Mr Sambad, Ipoh’s beloved apam balik maker

I was tapau-ing fried rice when I suddenly heard someone call out, “Alex!” Turning around, I saw Saravanan Sambad and his father, Mr Sambad – the apam balik master!

I got to know Mr Sambad through my dad. On one of my trips back to Ipoh, he insisted that I try this apam balik stall in Cherry Park.

Now, I wasn’t even a big fan of apam balik back then.

But I went anyway because Dad is always right … and wow, it was really good.

Sooooo good that I ended up writing a whimsical little story about Mr Sambad for my Navel Gazer column.

Then came the surprise.

I received an email from someone named Saravanan A/L Sambad.

“First of all, I would like to thank you for the article that you wrote in The Star about the Apam Balik man. By the way he is my father. My father was very proud of it after a lot of people approached him regards to this article. I really appreciate for the recognition that you have created for him. He has worked very hard all this years for me and my sister’s education.”

The story doesn’t end there.

A year later, when I was writing for Fireflyz magazine, I suggested featuring Mr Sambad again.

Since this was a proper interview, we needed a photographer.

I found out that Saravanan had left his job to start his own photography business, and thankfully my editor was kind enough to try him out.

I remember going to their home, where Mr Sambad and his wife graciously showed me how apam balik is made. It remains one of the most heartwarming assignments I’ve ever done.

There was one unintended consequence. From that day on, Mr Sambad refused to take my money whenever I went to his stall!!

It came to a point that I started parking further away and sending my mum, my dad, or anyone else in the car to buy the apam balik on my behalf.

So bumping into them again, all these years later, while waiting for fried rice was so sweet.

It was lovely to reconnect with you again, Mr Sambad – and I got a huge craving for apam balik now! 😅