JARO staff celebrates Hari Raya

 

In the month-long celebration for Hari Raya, I was delighted to accept an invitation from my friends in JARO - Johor Area Rehabilitation Organisation - to join them for their annual Hari Raya lunch.

 

Shoppers at the cashier counter at JARO

I arrived early with the aim to browse around the showroom, a bright and well-stocked space ever since the JARO building was upgraded and renovated in 2018, in a project that was initiated by Think City Johor Bahru.

 

Like JARO, I too have a relationship with Think City Johor Bahru as their first book project here in 2017. This continued in 2023 with their Downtown Johor Bahru project to encourage more activities downtown after the lockdown years.

The Wild Wonders collection in JARO

While working on the third and final instalment of My Johor Stories in 2019, I decided that JARO would fit into the book’s theme, Proudly Johor, Then and Now, a book that was published by MPH Kuala Lumpur and launched in December 2022.

 

It happened that during the lockdown period, MPH decided to close all their bookstores in Johor Bahru – even that one in the airport – so readers here were compelled to order my book online through mphonline.

 

A section of the JARO showroom

While some readers enjoy online shopping, many readers still preferred the traditional way of buying books, who have to hold the books, flip through pages and look at the contents before deciding to buy. I am grateful for the permission from MPH to keep a small stock of my books here for readers to buy from my pop-up store and from the JARO showroom.

 

I have always enjoyed working in partnership of JARO so it was my privilege to connect SUS Academy, one of the city’s most established digital design institutions, with JARO in April 2024 for one of their students to work on his Final Year Project in collaboration with a charity organization.

 

Another section of the JARO showroom

I was pleased to see the Wild Wonders product series in the JARO showroom that feature animal patterns with local elements from Johor, used on JARO rattan products, fabric items and in book bindings.

 

Designed by final year student, Gerard Tan Li Quan, the Wonders series showcases a mix of natural elements and traditional designs that feature Malaysian animals like the Tiger, Tapir, Hornbill and Orangutan with intricate patterns while the Wild series highlights the geometry of modern design with traditional flora and fauna.

 

These trendy fabrics were designed in a choice of cotton and satin into cushion covers, chair pads, scarves, tote bags and stylish sashes ties onto rattan baskets woven by JARO’s gifted artisans with disabilities.

 

JARO Chairman, Datuk Jimmy Low, welcomed
everyone with an opening address

As familiar JARO committee members and supporters arrived, I joined them at the staff dining area in the lower level of the building where some 50 staff from the three workshops in JARO – tailoring, basketry and book-binding – were eagerly anticipating the pleasure of enjoying a sumptuous buffet spread.

 

We were met by JARO Chairman, Datuk Jimmy Low Boon Hong, and the JARO administrative team who also welcomed guests from various corporations and well-wishers on arrival to join their lunch celebration.

 

Lunch is served!

Datuk Jimmy Low was proud that JARO provides training and employment for people with disabilities in workshops that create quality, custom-made handicrafts and book-binding services.

 

In addition to receiving training, employment and a salary, JARO also provided staff with EPF savings and SOCSO insurance coverage. With the training provided, some of the staff were able to find employment elsewhere and left JARO to pursue their own careers.

 

It was good to see the staff helping themselves to the festive food in an orderly way, with some helping their colleagues who were differently abled, to enjoy the leisurely meal together.

 

JARO is pleased with their tradition of celebrating annual festivals with their staff including Hari Raya Aidil Fitri with the support of generous donations of food and snacks from well-wishers.

 

Plenty to eat and enjoy at the Hari Raya lunch

Among the well wishers were Mr & Mrs Tony Khoo who sponsored festive favourites like Chicken Rendang and Ketupat while the New York Hotel provided Sweet & Sour Fish fillets. The Grand Paragon Hotel sponsored a pot of Bubur Pulut Hitam or black glutinous rice porridge while the DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Bahru provided Brownies and two types of cookies.

