Database of Southeast Asian Sociocultural Information

Brunei is located on the island of Borneo surrounded by Sarawak of Malysia and being close to South China Sea on the North. Food mostly is Halal like Indonesian or Malaysian food since the predominant ethnic group is Malay Muslim. The main ingredients are spices and coconut milk. Though Brunei is filled with abundant sea food supplies, the Bruneians prefer beef, chicken and goat meat. What is essentially prohibited is that the Muslims are not allowed to have pork and alcohol. These are Islamic taboo. Therefore, bringing alcohol into the country is applied to very strict rules and regulations. If one wants to, one must declare with Customs Service of Brunei. The Muslims can bring two bottles of alcohol and twelve cans of beers each time they are admitted to Brunei. Consuming alcohol is personal rights. However, violating the rules and regulations will face charges (ฝ่ายวิชาการ สถาพรบุคส์, 2558:185).

Given that restriction, Bruneians are not allowed to drink alcohol. But food is another story. Bruneian has a variety of food cooked from local ingredients taking pride in being popular menus and at the same time constituting Bruneian identity. Ambuyat, for instance, a national food that has its own uniqueness is cooked with Ambulong, sagu flour dissolving in cold water and stirring in hot water until it gets gluey (SHAIKH HJ.KHALID et al., 2000, p.5-6). It is usually served with fruity sour sauce cooked with Durian called ‘Cacah’ or shrimp paste called ‘Cencalu’. Fried beef, beef and grilled sea fish stuffed in banana leaf are side dishes. Chandas, the eat tools, area chopstick-like tool except that edges of the sticks are not separate from each other. Using Chandas to curl Ambulong up and dipping it in the sauce is how the Bruneians enjoy their meals with the side dishes. Ambulong tastes better when it is still hot. Besides the Ambulong, the national dish, Brunei also has some other poplar dishes (ดลยา เทียนทอง, 2557:28).

Rendang or stir-fried spicy beef is usually served in religious ceremony. The main ingredients can be beef, goat meat, lamb, chicken or duck cooked with ginger, galangal, lemongrass, kaffir lime leaf, shallot and chilli. The chef will let it simmer until the meat gets softer (ฝ่ายวิชาการ สถาพรบุคส์, 2558:180).

Udang Sambal Serai Bersantan is a stir-fried crabin yellow carry-like dish, but the Bruneian stir-fry black tiger prawns will be used instead, with sambal or chilli paste, coconut milk, garlic, onion, salt and sugar. It is served with rice.

Daging Masa Lada Hitam or black pepper beefis is cooked by mixing beef with turmeric extract powder and salt. Then fry till it gets dried. Add a little bit of oil, onion, garlic, ginger, chilli, ground black pepper and carrot. Spice it up with soy sauce, oyster sauce and chilli sauce. Add some more water and serve with tomato and top with coriander.

Ce Rendang Padang or chicken in pandan leaf is popular Malay food. Marinate chickens with spices, coconut milk and onion. Then grill or fry it (ฝ่ายวิชาการ สถาพรบุคส์, 2558:180).

Mie Goreng is originally Hokkien food. It is fried noodles with egg, turmeric powder, garlic, onion, shallot, shrimp, chicken or beef. Stir fry with vegetables such as tomato and chilli and it is ready to serve. This food is one of the influences of the Chinese (ฝ่ายวิชาการ สถาพรบุคส์, 2558:183).

ABC or shave ice served in a bowl with other toppings like corn, black jelly, basil seeds, fruits on top of ice cream sprinkled with syrup is Brunei’s popular desert. Another one is Kuih Penyaram often found at any market. It is cooked from rice flour, wheat flour and coconut milk. Mold it into a round shape and fry. Then top with syrup made from palm sugar (ดลยา เทียนทอง, 2557:29).

Nowadays, Bruneian people are still using hands while eating. Any restauranthas hand wash sinks for customers. There are some precautions when you have a meal with Bruneian. Animals that die naturally, animals’ blood, dogs, sacrificed animals for Islamic icon, killed animals for unnamed lord, ferocious animals with fangs like tigers, lions, bears, etc. and poultries like vultures and hawks that sinks their claws on prey are strictly prohibited to serve on table (กรมประชาสัมพันธ์, 2558).

Though Brunei is a small country, she has her own identity of culture. She is the only country in this region being ruled by Absolute Monarchy in which Islam is the official religion. People are submissive to the religion as it has influences on most aspects of life. It is obvious since various menus discussed earlier are all Halal. Thus, one should respect their differences and conditions.