After testing the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus during a trip to Sarawak in October, I managed to also do some Kuching food photography with the unique food mode on the smartphone.
For the foodies visiting Kuching, you should also know that besides the popular Sarawakian food like Laksa, Kolo Mee, and Ayam Pansoh, there is also many other interesting local food available.
And for this special article, I will be featuring some of the more obscure local delicacies found around Kuching with all the photos taken with the food mode on the Galaxy Note 10 Plus.
And for this special article, I will be featuring some of the more obscure local delicacies found around Kuching with all the photos taken with the food mode on the Galaxy Note 10 Plus.
Galaxy Note 10 Plus Food Mode Review
 |
| The food mode is available when you launch the camera application. |
Forst of all, you should know that the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus comes with some incredible AI or artificial intelligence for the camera, which results in superior smartphone photography.
This is, of course, thanks to the advanced Snapdragon 855 processor chip by Qualcomm that comes built-in with the smartphone.
The AI for the camera is so intelligent that it compensates for the food's lighting and colouring and results in a more realistic photo.
As for the three cameras found at the back of the phone, I wouldn't worry too much about that as it is built for different photography modes.
If you want to read more about the technical details, you can check out my Galaxy Note 10 Plus camera review article.
How to get to the Food Mode on Note 10?
When you launch the camera app, just swipe the modes to the right until you reach the food mode, which simply says 'food'.
Once you are in that mode, you will see a radial blur box that you can pinch to enlarge or make smaller. This de-focuses the area around the food subject, giving it a nice bokeh.
The AI for the food mode in the camera also automatically adjusts everything so that the photo turns out as realistic as possible. This simply means that you need not enhance the photo to post it.
Alright, let us get on with the food mode review of the Note 10 Plus, and for the record, all the food here is non-Halal with pork used in the ingredients.
1. Heng Hua Pa Mee
 |
| Henghua Pa Mee was photographed with the food mode on the Note 10 Plus. |
This is one of the rather rare and unique Chinese dishes that I have tried, and it was the first time in my life trying this Heng Hua Pa Mee. The English name would probably be Henghua Noodles.
Apparently, making this noodle is tiresome; hence, not many people are eager to go through making this.
However, there are probably a few people who still passionately do this in Kuching commercially.
However, there are probably a few people who still passionately do this in Kuching commercially.
Henghua is a group of Putian Chinese people that cook this dish for home consumption, especially during ceremonies or celebrations. However, in recent years, some have taken this to the commercial level.
 |
| Using the food mode on the Galaxy Note 10 Plus for this closeup photo |
The photo above was taken at night and at one of the popular food courts called Peach Garden Food Center, just out of Kuching city. It cost only RM6.00 for the tediously prepared bowl.
It was fascinating that they infused the kacang (peanuts) with prawns and egg, considering that the overall taste was rather nice.
When you visit Peach Garden food court, you just need to look for the stall that sells the Henghua Pa Mee.
Where: Peach Garden Food Center
1460, Lorong Song 4B, Tabuan Heights, 93350 Kuching, Sarawak
2. Foochow Fried Noodles (Fen Gan)
 |
| A closeup of the Foochow Fried Noodles taken with the food mode and showing the bokeh around it |
I have to say that whenever you mix wine in any kind of food, it tends to turn out a little different from your usual street food fixture.
This dish is simply called Foochow fried mee or noodles and was tried at Meekwong Cafe, a specialized Foochow coffee shop in Kuching. In Chinese, it is known as Fen Gan.
The colour of the noodles comes from the Chinese red wine that is commonly used in most Foochow dishes. Most of the noodles are specially made by the Foochow people and are available at selected markets or suppliers.
 |
| A wide-shot of the Fen Gan Foochow fried noodles photographed with the Note 10 Plus |
The trick in eating numerous Foochow delicacies is to go in a group of friends and then order the many different types of Foochow dishes and share them.
While this dish is more common among the local Foochow and Kuching people, visitors would not know how to order this unless you bring a local with you.
In my case, good friend Heidi from Kuching had introduced me to the fascinating world of Foochow food in Kuching, and there have been no regrets in trying them all.
Where: Meekwong Cafe
Lot 249, Jalan Song Thian Cheok, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak
3. Foochow Braised Fried Noodles
Again at Meekwong Cafe, I managed to also try the Cha Zhu Mien or Foochow fried braised noodles. Though I expected it to be fried, it came in a lot of gravy, almost like a soup dish.
It sounds confusing, but from what I asked, the name is fried braised noodles, and it is also cooked with Chinese red wine that gives this dish a distinctive flavour.