 

A gathering like this for a buffet meal was also an opportunity to meet other friends of JARO and renew the acquaintance with them. After lunch, many took the opportunity to visit the showroom to shop for quality and useful handicrafts.

 

The JARO showroom is located at No. 18, Jalan Sungai Chat, 80100 Johor Baru, Johor. Tel: +607 – 224 5632.

 

Visitors are welcome to the showroom, open from Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm. Also opened on Sunday from 9am to 3pm. Closed on Saturday.

 

Note: Book Three, My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now, the final instalment to complete the trilogy of My Johor Stories, is available at JARO.

Our recent school visit

 

I got a kick out of saying, “Tomorrow, I will be going back to school,” simply because this time, I was not going to school for school.

 

View of the school facade from the car park

Instead, the Book Team and I were on a mission to meet the principals of the Primary and Secondary schools, with the aim to garner more information about the school’s history and achievements, and to search for old but valuable photographs.

 

While others in the Book Team were not able to join us, Sunita Sothi, Lucy Leong and myself, were ready to walk through that familiar old building to gain further insight into our alma mater – a 100-year-old educational institution – the only Convent School in Johor Bahru.

 

The marble sculpture carefully
preserved within a glass case

To commemorate the school’s centenary celebration this year, an Anniversary souvenir book will be published for sale to raise funds for the school that will go toward repairs and the building maintenance.

 

The contents of this ‘Limited Edition’ book will not only document the school’s proud heritage but will also include sections that feature Luminaries of the school, alumni reflections in Voices of Convent Johor Bahru as well as Global Footprints that highlight alumni based worldwide, who have made Johor, Malaysia and their families proud.

 

Since the invitation for contributions of Memories and Photos had gone out, we have been receiving very interesting and meaningful contributions from alumni, both near and far.

 

Lucy [Left] and Sunita [Right]
with Primary school staff at the
entrance to the Convent Gallery

Thanks to social media and modern technology, more and more alumni are being connected again, ready to contribute their personal experiences about school life and to pay tribute to their teachers and mentors.

 

At the 100th-year anniversary of our alma mater, it is timely to publish such a souvenir book filled with personal anecdotes and experiences as a good documentation of how the school had impacted lives.

 

Supported by old photos, this book will make such good reading – a pride to own and present as a gift to fellow alumni – a precious collector’s item, to be treasured for generations.

 

With these objectives in mind, Sunita, Lucy and I headed to the front porch of the original building, used as the Primary school, to visit the Gallery Convent.

 

I guess this upright piano was once
used in the Primary school hall

The façade of the main school building remains unchanged with the iconic marble sculpture of the Virgin Mary at the top of the front steps to the porch that leads into the Primary school.

 

Since leaving school after Form Five, I have been back to cover school stories that were published in the Southern section of The New Straits Times dubbed, Johor Streets.

 

I had the privilege to see the Convent Gallery in the Primary school that had a collection of precious artefacts since the days of the Sisters, and published it in a cover-and-centerspread feature in Johor Streets, in January 2011.

 

I told the Book Team about this exciting experience and wanted them to visit this place for their own experience and to get some interesting info and photos that should go into the Anniversary souvenir book.

 

My centerspread feature was still postered 
on the Notice Board since January 2011

So it was pure nostalgia to spot my published feature on a Notice Board next to the entrance to the Gallery, yellowed and faded, yet still postered here since January 2011.

 

Time had certainly passed – 14 years to be exact – since my first visit to the Gallery and sadly, much had changed inside. Undeterred by the changes, we opened cupboards and checked shelves in search of any suitable material to borrow and add to the contents in our manuscript.

 

A relic from a bygone era

It was good to come across old photo albums where there was a collection of Black & White photographs from which we could pick a few valuable shots for our use.

 

As the Secondary School has a tradition for excellence and stayed among the top ten schools in the nation for scoring highly in SPM results since 2010, the status of the school was raised from a Cluster School to a High-Performance School in 2012.

