Tired of having your meals on the 5-foot-ways, amidst the noisy bustles and the suffocating fumes of the city traffic?
“Well, it is either there or in the comfy confines of the malls.”
So you think.
Wouldn’t you just love to break away and get “refreshed”? Have you ever dreamed of enjoying a fantastic meal under the cool and airy shade of trees and plants, breathing in the fresh fragrance of colourful flowers and with an ape for companion?
If you would love to, then “bundle” your family in and head out along Penrissen Road to the countryside, away from the smog and humid city. Just 5 miles up the road, make a U-turn to your right . Then another 500 metres, on your left is your destination: “Rainforest Garden Cafe”.
What had started off as a nursery selling fruit plants saplings, several species of orchids and flowers, pots, statuettes, fountains and other garden decorations, and with a little canteen serving “ais kacang” (a bowl of red beans in shaved ice), has now branched and developed into an enterprising place to enjoy a quiet and refreshing day.
“It is a family business that started 14 years ago.”, said Dixon Teo, the Manager. “In the beginning, we were selling plants and doing landscaping as our business. Later, we set up a small canteen selling refreshments such as “ais kacang”, banana fritters and my grandmother’s special recipe, “luicha” ( a Hakka traditional vegetable dish).
Asked to comment on the impressive set-up and decoration of the cafe, Dixon and his fiancee, Michelle, said they both studied “interior design” and have always wanted to expand the canteen and food business.
“ We came out with a new concept of “kopitiam” – one that is in collaboration with nature. We wanted to create a change in dining style – one that is inexpensive; and we make good use of the assets before us, such as the statuettes, fountains, flowers and plants to decorate the cafe.
Dixon said that besides running the cafe and selling flowers, plants and pots, they are also in the “interior design” and landscaping business.
A first-time customer, Geraldine Atau, who was there with friends, looking for flowers to buy said they were surprised to find the cafe. The Bidayuh lass, an employee of a construction company, said the last time she was there, the place was just a nursery.
“Today,we decided to try out the cafe and find the ambiance great and the cafe a cool and ideal place to meet-up for chats and discussions. The prices of the food and drinks are reasonable too. I plan to bring my family here”, said Geraldine.
Her fiance, Marieo Jiken, an associate director of an engineering firm, echoed her comments. “We were so surprised and excited about this place that we immediately “whatsapp” our friends, and not long after that, Johnson came”, said Marieo, pointing to a friend sitting beside him.
“Kuching should have more nice places like this, suitable for relaxing and to unwind. I too plan to take my family here”, said Johnson, a Chinese and colleague of Marieo’s.
The 3 friends said they plan to order another round of refreshments to enjoy the ambiance longer.
At another table sat a Bidayuh family from Kpg. Semeba: Cindy Laura, Anna Tinia and their mum, Merin.
“ Surrounded by the greenery, the plants and flowers, this place is environmentally- friendly and an ideal place to relax in. There is also a wide variety of food and drinks to choose from, such as Western food and local food, such as laksa. More local dishes would attract foreign tourists to stop here”, said Cindy Laura.
Among other local dishes the Rainforest Garden Cafe offers a wide range of “Fried Rice”, such as “Kampong-style”, “Chinese”, “Sambal”, “Pattaya”, “Pineapple” and “Corned Beef”, priced between RM 5.00 – RM7.80.
In their “Noodles” menu are “Tomato Sauce”, “Cantonese – style”, “Fried Beehoon” and “Mee Mamak” priced between RM5.00 – RM 6.50.
“American Breakfast” priced between RM5.90 – RM9.90.
Also available are “Nasi Lemak”, “Popo Hakka Luicha”, “Lok-lok”, and “Clay-pot” dishes.
The Muslim Food section serves “Kolo mee”, “Rojak”, “Bihun belacan” priced at RM6.00 and “Bamboo chicken” priced at RM15.00.
At the Fresh Blends section, Iced-blended Soursop, Pineapple, Green Bean and Sweet Corn are priced at RM4.90.
An iced-blended “Musang King” Durian costs RM11.90 and Nangka cost RM8.90 each, while ABC and kacang served in shaved-ice cost RM2.80.
It is important to note that Rainforest Garden Cafe serves no pork. The Cafe closes every Monday (except when Monday is a Public Holiday).