The bottom line is that if you are open to tasting unique and different kinds of Chinese food, this place is highly recommended.
As mentioned earlier above, it is also best to come in a group and order multiple Foochow dishes and share them. Not to worry, as the restaurant does provide small serving dishes for those who want to try several dishes.
3. Foochow Braised Fried Noodles
 |
| The fascinating Cha Zhu Mien or Fried Braised Noodles in Foochow style |
It sounds confusing, but from what I asked, the name is fried braised noodles, and it is also cooked with Chinese red wine that gives this dish a distinctive flavour.
The bottom line is that if you are open to tasting unique and different kinds of Chinese food, this place is highly recommended.
 |
| The Foochow fried braised noodles that come in soupy style |
Where: Meekwong Cafe
Lot 249, Jalan Song Thian Cheok, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak
4. Kampua Bee Hoon Foochow Style
Over the last 15 years, I have tried many Sarawak Kolo Noodles and Kampua Noodles from Kuching to Miri, but this one was a first for me.
Kampua noodles are purely Foochow and can be found around Sarawak, namely in Sibu in Central Sarawak. But at Meekwong Cafe in Kuching, they serve this Kampua Bee Hoon dish which is very interesting.
Again, Chinese red cooking wine is generously used in preparing this dish which comes in gravy style with decent portions of Chasau (Char Siew or Roasted Pork).
To be very honest, it tastes completely different from the regular Kampua noodles that everyone is used to, and I believe it is the wine. The noodles are soft and easy to consume, while the overall taste has a strong Chinese wine flavour.
 |
| A more unique dish called Kampua Bee Hoon and done in Foochow style |
Kampua noodles are purely Foochow and can be found around Sarawak, namely in Sibu in Central Sarawak. But at Meekwong Cafe in Kuching, they serve this Kampua Bee Hoon dish which is very interesting.
 |
| A closeup of the Kampua Bee Hoon taken with the food mode on the Galaxy Note 10 Plus |
To be very honest, it tastes completely different from the regular Kampua noodles that everyone is used to, and I believe it is the wine. The noodles are soft and easy to consume, while the overall taste has a strong Chinese wine flavour.
Where: Meekwong Cafe
Lot 249, Jalan Song Thian Cheok, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak
5. Ding Bian Hu (Pot Side Paste)
One of the most interesting dishes I tried on this trip is Ding Bian Hu, otherwise translated as Pot Side Paste or Wok Side Paste.
Honestly, it is a very long story on how this dish is prepared, and if I were to explain it here, you would find this article starting to get boring.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, rice flour is poured around the wok and scraped to mix with the broth to come out with this strange dish.
So, why is this Foochow dish special? Because no one wants to make it due to the incredibly long process.
In Kuching, you can find this particular dish sold at Peach Garden Food Center and take note that the person selling this may or may not be open. So it is all luck when you visit this food centre.
5. Ding Bian Hu (Pot Side Paste)
 |
| Ding Bian Hu is probably the rarest and interesting dish I tried in Kuching. |
Honestly, it is a very long story on how this dish is prepared, and if I were to explain it here, you would find this article starting to get boring.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, rice flour is poured around the wok and scraped to mix with the broth to come out with this strange dish.
 |
| A close up on the food mode of the Note 10 Plus |
In Kuching, you can find this particular dish sold at Peach Garden Food Center and take note that the person selling this may or may not be open. So it is all luck when you visit this food centre.
Where: Peach Garden Food Center
1460, Lorong Song 4B, Tabuan Heights, 93350 Kuching, Sarawak
6. Foochow Fried Mee Soup
Any of the Foochow dishes continue to impress me, and this time, it is a fried noodle in soup simply called Fried Mee Soup. I'm sure there is some deep Foochow name for this, but I didn't ask.
So, this dish came with a lot of gravy, looking like a soupy dish and judging from the colour, you guessed it - Chinese cooking red wine dominates again.
The noodles are fried first before the soup base is added, creating an unfamiliar and unique taste for noodles. Pork pieces and some vegetables are also added to the dish.
I think if I were to order this dish and eat it alone, I would have missed out on the many other similar dishes at Meekwong Cafe. Thank god we were in a small group and ordered multiple dishes to share.
If you are not comfortable with the heavy taste of Chinese cooking red wine, I recommend you skip this dish and try some other Foochow dish at the cafe.
Finally, we move on from the Foochow food to some of the other popular local dishes in Kuching. This time it is the very well known pork satay found at Carpenter Street in the city area.
For anyone who visits Kuching, this place is also known as the Temple Food Court or Lau Ya Keng Food Court, directly opposite one of the temples on the main street here.
