20/09/2025

LYFE SATURDAY | SEPT 20, 2025

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Malaysian Paper

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F OR urbanites weary of the city’s daily rush, sipping a cup of coffee under the shade of tall trees, with Bukit Tabur in sight and the Klang River flowing gently nearby, is a rare kind of soul therapy – or healing – in the heart of the capital. That is the experience offered by a village-inspired cafe tucked away in Taman Melawati. Here, visitors are transported into a kampung -like atmosphere without leaving Kuala Lumpur. Spread across two hectares, Putri D’Rimba and Kopi & Keju greets guests with free-roaming village chickens, the calls of birds and the refreshing scent of damp leaves – a scene reminiscent of traditional kampung life. Its founder Abdul Ghoffar Md Noor, 38, said the idea came from his longing for his hometown in Kedah, after more than 22 years of living in the city. “I wanted to go back to nature – to find peace surrounded by greenery. The concept is simple: to give city folks the feeling of returning to the village, even while still in the city,” he said. A father of seven, Abdul Ghoffar added that since the cafe opened five months ago, not a single tree was felled for its construction. Instead, improvements were made to infrastructure without disturbing the ecosystem. Better known as Oppat, Abdul Ghoffar said his 28 years’s experience as a silat practitioner also influenced the cafe’s design, which reflects Malay traditions and rural life. Built entirely under the shade of trees, the open-air cafe features iron tables and large umbrellas resembling village stalls, while five food vendors serve local favourites such as boiled cassava, banana fritters and traditional cakes. The highlight, however, is the kampung -style woodfire coffee – brewed over firewood using beans sourced from Kedah. “It’s not just a drink, it’s an experience. People can watch the brewing process. Even the smoky aroma is enough to remind them of the old days,” he said. A cup of coffee is priced from RM5. Looking ahead, Abdul Ghoffar hopes to make the cafe a hub for cultural expression by encouraging visitors to dress in traditional kampung -style attire such as sarongs, pagoda T-shirts or batik. “We want people to feel comfortable dressing in traditional outfits. Ideally, all communities –

The village-inspired café tucked away in Taman Melawati offers city folks soul therapy or healing.

Woodfire coffee brews kampung feel in Taman Melawati

o Putri D’Rimba and Kopi & Keju lets city folks unwind in village setting, escape from daily rush

parts separated) 4-5 slices of ginger, cut into thin shreds 4 garlic cloves, minced ½ red chilli, sliced into rings Marinade: 1 tbsp of oyster sauce 1 tbsp of soy sauce A pinch of ground white pepper Some Chek Hup Diamond Rock Sugar One-third tsp salt 1 tbsp of potato starch Instructions 1. Prepare the fried dace Open the can of fried dace with salted black beans. Slice half the fish into larger chunks and set aside – these will be placed on top “Through this programme, we raised funds to support the needy, including the asnaf , orphans, single mothers and others in need,” he said. – Bernama Recently, the cafe hosted the Malam Malaysia Legenda 2025 programme, organised by the Yayasan Bekas Anggota Perisikan Tentera Malaysia in conjunction with Malaysia Day celebrations. Its chairman, Datuk Seri Yahaya Saad, said the event not only celebrated culture and tradition but also helped the underprivileged earn income through small business opportunities.

STEAMED CHICKEN WITH FRIED DACE AND SALTED BLACK BEANS A homestyle dish full of rich umami and comforting textures, this steamed chicken is elevated with canned fried dace, salted black beans and a fragrant blend of aromatics, making it a go-to for weeknight dinners. Ingredients Main: ½ chicken, chopped into bite-sized pieces 1 can of fried dace with salted black beans 3-4 scallions (white and green Malay, and Kadazan – should wear their traditional clothing to celebrate together,” said Abdul Ghoffar, who runs the cafe with his wife Idayu Raty Razali. To enhance the experience, he screens films using a projector, making the cafe a cosy spot for families and friends to unwind in a village setting. “Some visitors come all the way from Melaka and Penang just to experience this. They say places like this have long disappeared, and being here immediately sparks nostalgia,” he said. Chinese, Indian TASTY RECIPE

A rustic atmosphere greets visitors at Putri D’Rimba and Kopi & Keju in Taman Melawati. – PICS FROM BERNAMA

chopped fried dace. Toss to coat evenly. 4. Steam Transfer the marinated chicken to a plate. Place the larger slices of fried dace on top. Steam over high heat for about 10 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked. 5. Garnish and serve Remove from the heat and garnish with sliced red chilli and chopped scallion greens. Serve with rice. Tips Placing the larger slices of fried dace on top not only protects the chicken from drying out during steaming — it also keeps the fish intact and delivers a satisfying contrast in texture with the tender chicken beneath.

of the chicken. Finely chop the remaining half and mash the black beans with the back of a spoon. 2. Prep the aromatics Slice the ginger into thin shreds. Mince the garlic. Separate the white and green parts of the scallions – use the white parts for marinating and reserve the green tops for garnish. Slice the red chilli into thin rings. 3. Marinate the chicken Rinse and drain the chicken pieces. In a bowl, mix with oyster sauce, soy sauce, white pepper, Chek Hup Diamond Rock Sugar, salt and potato starch. Mix until the chicken turns slightly sticky. Then add in ginger, garlic, white scallion parts, the mashed black beans and the