Come for the tastes, stay for the vibe

 

My first dining experience at KaMe by Flow was just a month after it opened in July 2026. Proof that its reputation had spread like wildfire was in the spacious dining hall that was crowded with diners, enjoying a leisurely lunch.

 

Facade of KaMe by Flow at Jalan Chengai,
Melodies Garden, Johor Bahru

Social media was abuzz with posts about this café. My interest was piqued when an alumnae of the Johor Bahru Convent School urged fellow alumni to go for a taste at KaMe also because she said, the café owner had a link to our alma mater.

 

As a subtle hum prevailed through the soothing music playlist, I observed that the café owner – that must be her – was going from table to table, chatting with diners.

 

When she arrived at our table, I introduced myself to a co-owner and Pastry Chef, Jacqueline Oh better known as Jacq. She was gracious to offer us a taste of her freshly-baked sweet and savoury pastries, with her best compliments.

 

Creative decor that spells,
KaMe in a croissant motif

And as we savoured the shared portions of a platter of signature Spinach Ricotta Pain Suisse (Swiss Bread), Pineapple Danish and croissant topped with almond flakes, my friends and I agreed that we should come back again to taste more from their range of pastries and menu items.

 

For my next visit, I arranged to meet Jacq at off-peak hours with Ally, a mutual friend and a family friend of Jacq since their childhood, when they were Primary schoolmates in the Johor Bahru Convent School. This time, Jacq was able to sit down for a chit-chat to share with me, a little about her journey to creating KaMe by Flow.

 

I listened to Jacq as her story unfolded, interrupting her only to clarify certain points and to better understand the chronology of exciting events that spanned from Penang to Johor Bahru and Singapore, and onward to Melbourne and Sydney in Australia before coming full circle, back to Johor Bahru.

 

For a start, I learnt that KaMe simply means “us” in classical Malay. She said it was all about “us” – how the café was curating a range of food and sharing it with diners. Good food, good music, good ambiance and a good vibe in a rhythm of life that flows together. And this was how the group’s name, Flow, came into being.

 

Jacq and I in a candid shot by Ally

With her father’s job transfer from Penang to Johor Bahru, Jacq was just a year old when she arrived here. Growing up with Penang Hokkien culinary roots where her mother’s skills in making bak chang, savory glutinous rice dumplings, and ang ku kueh, red tortoise cake, were simply top-class, Jacq learnt the basics about how quality ingredients created superior tasting dishes.

 

After leaving Primary School in Johor Bahru, Jacq completed her Secondary School in Singapore. Armed with a passion to enter the Food & Beverage industry, she joined Shatec, the Singapore Hotel Association Training and Education Centre.

 

While this appeared to be her first step in her journey into the F&B world, it was suddenly interrupted by an unfortunate setback when Jacq suffered a slipped disc.

 

Spinach and Ricotta in a cut-up Pain Suisse

Her relieve and recovery after spinal surgery gave her a fresh impetus to continue her journey in F&B and in 2010, she headed to Kuala Lumpur to work and acquire skills in baking. In two years, Jacq proved to be a competent baker but she was determined to hone her skills with formal training and to specialize in making pastry.

 

Encouraged by her baking mentor, in 2012 Jacq registered to train with Le Cordon Bleu in Sydney, Australia, and earned her Degree in Patisserie specializing in pastries, cakes and other baked products.

 

After a job attachment with Devon Café which thrives with a casual café culture in Sydney, Jacq immersed herself into the local café scene and carved out a comfortable career in F&B working as a Pastry Chef, both in Sydney and Melbourne.

 

A serving of Fried Tamago
with Unagi for starters and
[Background] Creamy Miso
Mushroom Spags

Everything was going well for Jacq until 2019 when she suffered yet another painful slipped disc incident which rendered her physically immobile due to the acute pain.

 

While the pain was familiar, this next setback was much worse than that which she first felt at age 17. Jacq was understandably reluctant to leave the vibrant Australian café scene but in such a helpless health condition, she had no alternative and was compelled to return to Johor to seek medical treatment.

 

After undergoing her second spinal surgery, this was followed by a very sad and depressing season of rehabilitation and recovery, filled with uncertainty on whether she would ever regain the zest for life and pursuit of success in her F&B journey.

 

As the economy gradually reopened after the global pandemic, Jacq applied her baking skills to supply seasonal goodies like Chinese New Year cakes and cookies, Shanghai Mooncakes and ang ku kueh made in 24 flavours, from a baking studio.

 

Whole Chicken Leg in Truffle Sauce
with a side of mash and mixed vegetables

Jacq attributes her miraculous recovery to the support she received from her parents and friends in Johor, who encouraged her to literally, get back on her feet, to pursue her career in F&B.

