Best friends Sylvia Lau Pei Chien and Sebastiane Lo Sim Ling’s goal in life was to open a ‘food and beverage’ outlet together. Working hard on realising their dream, the duo turned that dream into reality, as they set up a Taiwanese street food-inspired food joint last year.
The sisterhood of sandwiches
people always say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. After a good night’s sleep, your body will need to be replenished with a good meal in the morning. Having breakfast helps restore the glucose supply that your body needs to boost energy levels and alertness.
In Kuching, the typical breakfast would often be a scrumptious meal of kolo mee, laksa, or the usual roti kahwin, over coffee, tea or milo. However, a stall in a coffee shop in Jalan Kempas started offering a different kind of breakfast September last year — savoury sandwiches.
Inspired by the street food of Taiwan, it comprises different choices of meat, served with eggs and fresh vegetables, sandwiched with hash browns in between. Wanting to stray away from the usual butter kaya spread, the stall plans to introduce more Taiwanese choices in the future.
What’s special about the sandwiches are the method of preparation. The sandwiches are all grilled above a bed of charcoal. Using such technique, these sandwiches exuded a smokey flavour, giving a more nice, rounded aromatic taste.
According to stallowners Sylvia Lau Pei Chien and Sebastiane Lo Sim Ling, the meat that they use for their ‘Charcoal Grilled Toast’ is not your typical minced meat patties. Instead, they opted for freshly chopped chicken and pork.
Marinated in special sauces, each meat is carefully prepared in the kitchen, with the pork chop tenderised using proper meat massage techniques prior to marination.
Some sandwiches on the menu are also laced with the duo’s signature cheese sauce, a homemade recipe that they have developed themselves.
Best friends forever
Stallowners Sylvia and Sebastiane shared that the idea to set up the sandwich stall came up from a ‘best friend’s goal’ that the duo made during their school years. They were best friends since 15, and they spent so much time with each other that they are almost inseparable.
“It was all that we ever talked about. We actually promised each other that we will open a food and beverage joint together one day. We actually made it, so, i guess, this is achievement unlocked,” she added.
Prior to setting up the stall at a permanent space, the duo started their venture with a similar Taiwanese concept at the Kuching Food Festival two years ago.
Working on their dreams, Sylvia studied culinary in Taiwan after she completed school, where she majored in baking. Sebastiane, on the other hand, studied business marketing, and completed her diploma.
During her time in Taiwan, Sylvia was intrigued with the local street food culture and decided to create a version of her own, and introduce them in Kuching.
Sylvia grills…. 
while Sebastiane toast.
In the beginning, they didn’t fare quite well, as there were faced with many challenges. One of the biggest challenges is the difference in taste. “First, we introduced the original flavours from Taiwan. Our sandwiches received mixed reactions. We took into account every customers’ feedback and try to improve from there. Some said that the sandwiches were delicious, but some said that it was so-so,” Sylvia disclosed.
The duo then worked hard to improve the taste of their sandwiches.
To Sylvia, Taiwanese cuisines will always be her muse. “I loved it very much when I was there. So I was hoping that I will be able to bring the flavours of Taiwan here, so that people can experience it without having to travel far.”
As a young girl, Sylvia always had a keen interest in culinary. Whether it was preparing Chinese dishes or baking, she always had a talent for it and even started selling baked goods when she was16.
Meanwhile, Sebastiane opted to study marketing as she had taken an interest in it ever since she was young. “Back then, my ambition was to be a businesswoman. At the same time, I also share the same interest with Sylvia in cooking. I often spend my time helping my mother in the kitchen at home.”
Like birds of a feather, the duo complete each other, and they complement each other’s goals. Looking back, they both agreed that just maybe, destiny had brought their friendship to go beyond.
