For
a long time, Wong Hong Hai, better known as Sea Wong, longed to have a business
that combined his passion for furniture, food and beverage, gardening, art and
music.
 |
| Sea Wong, behind the counter at Flowers In The Window |
His
ventures, which started some ten years ago, has its share of ups and downs but
Wong remains true to himself. Despite
temporary setbacks, he keeps moving forward until he turned his dreams into
reality. Behind Wong’s laidback
attitude, is a steely determination to succeed.
“I’m
attracted to simple things that most people overlook – I hope you like it too,”
is the thinking which Wong shares with diners at Flowers In The Window. I’ve heard so much about this indoor garden
café that I must have my own experience.
I
head into the city’s heritage quarter and as I hold that spade designed into a
door handle, to open the café door, I discover that its gray façade belies the charming
garden within.
A
Long Way
 |
| Facade of Flowers In The Window |
This
young Johor entrepreneur has come a long way since he took the brave step to
open Roost Juice Bar a retro-themed café at Jalan Dhoby in Johor Baru’s
heritage quarter, back in 2005. Besides
light meals, cold-pressed juices and chilled fruity yoghurt drinks, Roost
became popular for his mother’s recipe Hainanese beef noodles.
Wong
recreated Roost’s laidback attitude in Roost Repurposed & Recycled Salad
Bar, his next outlet at the corner of Jalan Dhoby and Jalan Trus. As its name describes, the furnishing here was
handmade by Wong from recycled materials.
From
lampshades, shelves, tables, chairs to benches, each item was creatively
repurposed into attractive and useful furnishings. This became a popular chill-out destination and
for art & craft events but space was limited.
Then
Wong found a bungalow with a garden at Jalan Skudai to showcase his interesting
furniture and host bigger art events. He
called this Sea & Saw, a destination with a garden setting. He later brought this garden concept to Roost
Juice Bar and rebranded it, Flowers In the Window.
Food and
Flowers
 |
| A selection of posies and fern wreaths arranged by Wong |
“I’m
in love with green,” declared Wong when I ask him about the garden concept for the
cafe. Ferns, greenery and dried flowers
are strewn about, hanging aloft, adorning the walls and in pots and enamel
jars.
With
a clientele made up mostly of young adults, Wong aims to educate them about a sustainable
lifestyle and show them how cool it is to dine in a space surrounded by
greenery.
He hopes
to send the message that it’s cool to enjoy plants. Flowers
In The Window is also a florist where bouquets or decorative wreaths may be
made to order or customers may pick from a choice of pretty posies and wreaths of
ferns and flowers, arranged by Wong.
 |
| Holly Tan adds an English touch to the menu |
I
can sense the vibe about this cool indoor garden café where furniture is
eclectic and handmade and the food, creatively combined into freshly-made,
light healthy meals, are served on enamel plates. While Wong is the master juicer who makes the fresh
juices and daily stock of signature tangy lemonade, he has some help from Holly
Tan to design their weekly specials.
An English Touch
I’m
pleasantly surprised to meet Tan, who’s obviously English and Wong quickly explains
that she’s the wife of his good friend. Tan
brings with her a culinary experience garnered from helping her mother in their
restaurant and delicatessen near Stamford, UK.
She also learnt a great deal about Mediterranean food from an aunt
(uncle’s wife) who’s Greek.
 |
| A serving of Vegetarian Breakfast at Flowers In The Window |
Every
morning, when Wong goes to the fresh market to shop for ingredients, he will
call Tan to tell her about what’s available and discuss about the dishes they
can create from such ingredients. So diners
can expect five to six new and interesting items in the specials menu.
Every
day, Tan bakes artisanal bread and a range of English cakes that are sold by
the slice. She uses edible flowers and
herbs in the cakes and drinks. Diners
with dietary requirements may inform Tan and she will prepare for them
something special on-the-spot, depending on availability of ingredients and
time.
Light
Healthy Meals
 |
| Popular beef noodles |
Besides
the printed menu of breakfast, brunch and beverage items, a separate menu –
handwritten or typed on a vintage manual typewriter – lists weekly specials of
light meals, drinks and English cakes.
On such a
sweltering day, the tangy homemade lemonade (RM12.90) served chilled is both delicious
and thirst-quenching. It certainly whets
my appetite for my order of Vegetarian Breakfast (RM16), a light breakfast of poached eggs,
cherry tomatoes and plump mushrooms on a bed of zucchini and potato rosti.
 |
| A slice of Orange & Rosemary cake |
As customers are welcomed in, the serving staff hands them menus and directs them
to a table on the ground floor or up the narrow flight of stairs. These regulars seem familiar with this
routine and must have acquired a taste for the fresh herbs and flowers in the
drinks and cakes here.
I notice lots of orders for Beef
Noodles (RM14) coming out from the kitchen and realise that this has been popular
with diners since it was first introduced at Roost.
Tan’s freshly baked cakes are
tempting. I finally decide on a slice of
Orange & Rosemary cake (RM13) which she serves, garnished with an edible
flower. I dig into the cake and its
texture and flavour simply reminds me of England. As I sip my hot Latte (RM9) and nibble the
yummy cake, I’m totally charmed by my experience in Flowers In The Window.
WHERE
Flowers
in the Window café (Halal-sourced ingredients)
9
Jalan Dhoby
80000
Johor Baru, Johor
Tel: +607
– 2227489
OPENING
HOURS
Daily 10am
to 9pm; Closed on Tuesday
GETTING
THERE
Walking
distance from JB Sentral via Jalan Wong Ah Fook and Jalan Trus; Jalan Dhoby is
off Jalan Trus in Johor Baru’s heritage quarter
WHAT’S
COOKING
Homemade
light, healthy meals
MUST TRY
Creatively
combined meals, English cakes and herb infused drinks
YOU’LL
PAY
Service
charge and GST charges
ATMOSPHERE
A
charming indoor garden cafe
FACILITIES
Disabled-friendly
Child’s
high chair
No
Smoking
No Pets
Cash Only
THE LOO
Modern
toilet in a prewar building
SERVICE
English-speaking
staff
OVERALL
VERDICT
Go give
it a try
A version of this was published in The New Straits Times, Life & Times on 21 September 2016
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