 

She and her partner, Dawn Tan, often talked about opening a cosy café but it was just wishful thinking until one day when their group of friends met for chats over coffee. In the course of conversation, the topic moved to talking about a partnership in opening a café. After that heated discussion, three months passed quietly.

 

Then Jacq received a phone call from their friends who wanted to follow up on that conversation. When they sat down together again, they reached an amicable agreement and wasted no time in starting to look for a suitable place for the café.

 

Shakshouka with Focca

When they saw this property at Jalan Chengai in Melodies Garden, they could visualize the image of the café and building renovations started soon after.

 

While renovations were in progress, they made good use of the time to source for furniture and fittings for the café and kitchen, while carrying out Research & Development to curate the items for their menu.

 

As the café gradually took shape, Jacq and Dawn realized then, that it was no longer wishful thinking but hard work ahead, with total commitment to the café operations.

 

Blend of fruit and berries infusion
by Tea Drop

Speaking of renovations, Jacq was pleased to say that KaMe has separate staff and customer restrooms, and made one cubicle user-friendly for the elderly and physically challenged customers. Her consideration for these people, I believe, came from her own experience of needing help for what we often take for granted.

 

I have yet to taste the items on the menu but just listening to Jacq’s brave journey to recovery from two spinal surgeries was such an encouragement and inspiration to me and others who have experienced challenges, both physical and emotional.

 

Throughout our chat, diners were arriving and being served, but Jacq was wise to set aside a few pastries for us – before they were sold out.

 

The platter served to us had two signature pastries, Spinach Ricotta Pain Suisse and Strawberry Tomato Danish, while the other two, Pineapple Curd Bomboloni and Triple Chocolate Pain Suisse, were very popular choices.

 

Pastries to enjoy with freshly brewed coffee 
[L to R] Signature Spinach Ricotta Pain Suisse,
Triple Chocolate Pain Suisse,
Signature Strawberry Tomato Danish
and Pineapple Curd Bomboloni

A range of pastries like danish, donuts, croissants, madeleines and choux pastries were baked daily, most ready by opening time, while additional items like brioche, baguette and sourdough breads were available only on weekends.

 

She was pleased to share that their menu will be revised from time to time and very soon, the range of bakes will include butter cakes, orange cakes, sugee cakes, chocolate-banana cakes, cookies and scones.

 

Jacq was proud to say that they use premium quality ingredients and made jams, curds and creams from scratch (nothing store-bought!) and even make their own ricotta cheese.

 

The KaMe concept puts “people” as a priority and by using Halal-certified suppliers, a wider community of customers will feel comfortable to dine and get pastries here.

 

Seated in the dining hall that featured floor-to-ceiling glass windows where natural light poured in on wooden furniture, live potted greenery and shades of Green (Jacq’s favourite colour!) the décor, music and menu served, blended well to exude what we deem as a cool Aussie vibe.

 

Jacqueline Oh [Right]
with Dawn Tan at KaMe by Flow

As the dishes were served, Jacq was pleased to share that their serving of Fried Tamago with Unagi, topped with pickled shallots, spicy yuzu mayo and gerkhins, was inspired from her trip to Osaka, Japan.

 

Another popular item was, Creamy Miso Mushroom Spags, spaghetti tossed in miso, mushrooms, broccoli and slivers of almonds, topped with a poached egg. First, the spaghetti must be properly tossed in the creamy egg and gravy and then with each bite, I can taste the different textures along with the crunchy almond slivers.

 

When the dish of Whole Chicken Leg in Truffle Sauce with a side of mash and mixed vegetables was served, I observed that the chicken was thoughtfully cut into three portions to share among us. [The chicken was usually served, cut into two!]

 

We kept the Shakshouka with Focca, to the last item for tasting due to its stronger flavour. The simmering poached eggs in spicy sauce of tomatoes, parmesan, olive oil, peppers, dotted with edamame, was served with a stick of focaccia bread.

 

I thought there was no better way to appreciate this dish than to use my fingers to crack the stick of bread and dunk it in the rich gravy before savouring each mouthful.

 

To end our meal, Jacq introduced a range of fruit and flower teas by Tea Drop. Just when I thought that we already had plenty to taste that afternoon, a platter of warm madeleines was served. Then Jacq casually announced that they were Orange Madeleines and it took eight (8!) days to prepare.

 

Orange Madeleines that took eight days to make!

Madeleine connoisseurs will understand that preparation of the orange oil that flavours the madeleines would take such time and the best baked ones must have that little hump on each shell-shaped, sponge cookie-cake.

