Wonder what genuine Sarawakian food tastes like? Jak Ma'an is a relatively new restaurant that specialises in Bidayuh (Land Dayak) cuisine, essentially the jungle food of indigenous people of Sarawak. Opened by Dutch YouTuber Nick Jansen and his local Bidayuh wife Magdalene, Jak Ma'an celebrates its 2nd anniversary this weekend. It's also the most happening place on Ewe Hai Street / Carpenter Street during the evenings.
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| Live music by Steve Goh, celebrating Jak Ma'an's 2nd anniversary. |
The first evening was so crowded that we had to make a reservation for the next evening, and it was well worth the wait. The dishes were served in boat-shaped receptacles made of leaves and presumably biodegradable. We were particularly delighted by the midin dish cooked in garlic, comprising jungle fiddlehead fern, probably the most unmistakable of Sarawakian dishes. It was simply delicious, not just fulfilling Janet's plaint of "Where are the greens?"
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| Midin, edible jungle fiddlestick fern. |
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| Ayam Pansuh, chicken cooked in bamboo |
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| Lamb in black pepper sauce |
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| The Bidayuh feast was completed with Jak Ma'an fried rice |
We have yet to try the ultimate jungle cuisine, ulat sagu (jungle grubs). Perhaps the next time, if ever! And by chance, we got to meet Nick and Magdalene the next afternoon, and we have him to thank for introducing us to all things Sarawak!
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| See, it's a real fern! |
JAK MA'AN
BIDAYUH CUISINE
85 Ewe Hai Street
93000 Kuching
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