KOTA BELUD: Ropuhan Homestay Aki Nabalu, which is located within the compound of Dewan D’Lontupak Kg. Purak Ogis, serves the popular traditional cuisine of the Kadazandusun community, especially in this district.
Hilda Anggus, one of Aki Nabalu Homestay operators, stated that the construction of Ropuhan Aki Nabalu Homestay was made possible by the contribution of Kadamaian assemblyman Datuk Ewon Benedick.
“I am grateful to Datuk Ewon for his ongoing contribution to the mothers in this village. We will use this facility to organise various programmes to further promote the traditional cuisine of our community,” she said.
She said this when we met during the Traditional Food Carnival organised by the Aki Nabalu Homestay Association here on Saturday.
Hilda said that one of the purposes of the carnival was to introduce traditional Kadazandusun cuisine to the younger generation, including visitors staying at Aki Nabalu’s homestays.
“For the first time, we are organising the Kadazandusun Traditional Food Carnival in conjunction with the opening of Ropuhan Homestay Aki Nabalu.
“We will continue this event in the future and hope that more participants will participate in the traditional cooking competition.
“One of the uniquenesses of this competition is that the participants cook traditional food using firewood at Ropuhan Homestay Aki Nabalu,” she said.
Hilda said that among the traditional foods that were contested at the carnival were bosou, linigatan (wrapped rice using tadong rice and yam), linipit (baked river fish), bintanok (yam leaf vegetables mixed with bosou), hinava, bambangan oranges, tuhau oranges, and serunding tuhau.
Meanwhile, Irene Tioon, homestay operator Aki Nabalu, said the next plan is to organise Tamu Tani to help members of the association who are also farmers sell their agricultural produce.
The prize for the winner of the traditional cooking competition was presented by Datin Connie Parantis, wife of Datuk Ewon Benedick, Minister of Entrepreneurship Development and Cooperatives.