 

While I was looking through books and magazines on a shelf, I pulled out a plastic laminated sheet that was slipped in between the books. When I turned it over, I was pleasantly surprised to see that someone had tried to preserve my published article dated April 2015 with a report on the success of SPM top-scorers.

 

The Secondary school hall is
named Nicholas Barre Hall

Looking back at my published pieces on school events, I was often back in the school to report on various events, not just fun and proud events but also on a pressing issue concerning the Convent Primary school in 2012.

 

In January 2016, I was invited to join the school when they bade farewell to Secondary school principal, Ms Ng Lee Wan. The event also included the official opening of a multi-purpose hall that was built in the rear field with an adjacent carpark and covered walkway that linked this hall to the school building.

 

Then in 2017, I was back in the school again to meet with five students in the Research & Development Team of the Science & Mathematics Society who had done nation and Johor proud for their invention of the Infinity Spoon. This eco-friendly pinespoon was their invention inspired by the Johor pineapple.

 

Sunita and Lucy with the piles of books
and magazines in the Resource center

As we walked through familiar corridors, we observed that renovations were done to link the two schools with covered paths both on the ground level as well as the upper floor. Almost every available space was turned into classrooms while a corner unit in the Primary school that was once a dental clinic, is now used as a gardener’s shed.

 

So vivid were our memories of the school premises that we could not help but discussed which were our classrooms for Standard One and Two onwards till Standard Six.

 

It was an amusing revelation when Lucy shared about how she and her friends enjoyed rolling on the grassy slopes in the front field and the way they quickly choped (Read: laid claim on) a court to play during recess time!

 

The Caritas Hall on the rear field

The Primary school hall had virtually disappeared and the space walled up into a meeting room lined with wall cabinets that stored trophies and souvenirs awarded to the school.

 

After rummaging through old photo albums and dusty documents, we left the Primary school in search of taps to wash our hands before heading to the Secondary school.

 

While Sunita and Lucy paused to chat with the canteen operators, I looked closer at the wrapped food and snacks displayed for sale, labelled at RM2 each. 

A co-op shop in the school

A pay-phone attached to the wall caught my eye. Once a useful instrument for students to make calls but now outdated and relegated to the rank of relic from a bygone era as its usefulness has been replaced by handy smart-phones.

 

We walked towards the Secondary school reception (that used to be our bookshop) and passed the school hall which now has a name, the Nicholas Barre Hall.

 

This hall was so named to honour Catholic priest, Nicholas Barre (1621 – 1686) who founded the Sisters of the Infant Jesus.

 

A walk up a flight of familiar stairs brought us to the first floor where we were ushered into the Secondary school’s Resource center. Inside, we were greeted by piles of old books and magazines on the table, prepared for us to discover any useful information.

 

Someone said, “Time flies when you are having fun,” because we totally lost track of time in that room. Suddenly it was almost 1.30pm when we were ready to leave but not without going to look at the rear field and the multi-purpose hall there.

 

We walked along that first-floor corridor to the opposite end which opened to the rooms that used to be Science labs and Home Science rooms. Along the way, I peeked into the toilets and was pleased to see that they were new, clean and brightly lit.

 

Lucy and I on our recent school visit
 

The rear playing fields – we once knew – were halved because the multi-purpose hall occupied half that field. It was named Caritas Hall, with the word, caritas which means, Christian love of humankind and charity.

 

Then I spotted something new nearby: A co-op shop. Unable to resist checking it out, Sunita and I headed into the shop to discover that it stocked school essentials like stationery items, school T-shirts and other knick-knacks.

 

In our time, the ice-cream stall was manned by husband-and-wife team, Joseph and Mary, but now students can get their ice-cream from the co-op shop.

 

The covered walkway that links the Secondary
school building to the gates at Jalan Yahya Awal

On our way out, we saw that a covered walkway was built along the side fence from the Secondary school building that led to the sheltered waiting area close to the front gates that bordered Jalan Yahya Awal.

