They call themselves DYRians and they are all members of a Facebook group, “Do you remember“…
They were on a road trip stopping here and there all along the way from Kuching to Mukah and while in Sibu for one night only, they gathered at this restaurant here for some old-school Sibu (Foochow) delights.
One of them is an old friend of mine, going way back to our a-go-go dancing days and I do remember when I used to write radio plays for RTM Kuching, she would be roped in on more than one occasion to read the part of one of the characters. Well, she contacted me before they came and asked me to join them…and it turned out that one in the group that came was an old schoolmate of mine and I had not seen nor heard of her since I left high school in 1971! Another one was a familiar name during my requesting days in the late 60’s and early 70’s but I did not get to meet her personally then.
Anyway, so there we all were at the place and they had this ang chao duck…
…a truly authentic Foochow dish. Ang chao is the residue obtained from making the traditional Foochow red wine.
Of course, they had the only-in-Sibu Foochow sio bee…
…which is different from the usual dim sum/yam cha siew mai or those in Kuching. The ones here have fish added so its taste or flavour may be a bit different from the others in town. You can see in the background that when the Foochow-style fried noodles…
…were served, there was only one sio bee left and even that one was snapped up very quickly. No prize for guessing who took it…but I assure you that it sure wasn’t me! LOL!!!
There was also this braised pork leg…
…to be eaten sandwiched in one of those mantaos (steamed buns) on the plate in the background and this is another Foochow delight – the tauhu tear…
…or bean curd soup cooked with canned oysters.
They also had the manicai/cangkuk manis fried with egg but the photograph came out blur and the one of this sweet and sour pork dish…
…didn’t turn out very clear either and neither did this one of the peanut dessert…
In fact, I had never had this before and I thought it was really very nice.
It was pretty obvious that they enjoyed everything to the max, most of which they would not be able to get in Kuching and even if they can, it may not be as nice. The whole thing came up to RM18.00 per head inclusive of rice and drinks which I thought was all right, pretty reasonable…but they were pleasantly surprised as according to them, it would be hard to come by such nice food at such prices in the state capital these days.
I had a great time that evening catching up with my old friends and meeting new ones…
*one of the DYRians’ photographs shared on Facebook*
…and I do think it is really so wonderful to be able to enjoy one’s golden years in such delightful fun-filled company.
All the best always to one and all, cheers!!!
good company, good food…
Indeed. Like when you all were here too, so much fun! Hint! Hint!
Such great times with great company, delicious food. When I’m your age I wanna be as happy as you with as many friends but I doubt I can as I’m not as friendly as you, Arthur. You are truly a very good friend.
Now your life centres around your boys (and hubby). Once the kids have grown, you will find time to reunite with old friends and loved ones…and make new ones too like what I’ve done through blogging.
They must be a young-at-heart group to go on a road trip. Must be nice to join them for a good meal. Did they ask you to join them on this road trip? I am curious, did all of them drive their own cars on this road trip or hire a bus?
A few of them drove, the rest hitched a ride. No, Hari Raya break, my girl’s coming home so I would not be able to go with them. Would have loved to.
oohhh so sio bi has fish meat added while siew mai is just the ordinary pork. I’ve always thought they are the same haha
…and sengkuang too – ours here are very different. Not all have fish (or prawn) added though, only the special/better ones. Actually, as far as the name is concerned, one is in Hokkien, the other Cantonese for one and the same thing.
Great time, great food and great company. RM18 per head with all the awesome dishes, who could believe that?
Seeing is believing. Come on over and see for yourself…
What a lovely group of people! And the food looks great, too!
Yes, it certainly was a great gathering and they all enjoyed the food to the max.
Like this post, nice gathering, good food..All very very good.. I won’t get bored looking at those xiao bee (I can finish all in that plate), fried noodles and that big pot of ‘taufu kang’, all very nice..
That’s what Sibu is about…great food and great company – me! Hehehehehehe!!!!
I tried the ang chow duck in Penang and Kuching before, not my type of dish, cannot tahan that taste, but the sio bee and tauhu tear, bring it on anytime 😀
sio bee and siew mai is the same words, only different language, no?
Not too sure about Penang but the one in Kuching should be similar. I did not really like this one here either and all those at the other restaurants in town – only my missus’ ang chao dish, I like…but she cooks chicken or pork belly as she does not eat duck. 😦
I love anything-ang chao! I remember having lots of ang chao meesua and chicken during confinement~
Ours here different, I know. Nicer, of course. Hehehehehe!!!!
Always great to share good food with good company! Looks like all of you had fun.
Yes, we most certainly did.
Hey Arthur, I can imagine the fun there especially all are in the same gang with the same interest!! You should join their group too after this… can go jalan jalan cari makan… when I retire, perhaps I could organize one group to do like this too.. IPOHians, mau cari makan di jalan-jalan??? Ooopsss.. hopefully this doesnt imply a wrong message… LOL…….
There are many of such groups here on Facebook but mostly Kuching-based, can’t join their regular activities unfortunately. This group is the most active of the lot. Really good to keep active after retirement, otherwise can be very depressing and go senile very soon.
thanks for sharing those food pic~
Regards,
http://www.lonelyreload.blogspot.com
Most welcome. Stick around for more! 😉
The Sio Bee, always caught my attention… Great company…
More in another post coming up, nicer ones some more! Stick around.
Wow! A group of friends on a road trip to jalan-jalan cari makan 🙂 . So enjoyable. Wonder if I will have the opportunity to do something like that when I’m older and the kids all grown up. 😉
Such fun indeed. Too bad I don’t have a similar group like that here – would be great to go aorund like them.
Old school Sibu food at “old” restaurant, I like! All my favorite food!! Is the dessert called “moon jiu gor” in foochow? Look familiar and long time I did not eat that!
I’ve no idea but it was very nice. I liked it a lot!
wou wou.. it would be great to see old friends after so many yearsssss..
looking at that ang chao duck makes me miss ang chao chicken mama used to cook, long time ago 😀 😀
It most certainly was, so very nice. The one here was not really good, not as nice as what my missus would cook but she would not cook duck as she doesn’t eat it, only chicken or pork belly.
What a happy night for the Golden Girls and Golden Men. Long lasting friendships are not easy to foster these days but you guys certainly have good hearts. A-Go-Go dancing was such a fun era!
It most certainly was – when young people partied and danced for the sheer fun of it, not like the young ones these days – all that booze, sex, drugs and all.