 

As our time together ended sweetly, Jacq mentioned that KaMe was open to collaborations and this season, a little corner of creativity was assigned to Bloom & Brush by local artist, Joanna Khoo.

 

KaMe by Flow café is at No. 53, Jalan Chengai, Taman Melodies, 80250 Johor Bahru, Johor. [No pork products are used in the kitchen and bakery.]

 

Open daily from 10am to 7pm from Monday to Friday, from 9am to 7pm on Saturday and Sunday. Last food order latest by 6.15pm. For enquiries and reservations, Tel: +6010 – 283 8353.

 

For updates, check out KaMe official pages on Facebook, Instagram, Telegram and Tik Tok.

Heritage Walk with a family from Austria

 

When I received an enquiry from Manisha for a Heritage Walk in Downtown Johor Bahru, my first thought was about the prevailing unhealthy air quality where people were discouraged from staying outdoors due to the haze.

 

At the OCBC Bank end of the Tan Hiok Nee
Heritage Walk in Johor Bahru

Manisha explained that her visitors were from Austria, a couple whom she and her husband met some years ago and they were visiting Singapore and Johor Bahru.

 

After two nights in Johor Bahru, they were booked for another two nights’ stay in Desaru Coast. In view of their limited time in Johor Bahru, Manisha had a specific date in mind to share with them, a bit of culture and heritage in our city.

 

Manisha told me she is Malaysian from Kuala Lumpur who came to Johor Bahru on a job transfer and have lived here since 1993. While she was familiar with the city’s landmarks and able to show her visitors around, she knew they would better appreciate the outing when it was complimented by my storytelling.

 

Potted gambier plants for public viewing 
at the Segget Promenade

I was much encouraged to learn that she heard about my Heritage Walks from mutual friends who had benefited from their Walk experiences with me and felt that it would be ideal if her visitors could have a similar Walk experience with me.

 

The next part of our chat was mainly about the haze condition and my reluctance to expose visitors to such an unhealthy outdoor experience. After due consideration, I enquired about the participants’ ages and health, and finally agreed to go ahead with the Walk on that specific date with a plan to limit our time spent outdoors.

 

Because of their keen interest in Johor culture and heritage, I was prepared to accommodate Manisha’s request for this family from Austria with two young children aged seven and 11, to have a Heritage Walk experience with me.

 

Manisha with the banana cake
bought from Hiap Joo bakery

Over the next few days, I kept a close watch on the skies and was pleased to see that the haze condition was vastly improving. However, the weather forecast for that day of our Walk was, Drizzle, so I reminded Manisha to come prepared for it.

 

No, I am not afraid of a little bit of rain as this is typical of our tropical weather.

 

On my Heritage Walks, the group will proceed outdoors armed with caps/hats and umbrellas but I will defer our Walk only in the unfortunate event of a heavy downpour accompanied by thunder and lightning.

 

I agreed when Manisha asked for a later start time than what I proposed, as she was seeking allowance to manage the young children and their travel distance from Skudai to our Meeting Point in Downtown Johor Bahru.

 

On that cloudy Thursday morning, I was at our Meeting Point ahead of the appointed time to await the arrival of Manisha and her visitors. While I have not met Manisha before, I should be able to recognize her because she will be with a European couple with two young children. And there they were, walking up the Segget Promenade to join me at the Meeting Point for the start of our Heritage Walk.

 

A photo opportunity with
the landmark Red House

It was a pleasure to meet with Manisha, Alfred and Helga with their children, Aurel and Asaria, visitors from Bregenz, Austria. The youngsters were shy and reticent, probably due to the early start in the day and being unsure of what to expect ahead.

 

While Alfred and his wife were conversant in English, I observed that Helga took time to translate my commentary to her children in their own language, Austrian-German.

 

Hearing this language again gave me a flashback to October 2023 when I had the pleasure to meet with a group of German-speaking media who were visiting Johor from Austria, Switzerland and Germany, at an event hosted in Desaru Coast.

 

[When I documented this experience in October 2023, I recalled that it was October 2021 when I shared insights into Johor heritage with His Excellency the German Ambassador to Malaysia, on his visit to Johor Bahru. It was just uncanny that in October 2026, I was leading this family from Austria on my Heritage Walk!]

 

A family photo next to a wall mural at
the Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Walk

Standing next to the river, I asked them to picture a bygone era, where the Segget waterway was the only means of transport, and discussed the early activities around the river mouth. As the Johor jungles were opened for plantations and the timber floated down the river, this brought about Johor’s first industry, a steam sawmill from which Jalan Sawmill earned its name.