 

By using this covered path, students can make their way to and from their transport on rainy days as vehicles are no longer allowed to drive to the covered front porch of the Primary school for pick-up or drop-off.

 

As for us, we took one last look at the school’s familiar façade, got into our cars and drove slowly through the front porch to our exit from the school compound.

 

Note: Work on the manuscript for the Anniversary souvenir book is in rapid progress. Details on the purchase of this ‘Limited Edition’ book, filled with contents that alumni can easily identify with, will be available on the Convent Johor Bahru 100^th Year Celebration Facebook page. Thank you.

My Johor Stories and OCBC

 

On my Heritage Walks, I usually lead the group in a route to the city’s heritage quarter via the breezy Segget Walk, turn into Jalan Segget, pass through the archway into the Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Walk to head towards the Johor Bahru Chinese Heritage Museum.

 

The front porch of the OCBC Bank Johor Bahru
remains an iconic feature in this building

Adjacent to the archway into the Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Walk at Jalan Segget, stands one of the modern buildings in the heart of the city since the 1960’s that features a landmark porch. Over the years, this building has been renovated with its façade upgraded but this porch remains an iconic feature of the OCBC Bank in Johor Bahru.

 

Headquartered in Singapore, OCBC offers comprehensive banking services across ASEAN and China with a presence in New York, London and Sydney.

 

In my commentary during the Walk, I will point out to participants that the Overseas Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC) is situated at one end of the Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Walk while another bank, the HongKong & Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) stands at its opposite end.

 

Facade of the OCBC Bank
Johor Bahru at Jalan Segget

These established banking institutions have served generations of customers to this day, since its inception when the banks provided an essential service to overseas Chinese who worked hard to earn a living in order to send funds back to their homeland.

 

While hardworking Chinese provided for their families in China, many sinkek or new arrivals – whose hearts were still with their homeland – contributed funds in support of the revolutionaries’ cause to overthrow the Manchu rulers of the Qing dynasty.

 

Recently, I was in front of the OCBC Bank again on a Heritage Walk with a group of Sun Yat Sen docents from Friends of the Museum, Singapore, and we captured a photo to the backdrop of the arch for the Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Walk.

 

I did not know it then but I was back there again a few days later, this time to go into the OCBC Bank to meet with Regional Manager, Fiona Gan. My mission was to deliver a set of the trilogy of My Johor Stories to her, who will then convey my books to retired Bank Manager, Tan Ngiap Joo (TNJ) in Singapore.

 

Sending My Johor Stories books to Ramona
when we met at the DoubleTree by Hilton
Johor Bahru in February 2025

It all started last year when my cousin, Malcolm, in Sydney told me that he reconnected with his former colleague in OCBC Bank Sydney, Ramona Tan, and that she wanted to have a set of the trilogy of My Johor Stories.

 

He reminded me that Ramona’s family used to live opposite our grandfather’s house at Jalan Ngee Heng and that she and her sister studied in the Johor Bahru Convent school and were familiar with my sisters, cousins and I.

 

When Ramona got in touch with me, she told me that she was checking online for information on our school’s centenary celebration plans and that her sister, who still lived in Johor Bahru, confirmed that I was related to the people who lived opposite them at Jalan Ngee Heng.

 

It was good to meet with Ramona and
her husband on their visit to Johor Bahru

We exchanged a series of messages to arrange for my books to be sent to her in Victoria, Australia, and by December 2024, Ramona safely received my books.

 

In our message exchange, she mentioned names of some schoolmates and tried to hazard a guess if I was related to so-and-so just because we had the same surname.

 

No, I replied that I am certain that I was not related to any of them and urged her to read my story titled, We are OCBC, documented in Book One, My Johor Stories: True Tales, Real People, Rich Heritage.

 

In this piece published in my 2017 MPH Non-Fiction Bestseller, I used OCBC as the abbreviation for, Orang Cina Bukan Cina, to explain a bit about my parents and family heritage.

 

Inside the OCBC Bank Johor Bahru...

