KUALA LUMPUR - A longing for the lively atmosphere of the family gatherings that took place at his ancestral home sparked an idea for a man to transform the outdoor space of the house left behind by his late parents into a quaint café.
Mohd Rizal Baharuddin, the owner of The 28 Café located in Taman Shahjaya in Cheras here, did not make any renovation as he wanted to preserve the original features of the 50-year-old house as well as the lush greenery of the sprawling garden.
There is even a sturdy swing hanging from a rambutan tree in the yard, evoking childhood nostalgia.
What Mohd Rizal has done is put up parasols in the outdoor area and placed tables and chairs under them for patrons to relax and enjoy a beverage or slice of cake whilst admiring the serene beauty of the over 20 species of flowers blooming in their surroundings.
The former teacher said his inspiration to maintain the green elements of the café stems from continuing his parents’ legacy as they were passionate about gardening.
"My mom passed away in 2015 and my dad in 2018. Both of them loved gardening so much and the plants they nurtured for over 50 years are still thriving today, including orchids, monstera, calathea, bougainvillaea and bird’s nest fern,” he said.
He also said transforming his parents’ house into a café came naturally to him as he is a coffee drinker.
"Every morning, I start my day with coffee, and I love being at home. Coincidentally, my business partner also enjoys gardening, so it felt like a way to continue my parents’ legacy. Then we thought, why not open a home-based café, especially since places like these are gaining popularity,” he told Bernama in a recent interview.
While Western cuisine is the main focus of his café’s menu, it also offers nasi lemak, prepared using a recipe handed down from his late mother.
"The response to our nasi lemak has been overwhelmingly positive, as reflected in Google reviews. Many people say it stands out from others because it’s truly home-cooked, just like how my mom used to make it,” said Mohd Rizal.
Mohd Rizal, who opened The 28 Café in February this year, said the family home is like a living diary, storing countless sweet memories, including vivid recollections of his late mother cooking delicious meals for guests.
"I can still picture my late mom watering the plants around the house daily. She used to say that if you want plants to thrive, you must talk to them regularly.
"During festive seasons like Hari Raya, this house was the gathering spot for my relatives, including those from Kuantan, Pahang. We would even celebrate birthdays here,” he said. - BERNAMA