BANGI: If you like pineapple-inspired Western-Eastern cuisine and baked goodies as well as musical performances, look no further than Pine Kitchen Bangi here.
It is a one-stop centre which caters fpr dining, catering, corporate functions, event ceremonies, food and beverage, and restaurant design consultancy. It even has a premium denim and apparel provider Mavi Jeans.
Having begun full operation in late October, this unique fusion is the brainchild of partners Major (Rtd) Mohamad Zahiri Zainuddin, Ady Mat Noor, Datin Sri Zulina Kasmuri, and Datuk Seri Mohd Nizam Kasa.
When met at the launch of the unique business concept here today, Zahiri said it seeks to be a pioneer and catering venture based on pineapple.
Standing within a unique semi-open door compound constructed out of seven containers, bricked walls and floor as well as roof, he said the venture seeks to help visitors enjoy the services of the separate businesses under one roof.
“We aim to be a mini hard-rock (cafe) which it serves as a one-stop centre. Everything can be found here. Food, fashion, entertainment.
“We want to introduce a high-class environment but at an affordable price where everyone can eat in a lovely environment. Hotel-level service at warung prices,” said Zahiri, 42.
In regards to the unique food available here, Ady, 40, said that many of the items on the menu were pineapple based.
“Beverages, food, drink, appetiser, dessert are all pineapple-based.
“Among the examples of apple-based highlights available are succulent meltique beef steak served with high-grade MD2 pineapple, colek empat serangkai, pineapple fried rice and pineapple juice,” he said.
Ady said that patrons would also get to enjoy a delicious choice of Oriental local Asian cuisine as well as Arabic and Western cooking, pastry and baked items.
“Among these Oriental cuisine are Chinese-style cooking, Malay food, as well as Thai food and Western-style food,” he said.
Ady noted that patrons also have a choice of enjoying Negri Sembilan cooking, itik salai, daging salai, with pineapple puree, among others.
“The prices are reasonable, drinks between RM1.60 to RM15, and food from RM5 to RM54,” he said, adding that visitors can also enjoy a barista corner at Pine Kitchen Bangi, which provides hawker style drinks to premium drinks.
Zahiri said the idea for the venture was birthed when his 20-acre pineapple plantation in Penang was destroyed in floods last year, costing him between RM300,000 and RM400,000 in losses.
As it takes a year to restart a pineapple plantation, he decided to go into the food business as there is a constant demand for food, and that business could be boosted with the pineapple plantation.
Zahiri said he then raised the idea with Nizam, who is a defence contractor, and they came up with the idea for the setting up the Pine Kitchen Group.
The venture utilises the strength of each partner, with Mavi Malaysia managing director Zulina, 38, providing the boutique side and Ady providing the culinary expertise.
Zahiri was to supply the pineapples from the plantation, with Nizam, 38, being respobsible for the construction of the restaurant-entertainment-boutique compound.
“Our first outlet was set up near the (pineapple) plantation at Juru, Penang,” he said.
Pine Kitchen Bangi launched here today by Chief Secretary to the government Datuk Seri Dr Ismail Bakar is the second outlet.
The Mavi Jeans outlet is targeted to be opened on the compound here by the end of December.