Then Ramona told me that after 20 years of living abroad, she planned to visit Johor Bahru for Chinese New Year in 2025. Meanwhile, she asked for another set of My Johor Stories books for a lady friend and I agreed to pass the books to her when we meet up here.

 

For her stay in Johor Bahru, Ramona said that she was booked into the DoubleTree by Hilton simply because it was built close to where she used to live on that same road.

 

I replied that I had a stay with the DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Bahru ahead of its opening to the public to do a hotel review and was pleased to document the experience because – I agree – that it was really exciting to see how that familiar road was being developed.

 

Over hot brewed coffee, I met with Ramona at the hotel, who was back in Johor Bahru with her husband. I was pleased to let my cousin Malcolm know that I had a good chat with his former colleague in OCBC Sydney, reminiscing about the Jalan Ngee Heng neighbourhood, our school’s centenary celebration plans and of course, some stories documented in My Johor Stories.

 

I could not help but blushed when Ramona Enconniere (her husband is French) declared, “I think it’s wonderful that there is someone in Johor Bahru like you, who is so interested and willing to share their stories.”

 

Fiona Gan [Left] receiving the trilogy of
My Johor Stories on behalf of TNJ

Then recently in April, Ramona reached out again, this time to ask for a set of My Johor Stories for her (and my cousin’s) former General Manager at OCBC Sydney, TNJ who was now retired in Singapore.

 

She did very well to coordinate the arrangements for me to meet with Fiona Gan, Regional Manager based in OCBC Johor Bahru, to pass my books to her so that Fiona could personally deliver them to TNJ in Singapore.

 

Once again, there was a furious exchange of messages to connect me to Fiona Gan in Johor Bahru and a further exchange of messages between me and Fiona to arrange an appointment in her office.

 

So there I was again, walking along Jalan Segget to OCBC Bank that bright morning, not on a Heritage Walk but to meet with the Regional Manager in the bank.

 

This bank has been here for generations but I have never stepped inside. After all, there was no reason to do so but now I had a real mission – to send my books over.

 

On my Heritage Walks, I sometimes choose to walk along Jalan Ibrahim from the front of the Johor Bahru Chinese Heritage Museum to the Segget Walk and beyond.

 

This was an opportunity to share with participants, a little about the history and heritage of the original businesses that used to occupy the shops along this road.

 

Facade of the shop unit formerly
occupied by Everstrong on ground
level; The embossed logo on the
upper level of this building

When we passed the last block of two-storey shops located adjacent to the OCBC Bank, one of the shops that used to house Everstrong, was easily identified by its name in capital letters, emblazoned vertically on two stone pillars at the corridor in front of that shop.

 

I remember looking at the façade of this shop unit from the opposite side of the road and spotted a circular design embossed on the front wall of its upper floor.

 

From a distance, this design features a Chinese junk that closely resembled the logo of OCBC Bank. I was convinced that this shop unit was the original site of the bank and made a mental note to find out more.

 

As I climbed the stairs that led to the front entrance of OCBC Bank, I made it a point to say something about this to Fiona when I had an opportunity. So it was uncanny when Fiona was the one who brought up this particular matter and we both marveled that this same thing was on our minds.

 

The wall plaque inside OCBC Bank Johor
Bahru that records the bank's opening
on 20 July 1963 by Sultan Ismail of Johor

She immediately showed me a photo of the shop’s façade which she said was shot just that day because the bank was keen to preserve its logo designed on the concrete façade of that shop. Personally, I was pleased that this confirmed that it was in fact, the OCBC logo and that the bank was once operating in that space.

 

Fiona explained that she had been trying to get in touch with the property owners to discuss it but without success.

 

Once again, it was uncanny that she was speaking to me, one who was familiar with the property owners. I assured her that I will help to connect them to discuss about that logo and hopefully, reach an amicable solution to preserve that precious heritage for the bank. I was excited to learn that an OCBC Heritage Gallery was being curated… but more about this later.

