O come, all ye faithful…

This and this used to be here…

…in what was called the Catholic Centre in the Sacred Heart Cathedral compound and there was a budget inn upstairs but they have all since moved away when the premises was taken back for some massive renovations.

It sure looks like they’ve got it all nicely done now and the other morning, I decided to drop by to check the place out. They have an eatery downstairs where they say all the workers are volunteers from the church. I don’t know what the arrangement is, whether they rent out the stalls and the proceeds will go to the church fund but right now, there is a drinks stall and also one food stall…

I tried the kampua mee, kosong (RM2.00)…

…and I thought it was all right. No, I would not say that it swept me off my feet but it was good enough which is more than what I would say about some of the noodles at some of the stalls elsewhere.

Likewise, the piansip/ meat dumplings (RM2.50)…

…were o.k. too but it appeared to me that the fried stuff was more popular – everyone else seemed to be having something fried and looking at what was served and the lovely fragrances that filled the air, I did think everything looked nice and I sure would want to order and try on my next visit. I must say that I liked how they used glass and ceramics instead of plastic, all their plates and bowls.

I’ve heard people saying that the chap fan/mixed rice is cheap…

…and very good as well and when I was there, they already had a few dishes ready like these…

…and these…

…as well. I wonder if the ginseng soup…

…is any good or not – perhaps I can try that as well next time.

That day, after Stephanie and Andrew’s wedding at the cathedral, they had a buffet brunch/lunch here – everyone sang praises of the dishes served. I did not join them as I was already too full after what I had prior to the wedding service. It sure looks like I will have to go back there soon to try for myself first-hand, their chap fan.

For one thing, this place sure looks like a leading contender for the environmental award, the next round, if it is still going strong by then. If you wish to tapao (takeaway) the food, you will have to bring your own containers or tiffin carriers as they will not have any of those plastic ones…

…for you to pack your picks.

There are these steamed paos (buns) too…

…and if you want to buy those to take away, in line with their No Plastic policy, they will use these brown paper bags…

Why? You do not even get a plastic drinking straw…

…with your drink.

Other than all the aforementioned, this is a No Smoking zone so if your nicotine level is running dangerously low, you will have to stroll out to the main road outside.

This place opens from 6.00 a.m. till 2.00 p.m. from Monday to Saturday and it is closed on Sundays in keeping with one of the Ten Commandments that says, “Remember thou keep holy the Sabbath Day.”

I could not find any sign anywhere all around the building but the place has been called Laudato Si, which means “Praise be to You” in Latin…

…after the second encyclical of Pope Francis in which he “critiques consumerism and irresponsible development, laments environmental degradation and global warming and calls all people of the world to take swift and unified global action”…and it sure looks like this place is heading in that right direction and I would say that it sure deserves the support of members of the public.

LAUDATO SI is located in what was previously known as the Catholic Centre located in the compound of the Sacred Heart Cathedral and St Rita’s Primary School.