Keeping tradition alive at Chop Jing Chew

WHAT better way to have your deserved tea break when you can have have freshly baked buns and a cup of steaming brewed local coffee or Teh C! Well, don't look any further in Brunei as a cosy outlet called Chop Jing Chew does it best, and if one withstands the test of time, hear me now as it proves just that! Being the oldest coffee shop in Bandar Seri Begawan, it is not only known for its bread and buns, but also as a place where people from all walks of life go 'incognito' for tea and a slice of homemade bun.

Chop Jing Chew is always packed with people especially during tea time. The most delightful part of having tea here is the soft and supple buns which are always served hot at your table, ready for you to choose from a wide array, as soon as they come out of the oven every 15-20 minutes. There are mainly five different types of buns which can be differentiated by the way they are decorated on top. These buns are generously stuffed with rich red bean paste, peanuts (a choice of fine or coarsely grounded), sweet coconut floss, homemade kaya and, one my personal favourite, butter bun, which has a filling similar to butter cookie dough.

Other than these buns, this service friendly coffee shop is also known for it's "yellow bread", which is most popularly served toasted with a slice of cold butter and Chop Jing Chew's signature kaya, of which according to the owner a recipe handed down over generations dating back from 1947.

Another option for those who love bread is to order the Cucur Kuning. Similar to its western counterpart, the French toast, the yellow bread is drenched in beaten eggs and fried till golden brown. After that, to be eaten as something sweet or savoury depends on what you put on top of it; condensed milk or chilli sauce. Down your bread with a cup of local coffee or their homemade soya milk served either warm or chilled.

Jing Chew operates over five shop units and has a seating capacity of 200. At around 3pm till 4pm, these tables would be packed, nevertheless, don't give up hope as you will definitely find a seat with customers who are willing to share tables. Service here also comes in pretty fast as they have up to 25 staff working on the floor, making sure everyone is served. Jing Chew produces over 1,500 buns every day and over 200 loaves of white bread are sold nearly every day.

At any one time, sitting at a table for breakfast with a friend, I had ordered the sunny side up egg on bread, and it came in a matter of less than 60 seconds! Now that's faster than how fast food is served!

Another dish worth trying is the Seama Kueh Tiaw. A special mixture of soya sauce is drizzled on white flat noodles served with slices of fried dory fish and tofu and soon after garnished with finely cut chillies, sesame seeds and spring onions. Prepared in a simple manner, this dish has a unique taste and a generous portion. The Seama Kueh Tiaw can be ordered as spicy or non- spicy.

Whether you come in for bread, buns, noodle or rice specialties, you will be sure to leave with a smile on your face after having a hearty breakfast or tea and enjoying the company of everyone else. Jing Chew is known as a place where everyone gathers to talk of business or leisure whilst enjoying their hot buns. A prominent corporate figure in Brunei Darussalam once said that "if you haven't been to Jing Chew, then you haven't been to Brunei." The Brunei Times