 

I was pleased to present the trilogy of My Johor Stories to Fiona who received them on behalf of TNJ. When I wanted to capture a photo memento, she suggested that we go to the Private Banking lounge where we should get some shots of ourselves with a model of a Chinese junk – an icon of the bank’s brand – in the backdrop.

 

Fiona Gan [Right] presenting the
trilogy of My Johor Stories to
Tan Ngiap Joo in Singapore

After a pleasant chat with Fiona, I was ready to leave. And on my way out of the bank, she showed me the wall plaque that recorded the opening of this bank in 1963 by His Highness Sultan Ismail, the son of Sultan Sir Ibrahim.

 

As I slowly descended the iconic stairs and headed out into the bright sunshine, I mulled over how My Johor Stories connected with OCBC in so many ways.

 

A day later, Fiona personally delivered the trilogy of My Johor Stories to TNJ in Singapore and she kept her word by sending me a photograph proof of the book presentation to him.

 

“Delivered the books to Mr Tan yesterday. He likes the stories,” I read Fiona’s message that came with the photo of herself and TNJ, holding my books.

 

Thank you, cousin Malcolm and Ramona, for your support in promoting My Johor Stories and connecting me to Fiona, TNJ and the proud heritage of OCBC in Johor.

For Japanese-style char-grilled wagyu...

 

“Toramaru Wagyu Yakiniku restaurant, where premium quality, rigorously selected meat is meticulously hand-cut-in-store, adjusted to optimal thickness for each part and then char-grilled Japanese style.”

 

The centerpiece of a bar-counter inside
Toramaru Wagyu Yakiniku restaurant

This was what I learnt as I received the invitation for a dining experience at Toramaru so it will be ridiculous if I did not accept the invite to find out if all that was said is for real.

 

With a restaurant name that includes words like, ‘Wagyu’ and ‘Yakiniku’, it is clear that they serve premium Wagyu beef prepared in Japanese charcoal grilled-style.

 

Beef connoisseurs can attest to how Wagyu beef will literally melt-in-your-mouth due to its delicate marbling (Read: Intramuscular Fat) which has a lower melting point than the warmth in our mouths.

 

Facade of Toramaru Wagyu
Yakiniku restaurant in Johor Bahru

The restaurant is located in a familiar area and with its impressive façade that features the Toramaru logo, it was easy to spot. When we stepped indoors from the tropical sunshine, the cool and contemporary interior design that featured lots of wood in a cosy layout, bade my foodie friends and I, a very warm welcome.

 

While the others looked at the menu and admired the colour photographs of the servings, I looked around to discover a row of comfortable alcoves with relative privacy and the centerpiece of long bar-counter where diners may prepare their wagyu on electric grills.

 

I observed the staff serving charcoal grills to the tables and helping to set up under a sophisticated and strong ventilation system. With meat grilling going on over charcoal, the exhaust system will ensure that diners will have a comfortable dining experience without any discomfort and will leave not reeking of residual aromas.

 

A row of private alcoves for dining

My review of any restaurant always included a peep at the restrooms and I was suitably impressed to see that the toilet bowls here are equally sophisticated, reminiscent of the deluxe toilet bowls I experienced in Japan.

 

[No, I did not have to “go” so I cannot say if this plush toilet came with a trickling water tune to add to the toilet ambience to help diffuse any embarrassing noises.]

 

Back at the table, I was pleased that my friends had accepted the restaurant manager’s recommendation for our lunch and waited in eager anticipation of a delightful meal.

 

A swerving of Toramaru Special Platter

When the charcoal grill was set up at our table, a piece of beef lard served on a small plate was provided to melt over the heated grill to prevent grilling meat from sticking onto the hot grill.

 

The brand, Toramau was founded in Suzhou, China, with some 17 outlets opened in Shanghai. My friends who are familiar with Chinese television dramas, told me that this brand even made an appearance in a Chinese drama and that this outlet is its first flagship restaurant in Johor Bahru.

