Subak - Key Happenings in Nov/Dec 08

So, this is my first blog entry for the soon-to-be opened restaurant called Subak. Since the first time I laid my eyes on the site back in May/June 08, my enthusiasm and belief in it has grown ten-fold, partly due to its off-the-beaten-track location, but more so due to its cool natural setting, interesting concept and of course it's potential to become the next hit restaurant in the Klang Valley!!!

I'm really glad Badrul recommended Chef Hassan (ex PJ Hilton & Avillion PD Executive Chef) as I instantly knew that what this place has in location and ambiance, it also needed a world-class chef to translate all that onto the dinner plate. So, once Chef said yes, it's just a matter of filling in the other positions in this small team.

1-30 Nov 08
Once Chef left for a 6 week assignment in Mecca, the construction continued slowly but surely, and while juggling responsibilities at the club, I took any opportunity I had to check its progress so that our targetted opening date of mid-Dec 08 can be achieved.

The most gorgeous tiles showed up, and finally the entire restaurant floor took on a more exclusive look. The kitchen floor and wall tiles were also completed, which allowed the workers to move on to the next big task.

One day a few hundred kilos of wood appeared, and hey presto...wooden decking of the coolest kind miraculously appeared all along the front of Subak, around the pool, as well on the hillside. It only took the skilled Madura workers a week to construct a 12' wide deck, which gave me a tonne of ideas in terms of the type of events or bookings we can accommodate. After uncle mentioned Kabus (which is Subak spelt backwards), I thought that would be a fitting name to give the raised decking on the slope.

I met quite a number of POS (point of sale) and coffee machine suppliers to get quotes, as well as a quote for Gurkha security guards from Abang Is, and forwarded them to Boy for Uncle to make the final decision.

1 - 18 December 2008
Grass was then planted, which now gives a soothing feel to the overall site. The kitchen equipment arrived, and boy was it exciting checking out what the next box contained. Babe commandeered the un-loading, while I and Unc Taib referred to Chef's floor plan to arrange each item.

Chuang & Nigel from Cuscapi came to explain their system, as well as go thru the confirmed modules. Arranged a day for Sham and I to check out their demo system at their Peremba Square office.

Farouk & I painted all river stones around the pond with lacquer, which gives them a nicer gleam in the light, and adds a bit of character to each of them. A funny thing happened today when Boy brought some visitors over while I was still in the pond painting the rocks. They might have thought that I was one of the Madura builders, and when Boy introduced me to them, and I whipped out my brand-new business card, I swear I must have detected the sudden intake of air and shocked looks on their faces....oh god, the guy painting in the pond is the manager of this restaurant???!!! Met Chef Benny Yiu, a Master Dim Sum chef from Hong Kong, who supplies to most 5 star hotels.

Finally the tables, chairs, large decorative light shade and huge water pot arrived from Bali. After opening 2 chairs and 1 square table, Sham & Babe set it up facing the Lanai deck, and I must admit that its gorgeous!! But the huge vase created a stir due to its sheer size, and of course its weight (is it really 1 tonne??) Anyhow, I can't wait to see a huge crane, lift this huge pot up to set it down on the pillar in the pond.

Tonight I will sleep with images of beautiful teak furniture, giant water vase made from volcanic rock, painting lacquer all day long in the sun, and Chef Benny cooking some delicious dim sum...zz zzzzzzzzzzzz

2 weeks ago I conducted a food tasting cum photo session of KGPA's lunch promotion for Dec 08.

Chef Heng came up with some pretty delicious dishes, and with my trusty 3.2 megapixel Canon camera, I'm pretty proud of the outcome. Check these shots out....

Saturday, 6th December 2008

So, today is Saturday, which is one day after I put in my resignation letter to AP. Somehow the morning appeared brighter and cheerier, in a weird kinda way, with birds singing and the sun rays streaming down ........(ok ok, that's too Bollywood for my liking!!)

After a week of mixed emotions, I finally decided to put in my letter, but instead of a one page affair, I came up with a 4 page masterpiece. It consisted of my usual thanks to certain individuals, followed by my observation since joining AP last June 08.

Anyway, the morning started off with mak telling me of Kak Mons phone call éarly this morning. It seems Bg Mi came home, and told Kak Mon that he wants to meet Mak, and that he misses her. He has been dreaming of Aruah Abah and Mak, and it seems Abah told him to see Mak. Well, I said Alhamdullillah and that it was better later than never.

Well, after a nice tosai breakfast with my little family, my entire morning was spent preparing the silly INTAN Dining Etiquette EO and Menu card for next Wednesday. Sham kept himself busy playing Solitaire, it is his last day today. By 12pm, the EO's & menus were ready, so I took just 30 minutes to pack away my things in a medium sized box, (a far cry from my hotel junk which normally filled a large box).

We went to Golfer Terrace for Sham to dig into some Nasi Ayam with Wan, while I waited for Azie to pick me up. We spoke about good times, and the hope that AP will realise that they're sitting on a gold mine, and invest in some much needed equipments etc.

Azie picked my up at 1pm, and before we reached home, we stopped over at the garage sale to check it out. Got some unique hats, while Azie bought some nice paper bags. Got home at 2pm and settled down to a light lunch of rice and grilled chicken. Azie bundled off the girls for a nap, while I caught up on some TV time. Bg Nizam, Kak Ah, Nial and Dini popped in at 4pm. By 430pm, my eyelids were so heavy, so had a short nap and got up to send Rina to the Pekeliling Bus Station. It was a nice slow drive to KL, and after dropping Rina off, we went straight home.

Pak Uda, Untie Shaleen, Izaleen and Izdan came over at 645pm and stayed till 830pm. Azie cooked a delicious fettucine with seafood and eggplants for dinner. Called Pius to get directions to the hall for tomorrow's wedding, and found out that all this while, the actual location of the hall was within the Masjid Sallehuddin Al Ayubi compound. After Pak Uda left, got down to update my long neglected blog, and look forward for
tomorrow to come.