Influenced by grandma’s passion

FOOD has always played a big part in Ben Lee’s life. His father was a hawker who could cook up delightful servings in his wok.

His late grandmother, a nonya, was well-known for her peranakan dishes. Both of them, especially his grandmother, were to have an immense influence in Lee’s choice of career.

The 39-year-old executive chef at Awana Porto Malai Langkawi says: “My father cooked so well that my mother gladly let him cook all the family meals.”

While he learned to cook Chinese dishes from his father, Lee admits that it was his grandmother who first sparked off his interest in cooking.

“As a child, I used to watch her tumbuk (pound) sambal belacan. She loved to eat ulam with sambal belacan.”

Now, it’s Lee’s turn to cook up a storm at the Villa Rossi restaurant. His new menu features traditional Italian fare. He has a four-course set menu for two, priced at RM160, which starts with a tangy, refreshing seafood salad of poached king prawn, seared scallop, avocado and crisp garden salad with a bell pepper dressing.

Next is a hearty zuppa di pomodoro (tomato soup), followed by the main course — a choice of medallion of beef or black cod fillet — served with fettuccine in a creamy mushroom peppercorn sauce. This comes with side dishes of potato croquette and asparagus tips.

The grilled cod is fresh and moist while meat lovers would appreciate the tender beef. “Personally, I would choose fish because I seldom eat red meat,” says Lee.

To go with the meal, diners can have the house-pouring wine or sparkling juice.

For dessert, there’s coffee chocolate pralines and white cappuccino bavaroise, an egg-based custard combined with coffee. Smothered in cream and garnished with a thin sliver of chocolate, this is served with an edible basket made from brown sugar and filled with strawberries and grapes.

Located on Awana Porto Malai’s boardwalk terrace, Villa Rossi offers a variety of seafood and meat dishes to enjoy with a great view of the sea.

And of course, there are pasta dishes such as a chicken ravioli with French basil cream (RM28.50) and spaghetti alla cozze con siracusani (RM26.50).

The restaurant is open daily from 6pm to 1am except Wednesday.