 

Wagyu slices and beef tongue being
grilled on the charcoal grill

By this time, I was more than curious to learn more about the restauranteur behind Toramaru here. Then I was introduced to a local partner who was pleased to share with me that three other partners were Johoreans while one was a Japanese based in Shanghai.

 

He said the Johoreans were schoolmates in Johor Bahru and when two were based in Suzhou for work, they met with the Japanese who also enjoyed food and was keen on a partnership in the Food & Beverage industry. As they all enjoyed dining at Toramaru in China, they decided to bring this brand to Johor.

 

Beef Sauce [Left] and a platter of
Special Marinated Raw Beef

This business partnership, in fact, started ahead of 2020 when a local chef was sent to Shanghai for on-the-job training. But due to the global pandemic and subsequent periods of lockdown, the restaurant opening in Johor Bahru was delayed.

 

After its soft-opening, since March 2025, Toramaru have been welcoming diners who enjoy good beef. To meet the tastes of discerning diners, the menu not only features grilled A5 Wagyu and seafood but also popular Korean specialties like Bibimbap and Seafood pancake.

 

A bowl of fresh lettuce with the
Toramaru Special Sauce Set
 

As the charcoal embers glowed brightly, we followed the instruction to rub that piece of lard across the heated grill to get it ready for grilling the meats.

 

Then wagyu slices in the Toramaru Special Platter, 220gm (RM158) were carefully arranged on the hot grill to be seared under watchful eyes.

 

While wagyu meat may be savoured to the diner’s choice of doneness, we left the slices of tongue from the platter of Signature Thinly-sliced Beef Tongue (RM68) to grill for a little longer.

 

When the Toramaru Special Sauce Set (One complimentary per person) was served, we could tell that this set comprised a Sesame Sauce (topped with a sprinkle of sesame seeds), Roasted Garlic Sauce (filled with chopped roasted garlic), Moon Sauce (topped with a fresh egg yolk) and a Spicy Sauce. Any additional order of sauce is priced at RM6 each.

 

This is the way to wrap the Special Marinated
Raw Beef with slivers of apple in seaweed sheet

A bowl of Fresh Lettuce (RM6) with carrot and cucumber sticks was also served for diners to use as a wrap for freshly grilled meats.

 

Then all eyes were riveted to the bowl of Beef Sauce (RM6) when it was served because this concoction continued to boil and bubble in its stone bowl.

 

Aptly called Beef Sauce, this is freshly created from a recipe of secret ingredients that included minced beef for diners to enjoy as a dip sauce for grilled meat or mixed with steamed white rice.

 

A serving of Karubi Soup

As the meats were being grilled, we turned our attention to their Special Marinated Raw Beef (RM42) served topped with a raw egg yolk along with a side of small sheets of seaweed and slivers of raw apple.

 

For a start, the raw egg yolk should be mixed into the marinated raw beef. A portion of this and slivers of raw apple should be wrapped in the seaweed sheet and then popped into the mouth to savour an interesting mix of tastes and textures.

 

Karubi or boneless short-rib, is one of the most popular cuts of beef that is tender and very juicy due to its marbling. So I was pleased to enjoy a serving of Karubi Soup (RM29) that tasted warm and comforting.

 

A serving of seafood pancake

To strike a balance with the meat in this meal, there was a crunchy and refreshing Mixed Vegetable Salad (RM16) and a Seafood Pancake (RM25) to share.

 

I was pleased to see that Toramaru also has a Lunch menu for diners who may opt for a quick meal of rice and noodles. We all agreed that this menu gave us another reason to return for yet another dining experience.

 

Toramaru Wagyu Yakiniku is located at No. 195, Jalan Sri Pelangi, Taman Pelangi, 80400 Johor Bahru. No Pork or Lard is used in this restaurant.

 

Open daily from 12pm to 2.30pm, 6pm to 11pm and closed on Tuesday. For reservations, Tel: +6010 6685 855.