That day, I dropped by Payung Café because we had run out of the traditional Foochow red wine.
One of Peter’s sisters makes that and everytime she would have to let the mother, the matriarch of the family, taste first. Only when she gives her nod of approval would she be able to leave the bottles at Peter’s café for sale. I have not bought the more-often-than-not-rather-diluted ones (even though they tell you it is unadulterated and sell it to you at a jacked-up price) sold elsewhere for a long long time now, worse if it is sour!
They had this awesomely stunning display of lotus flowers from the pond at Peter’s house…
…there the day before but when I went the following day, the blooms had withered and it did not look as nice anymore. I guess beauty is like that, only temporary.
While I was there, I decided to buy a few things that I had been missing a lot to take home and enjoy – three months sure is a long long time!
I asked for two tubs of their tempoyak – their very special cooked durian paste…
… and Andy insisted on giving me an extra-spicy one for my missus as he knows jolly well that she would love it to bits. We had that for lunch and yes, it was very spicy and we sure loved it to the max. It certainly took a whole lot of effort on our part not to go for a second plate of rice!
I also bought their special own-made beef bolognese sauce with chunks of the meat, not minced, and lots of fresh tomatoes, garlic, mixed Italian herbs and all the rest. I am not a fan of bolognese elsewhere as more often than not, they come across to me like something straight from a bottle of tomato ketchup.
That evening, my girl cooked our own stock of spaghetti to eat with the sauce…
…and a sprinkling of parmesan cheese on top. Of course it was so good and my girl was thrilled to no end. There is still another pack of the sauce in the freezer – she can cook herself another round of that lovely beef spaghetti bolognese anytime she feels like it.
PAYUNG CAFÉ (2.284049, 111.833014) is located at No.20F, Lanang Road, Sibu, Malaysia, back to back with the multi-storey car park of the Kingwood Hotel which faces the majestic Rejang River.
...STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS! 
Oh my, the lotus flowers are indeed beautiful. I am a great lover of durians and love to eat them on its own but unfortunately a big NO NO when made into tempoyak.
This is not the fermented durian tempoyak that you know. Anyway, it is spicy so it’s not for you.
I miss eating tempoyak. Only my late mother used to make them.
But spicy tempoyak? Hmm…Never tried this before
This is not the sourish fermented type but we do cook that too with chili and ikan bilis. Nice as well…and we use that to cook meat or seafood, very very nice. This one, they use fresh durian paste so it does not have the fermented taste. Very nice!
That’s one lovely lotus plant, I remember at Cambodia we even bought the seeds and ate them raw, tastes pretty good!
Yes, there was a Literature text when I was still teaching, not retired yet – The Lotus Eater. Saw somewhere that it keeps people looking young, dunno how true.
“I guess beauty is like that, only temporary.” .. unless it’s beauty from within, like you and me! 😛
Indeed!!! Shameless. LOL!!!
Have not tasted durian paste like tis before, would like to try it as i love durians!
You will not regret it, I’m sure.
Wow. Those lotus flowers are impressive.
Yes, sad that they did not last more than one day.