BY DIYANA SAMSUDDIN
KUCHING: If you are in Metrocity Matang, watch out for 20’s Kitchen, a Western food outlet located by the main road to Batu Kawa.
20’s Kitchen belongs to Syed Mohammad Syafiq Wan Madhi, 28, who worked for three years as an assistant chef at a leading resort.
Syafiq started his food business three years ago with the help of a small and medium enterprise (SME) fund and help from his family members.
“I started by renting a small stall at someone else’s premises,” he said.
Good response from customers later prompted him to rent a premises belonging to his uncle in a shop house in Kubah Ria.
After a year at the location, Syafiq decided to expand 20’s Kitchen by renting a larger premises in Metrocity Matang. That was in March this year.
“The prices (and quantities) are the same as before and can be as low as RM44 for a set from among seven main menus.
“The set consists of grilled chicken, grilled lamb, fried potatoes, mashed potatoes, spaghetti, meatballs and Korean fried chicken. It can be shared by two to three people,” he explained, adding that he cooks all the food himself.
“Roasted chicken and lamb are marinated with ingredients that I made myself. I use fresh chicken and mutton instead of stock stored in the refrigerator for a long time. I use freshly purchased and marinated meat,” he said.
Syafiq also makes all the meatballs using his own recipe.
“They are made from premium meat, not the kind of meat that contains bad bones or fat.
“Meatballs are among the specialties of 20’s Kitchen.
“The same goes for the Bolognese gravy for our spaghetti dishes. The gravy is also cooked based on my own recipe and includes premium beef to ensure that the taste of the spaghetti is comparable to the spaghetti at fancy restaurant,” he said.
Syafiq also explained that 20’s Kitchen also made its own mashed potatoes.
“I add milk for extra taste,” he said.
A hot favourite with his customers is the Korean fried chicken dish.
“The chicken wings and thighs are fried with our special flour and then it is coated with a Korean-style sauce that I made myself.
“Customers who like spicy food really like this menu,” he explained, adding that the crispy fried chicken coated with Korean sauce had its own unique taste.
Syafiq revealed that 20’s Kitchen would be introducing an American-style breakfast set after Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
“I find that the American-style breakfast set is very popular in our society. These dishes are also easy to prepare. In the morning, people want to get to the office fast or start their day early.
“In Petra Jaya, there are not many premises that provide American-style breakfast sets,” he said.
In the future, 20’s Kitchen will also introduce a lunch set at an affordable price.
“The lunch set will be planned after seeing the success of the breakfast set,” said Syafiq.
He added that 20’s Kitchen might expand by opening another branch in the next two years.
For those who want to enjoy good food, 20’s Kitchen opens every Tuesday to Sunday from 5pm to 10pm.
