Dayang must have her sambal belacan

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SIMPLE fare is what singer Dayang Nurfaizah’s prefers for buka puasa.

The 28-year-old songstress from Kuching, Sarawak, said a minimum of three dishes is enough to satisfy her hunger pangs after a day of fasting.

Dayang said her mother would cook one meat dish, either chicken or fish, a vegetable and the must-have sambal belacan.

Favourites: Dayang with a spread of dishes she enjoys eating at the Bangsar Seafood Garden Restaurant.

“The sambal belacan adds to the taste of the other dishes,’’ she said with a laugh.

She also favours Teh-O which is a favourite drink in Sarawak and likes to eat fruits after breaking fast.

When growing up in Kuching, Dayang and her three siblings would take turns to request for their favourite dishes each day.

Chicken used to be her favourite dish, particularly the Ayam Masak Kicap. These days her palate has changed and she prefers prawns.

Her family enjoys breaking fast together at home instead of joining the crowd at restaurants. Dayang only eats at selected outlets and each outlet has its select dish which she enjoys.

“I don’t believe in wasting money. There is no point is paying so much for something that may not taste good so it is best to eat at home,” said Dayang.

She also said her annual leave is usually during the Raya month and she ensures she performs at limited shows then in order to spend time at home.

A must-have: The Butter Crabs.

“I work every day without fail so the holy month is a time spent with my family,” she said.

However, among her favourite restaurants is the Bangsar Seafood Garden Restaurant.

“Not many places serve good Chinese seafood so when I found this restaurant I was very happy. I have brought my parents here and they love the food,” she added.

Everytime Dayang dines at the restaurant, her order would be same — Butter Prawns, Butter Crabs and the Cod Fish in soya sauce.

“I enjoy the prawns which is nice and juicy and the cod fish is fresh and well cooked,” she added.

Dayang also enjoys the small sweet buns served with the Butter Crab and which taste excellent when dipped in the crab sauce.

She enjoys eating these dishes with plain white rice.

Fresh offering: The Cod Fish in Soya Sauce.

“All I need are these three dishes. I love eating the crabs and dipping the buns in the sauce,” she said.

Every year, Dayang goes home to Sarawak to spend Raya with her relatives.

Her mother only cooks on the first day and the dishes once again are similar each year. Among the common dishes on the table is the Ayam Masak Merah which Dayang enjoys. Although many would argue it is a simple everyday dish, the taste differs on Raya for her.

“I know it is a common dish but it tastes better during Raya and my mother has a different recipe for the Ayam Masak Merah for the occasion,” she said.

Sarawakians do not serve chicken rendang and the substitute is Kari Daging. They also have lemang, satay and homemade peanut sauce as well as cookies bought in KL.

The cookies made from cornflakes and stuffed with strawberry jam is a must-have for Raya and has become Dayang’s signature cookies. She is selling it to fans for charity with the name “Dayang Sayang Kamu”.

Her fans in Sarawak visit her every day back home until the fifth day of Raya and Dayang welcomes them into her home.

As for future plans, Dayang said she is recording a new album which will hit the stores next year.