Lucky Pockets offer fresh twist on familiar taste

Lucky Pockets from Lee's stall.

By Wilfred Pilo

KUCHING, Aug 1: Former accounts executive, 45-year-old Sharon Lee, has opened a new ledger in life by changing her profession from one dealing with finance to serving finger snacks called ‘Lucky Pockets’.

Lee believes that the delectable snack is the first of its kind available and served in eateries in the city.

She explained the snack uses Japanese bean curd skin filled with savoury ‘sengkuang’ or Chinese jicama, an idea inspired and spurred by her husband, Joe Chua.

Sharon Lee

Lee shared that they named the snack Lucky Pocket because it is shaped like a ‘pocket’ and filled with ‘treasures’ (savoury cooked shredded jicama), symbolising prosperity and good luck to customers.

“Having the snack is like sharing the joy of good food with one another, especially your friends and families. Likewise, we brought (this concept) to eateries to share harmony,” she told DayakDaily.

She hoped Lucky Pockets could be a great snack and new innovative culinary idea that was unique yet with a familiar taste with food enthusiasts.

“I believe if you delve into a new territory and have no clue but a little culinary skill, then a little difference with creativity is helpful if you are in the food business,” she added.

Clockwise from bottom left: Lucky Pocket, Popiah and Kueh Pie Tee.

She said the snack which comes in a serving of three pieces appeals to those seeking healthier snacks as the bean curd skins with vegetable filling are very satisfying.

Lee said she had confidence to start selling food because her husband and his family who have experience in the industry fully supported her.

Lee, a mother of three between the ages of 10 and 15, said she also included Kueh Pie Tee and Popiah in her menu to give customers more choices.

“Kuih Pie Tee is a well-known Nyonya snack—a thin and crispy pastry tart shell kuih filled with savoury shredded Chinese jicama and is eaten on festive occasions.

“We (Lee and my husband) have decided to serve the snack as we use the same ingredients in the ‘kueh’ as it could go along with Lucky Pockets and Popiah.”

Lee’s menu board.

Lee said the Popiah she makes is inspired by her mother-in-law.

“She (mother-in-law) is already known at a cafe in Tabuan Jaya and those familiar with her popiah can also have the same delectable snack from my stall,” she dislcosed.

Lee, who prepares her ingredients daily, is glad she can introduce Lucky Pockets as a new kind of snack and opined that offering more varieties of good snacks available in eateries is good for customer choice.

She sells Lucky Pocket per set of three for RM5, Kueh Pie Tee per set of five for RM5, and Popiah for RM4 a piece.

Lee has a stall at Sin Ban Chong Cafe at Lebuh Temple Kuching.

Lee operates a stall at Sin Ban Chong Cafe at Lebuh Temple Kuching from 7am to 10.30 daily, except Tuesday. On weekends, she operates from a stall at a cafe before the Batu Kawah Bridge. For more information, call 016 897 8699. — DayakDaily