23/05/2026

LYFE SATURDAY | MAY 23, 2026

21

BUZZ SPOTS

Senjaa Bakery Cafe, SKS City Mall Senjaa Bakery Cafe’s first outlet is now open at SKS City Mall, bringing refinement and approachability to diners. The cafe has a 100% no-pork, no-lard concept and it offers freshly baked French artisanal pastries and well presented comfort foods with local flavours. Signature creations include the

Hainan chicken au gratin and chicken sambal sando. Check out hearty dishes such as the slow-braised lamb tagine, signature nasi lemak with ayam berempah and signature asam pedas . Also worth trying are the chicken satay banh mi and the mackerel banh mi . Senjaa Bakery Cafe is open from 10am to 10pm daily.

Village Grocer, Met Galleria Mall As a new flagship store, Village Grocer at Met Galleria Mall (KL Metropolis) features a modern aesthetic and operates with a plastic-free-at-checkout policy. It is located at Lower Ground 1

(The Marketplace) of Met Galleria. The outlet also has dedicated areas for vegan, keto, sugar-free and gluten-free lifestyles, alongside an artisanal deli for fresh bakes. Village Grocer is open from 10am to 10pm daily.

Kissa Cafe & Diner, Menara Alliance Bank Start the day right with a hearty breakfast ranging from freshly baked pastries, toasted paninis and chilled selections including cold salads or yoghurt parfaits. Kissa Cafe & Diner also has Kissa Power Lunches with hearty

Hock Kee Kopitiam, Aeon Mall Kota Bharu Hock Kee Kopitiam has opened its first outlet in Kota Bharu, located at Aeon Mall Kota Bharu, Kelantan. This is the chain’s 20th outlet overall, with the others located primarily in the Klang Valley as well as Johor. The certified halal kopitiam offers a variety of classic Malaysian dishes,

rice bowls and comforting pastas perfect for a quick and satisfying midday meal. The eatery also has signature desserts such as Valhorna chocolate brownies, tiramisu Verrine, molten chocolate fondant and chef’s seasonal cake slice. The cafe is open on weekdays from 7am to 6pm.

including Hock Kee’s signature favourites such as nasi lemak banjir , curry laksa, steamed chicken rice, satay and fried kuey teow. For Johorean folks working in Kelantan, the distant taste of home can be found here in the form of Classic Laksa Johor Asli and Soto Ayam with Nasi Impit and Lontong . Hock Kee Kopitiam is open from 10am to 10pm daily.

Former contractor finds sweet success in premium guava farming HAVI N G struggled with financial difficulties as a contractor since 1984, Lee Lee Chong decided to venture into agriculture seven years ago. Although he faced a few setbacks initially, he eventually found success in guava farming, a business that is now generating impressive returns. sales revenue was around RM80,000 to RM100,000,” said the 64-year- old entrepreneur, adding success, however, did not come easily. Lee shows some of the guavas grown on his farm. varieties,” he told Bernama during a recent interview at his farm, which he operates under Erawish Agriculture Sdn Bhd. According to Lee, the Pearl guava’s key attractions include its white flesh, crunchy texture, fewer seeds and naturally sweet flavour.

He said his initial pandan coconut project was destroyed due to rhinoceros beetle infestations, resulting in losses of nearly RM60,000. His attempt to cultivate 10,000 papaya trees also failed because of unsuitable soil conditions. “Later (in 2019), after meeting an acquaintance from Taiwan, I was introduced to the Pearl guava variety, which stands out for its superior taste and texture that can rival local guava

“In the contracting business, you are bound by agreements whether you make a profit or not – you still have to carry on. So, I thought agriculture might be more suitable for me as it offered a better opportunity to reduce debt risks and achieve faster cash flow as the (projected) monthly

The Perak-born entrepreneur from Bercham said the success of Pearl guava cultivation has also led to the development of several premium varieties including Lohan, Ruby Pink and Watermelon Pink (Lohan Pink), all recognised for their crisp texture and premium quality. Lee who runs the farm together with three business partners said the success of their Pearl guava and pineapple cultivation on 40.47ha of leased land was made possible through strong support and training provided by government agencies such as the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board and the Perak State Agricultural Development Corporation (SADC). “We currently have about 5,000 guava trees of various varieties. Our ‘farm-to-market’ approach has contributed positively to fruit production growth, increasing output to between eight and 10 tonnes per week. If this momentum continues, we

aim to achieve 15 tonnes per harvest in the future,” he said. The father of three added demand for the guavas has surged, particularly from five-star hotels, premium supermarkets and wholesalers in Kuala Lumpur. Aspiring to become a leading premium guava supplier nationwide, Lee said Pearl guava cultivation was especially appealing because the fruit is touted as having health benefits that not many people know of, including boosting immunity, Lee is looking into boosting pineapple production on the farm.

improving digestion, regulating blood sugar levels, lowering blood pressure and improving one’s complexion. He added that his farm, which received RM100,000 in interest-free financing from SADC to strengthen crop production, also focuses on pineapple cultivation and has received RM250,000 from the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board to start a night farming project equipped with solar systems and Internet of Things technology. The system includes temperature, pH and humidity monitoring to enhance crop quality and productivity. The farm currently has 350,000 pineapple plants.

Lee’s farm of guava trees and pineapple plants covers an area of over 40ha. – PICS FROM BERNAMA