The place is now a tourist magnet with many Malaysians, Singaporeans and even Chinese visitors coming here to eat some of Sarawak's most popular foods sold here.
You can find the popular Sarawak Laksa, Kolo Mee, Fishball and Pork Noodles, and of course - the Pork Satay.
To be very honest, you need to try this when you are here to pass judgment, as everyone has different expectations for certain foods. For me, this is pretty high on my nice food list.
Oh, and if you plan to come here, please do so at about 10.30 or 11.00 in the morning as it does get overcrowded from 11.00 am onwards.
Where: Lau Ya Keng Food Court aka Temple Food Court in Kuching
23, Carpenter Street, 93000 Kuching, Sarawak
8. Kolo Mee Special
6. Foochow Fried Mee Soup
 |
| Another popular Foochow dish called Fried Mee Soup |
So, this dish came with a lot of gravy, looking like a soupy dish and judging from the colour, you guessed it - Chinese cooking red wine dominates again.
The noodles are fried first before the soup base is added, creating an unfamiliar and unique taste for noodles. Pork pieces and some vegetables are also added to the dish.
 |
| The food mode on the Note 10 Plus gives a nice focus on the centre of the dish. |
If you are not comfortable with the heavy taste of Chinese cooking red wine, I recommend you skip this dish and try some other Foochow dish at the cafe.
Where: Meekwong Cafe
Lot 249, Jalan Song Thian Cheok, 93100 Kuching, Sarawak
7. Carpenter Street Pork Satay
7. Carpenter Street Pork Satay
 |
| The famous Carpenter Street Pork Satay was photographed on the food mode. |
For anyone who visits Kuching, this place is also known as the Temple Food Court or Lau Ya Keng Food Court, directly opposite one of the temples on the main street here.
The place is now a tourist magnet with many Malaysians, Singaporeans and even Chinese visitors coming here to eat some of Sarawak's most popular foods sold here.
You can find the popular Sarawak Laksa, Kolo Mee, Fishball and Pork Noodles, and of course - the Pork Satay.
To be very honest, you need to try this when you are here to pass judgment, as everyone has different expectations for certain foods. For me, this is pretty high on my nice food list.
Oh, and if you plan to come here, please do so at about 10.30 or 11.00 in the morning as it does get overcrowded from 11.00 am onwards.
Where: Lau Ya Keng Food Court aka Temple Food Court in Kuching
23, Carpenter Street, 93000 Kuching, Sarawak
8. Kolo Mee Special
 |
| This is everything thrown into the Kolo Mee and photographed with the food mode. |
There is no doubt that anyone who visits Kuching will eventually try the famous Kolo Mee in either non-Halal or the Malay Halal version with chicken replacing the pork.
At Lau Ya Keng Food Court along Carpenter Street, the Kolo Mee here is also well-known due to the extra special ingredients that can be added.
Well, you can just order the standard bowl, but you must inform them when you order; otherwise, you will get the special as photographed above.
My view on this stall is not worth it as it is mass prepared; hence, they have lost the passion for making a good bowl of noodles.
But most visitors to Kuching will definitely try this here, so please note that this is far from the original taste of Kolo Mee.
Where: Lau Ya Keng Food Court aka Temple Food Court in Kuching
23, Carpenter Street, 93000 Kuching, Sarawak
Conclusion
Well, there you have it, a much-awaited food review from me, which I hardly do, but since I was testing the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus smartphone, I took the opportunity to explore the food mode.
Kuching is accessible via flights from Kuala Lumpur and many other major cities around Malaysia and from Singapore and some other Southeast Asian countries.
It is also recommended that you spend at least three to four days in Kuching to fully explore the city and its surroundings. I have also written about what you can do in Kuching when you are here.
If you have any questions about the Note 10 Plus food mode or the featured food here, leave me a message in the comment form below.
And finally, I hope you liked this review of the Food Mode on the Galaxy Note 10 Plus smartphone.
 |
| An ultra-wide photo of Kuching prominent landmark taken with the Note 10 Plus |
Well, there you have it, a much-awaited food review from me, which I hardly do, but since I was testing the Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus smartphone, I took the opportunity to explore the food mode.
Kuching is accessible via flights from Kuala Lumpur and many other major cities around Malaysia and from Singapore and some other Southeast Asian countries.
It is also recommended that you spend at least three to four days in Kuching to fully explore the city and its surroundings. I have also written about what you can do in Kuching when you are here.
If you have any questions about the Note 10 Plus food mode or the featured food here, leave me a message in the comment form below.
And finally, I hope you liked this review of the Food Mode on the Galaxy Note 10 Plus smartphone.