upset my uric acid level.
Oh dear!!! You are so slim, so fit…and yet you have the problem with your uric acid. Hmmmm…must be all that curry mee!!!!
Not sure about the pineapple cake. But the ones i had from melaka one was too sweet. Not nice.
Love the rempeyek. So much bilis and kacang. Here just one bilis and two kacang only 😦
I did not buy the Malacca ones – so big, commercially produced…definitely not so good lah! Yours better than Sibu – one bilis, one kacang. LOL!!!
ooo, i think i’ll like that soft moist pineapple filling.. yum
Hmmm…you like it soft and moist, eh? Wink! Wink! LOL!!! 😀
i don’t like those big square chunky pineapple tarts. Still prefer those dainty home-made pineapple tarts for CNY
Yes, precisely! East, west, home is best…. Don’t see how people can think these are better! Probably the snob appeal – from Taiwan mah!!! Show off a bit! Tsk! Tsk!
Rempeyek!! been awhile since i had those… yum!!
Can get in Kuching bah… Actually, these came from Kuching – my friend gave to me.
Oo… time to make Cincaluk Omelette…. first time hearing its made from coconut water.. interesting!
I luv the authentic Taiwan Pineapple Cake… usually there is salted egg yolk mixed into the pineapple paste… yum yum…
Oh? Never heard of the ones with salted egg yolk. Must go and check at the shop here – those on clearance sale at RM3 a box… If there’s salted egg, sure I would want to try.