As Muslims in Auckland join the millions around the world in the month-long dawn-to-dusk fasting, Halal food vendors are busy preparing for the first Chow Luck Club Foodie market during Ramadan.
Ramadan is a holy month of fasting for Muslims which started last Sunday and will end on Sunday 30 March with the celebration of Eid.
“The month of Ramadan is not just about fasting, but also sharing a wholesome meal with loved ones after it gets dark and before the sun rises,” explained Cynthia Sim, a Muslim owner of Agak Agak Food.
On Saturday, 8 March, the first foodie market during Ramadan will also see the first “$8-week” with most vendors offering specials priced at $8.
Sim trades exclusively at the Chow Luck Club Foodie Market and will be offering two $8 options at her halal food stall that includes mee goreng and ikan pari (stingray) asam pedas.
“For many of us who have grown up in Malaysia, asam pedas, which is traditionally prepared with stingray, is a tangy and spicy dish that is the ultimate comfort food,” Sim said.
Although it is laborious to cook and the ingredients are not cheap, Sim said she was offering it as one of the stall's $8 specials in the spirit of Ramadan.
“During Ramadan, we shouldn’t be thinking about profiteering and making money. We believe in ‘pahala’ or reward we receive from God when we do good,” added Sim, who is also a foodie market director and organiser.
“What we want to offer is good, value-for-money, options that people can takeaway and have them during their break of fast.”
Other crave-worthy halal $8 specials market include cucur udang by Cha Cha Cha and Ramly-inspired Malaysian burger by Papa’s.
Cucur undang, or prawn fritters, is a typical Malay street vendor specialty that is crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
Cha Cha Cha’s prawn-packed version, normally priced at $10, is a market favourite and there’s often a snaking queue for it.
Ramly burger, started by Muslim butcher Haji Ramly Monki in Kuala Lumpur in 1979, is a Malaysian street food consisting of a meat patty, wrapped in an egg and served in a bun.
Ramly started selling it when he noticed it was difficult to determine if street vendors’ meat was halal.
At the Papa’s stall, the meat patty is store-made and freshly grilled for the burgers.
For non-Muslim market-goers, the sheer variety of $8 specials will delight even the heartiest foodies.
After a one-month absence, Shelly Loh - also known as the market’s ‘queen of curry puff’ - is returning.
She is offering a special $8 for two of her premium chicken and egg spiral curry puffs at her Shelley’s Kitchen stall.
Other $8 specials to look out for are the nasi briyani ayam by Treasure Kitchen, nasi lemak bungkus by Ailimteh, gourmet pies by Bros Pies, Vietnamese meat skewer and spring rolls by Nam Viet, longganisa sausage and pork belly skewers by Pinoy Treasure.
To complete the feast, there’s dragon beard fruit crepes by Jiaqi Sweets, crunji Korean croissant by One More Dessert or get two Portuguese egg tarts by Yuan Taste, also for $8.
Chow Luck Club Foodie Market is on every Saturday from 10am to 3pm at ParkCity, 261 Morrin Road, St John’s, Auckland.