 

Mindful to limit our time outdoors, our Walk kicked off with a brief introduction to how Johor opened for the planting of pepper and gambier, an agricultural activity that resulted in putting Johor on the world map as the world’s largest exporter of gambier in the 1800s.

 

While most people were familiar with the spice trade, white and black pepper and pepper plants, not many have ever seen a gambier plant.

 

More of that yummy
banana cake, please?

It was as recent as 2013 when the Johor Bahru Tiong Hua (Chinese) Association sent a team on a mission to Indonesia to carry out extensive research into the cultivation of pepper and gambier and uncover how it contributed to Johor’s economic development.

 

The team made two visits where they discovered that farmers on Kundur Island were still using traditional methods with very little mechanization in the process to harvest, boil young gambier leaves, press them to extract juice and dry the juice concentrate before it was shaped into a block, cake or cube form.

 

In September 2015, their findings were presented in the Johor Baru Chinese Heritage Museum in an interesting exhibit themed, Sharing of Hardships.

 

This exhibition shared the important link between the Chinese and Malay communities in the pioneering era and how pepper and gambier earned its place of honour in Johor for its role in boosting the state’s economy.

 

After his father signed in the
Guest Book, Aurel also signed in,
at the Johor Bahru Chinese
Heritage Museum

In 2017, the gardening plots in some schools here were cultivated with gambier plants to introduce this important plant to the younger generation as they learnt about its role in Johor history from their school syllabus.

 

Recently in September 2026, a collaboration between Wong Ah Fook Tourism and the Johor Bahru City Council presented live plants in jars set up on the Segget Promenade to offer the public easy access to see what gambier plants looked like.

 

I was pleased to show these live plants to our visitors as I shared about how these first economy crops earned its place of honour in Johor.

 

While the Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Walk was not car-free on a weekday, I was glad to see the absence of roadside carparking at the OCBC Bank end of the road, which not only presented a much more walkable route but also a more pleasant sight to visitors.

 

Asaria also took her turn to
sign into the Guest Book

When we reached the entrance of Hiap Joo, the traditional baker which uses a woodfire oven, Manisha took advantage of the lack of a queue to stop and buy their famous banana cake for the visitors to have a taste.

 

It was funny to observe that while we waited for Manisha, a queue suddenly formed behind her, waiting for their turn to be served at the tiny window of this popular old bakery.

 

Personally, I was just pleased to see that business continues to be brisk at this bakery. This was because I had the privilege to document their story in my book, My Johor Stories 2: Interesting Places and Inspirational People (MPH Publications 2018).

 

This portion of banana cake was a timely snack for the visitors and the children, in particular, could not resist having another helping of the cake. And before we reached the opposite end of the Tan Hiok Nee Heritage Walk, Aurel and Asaria asked for yet another piece of the cake and happily finished it all up!

 

A photo memento with the majestic
Sultan Ibrahim Building as a backdrop

Having been to Europe, I am aware that Austria has their fair share of landmark buildings and a rich heritage preserved in museums and monuments.

 

The visitors’ limited time and the prevailing hazy weather, however, were not an ideal setting to show more to them outdoors so it was essential for me to share as much information as possible while staying indoors in the Johor Bahru Chinese Heritage Museum.

 

While I am aware that the visitors may not fully understand the significance of the points shared in my commentary, I was encouraged that Manisha could relate to it and often mentioned that she was learning much from what I was telling them.

Carved sedan chairs in a foyer linked
 to the Johor Old Temple

She was also impressed to learn about the strong relationship established between the Johor royal family and the early Chinese, Indian and Sikh communities who came to settle here, a tradition which continues to this day.

 

I also shared about Johor Bahru’s Street of Harmony where the early multi-racial community lived together in harmony with their various forms of worship.  

 

This long street, marked by places of worship, started from Jalan Gereja that links to Jalan Trus, pass Jalan Ungku Puan and round to the Mosque at Jalan Duke.

 

A family photo in the 
Indian Heritage Center
 

The places of worship included the Church of Immaculate Conception (built 1883) and Holy Light Church (original chapel 1886), the Johor Old Temple (1870) and the Sikh Gurdwara Sahid (circa 1921) across the road, with the Arulmigu Raja Mariamman Devasthanam Temple (1911) next to it. 

 

Then when it was time to leave the Chinese Heritage Museum, we stepped outdoors to see that the drizzle had turned into a light rainfall.

 

So out came the waterproof jackets for the children and with umbrellas opened, we walked out to Jalan Duke to reach the foothills of Bukit Timbalan and captured a photo memento to the backdrop of the majestic Sultan Ibrahim Building.

 

Throughout our Walk, I often made reference to road names and shared the stories behind these names. My story on, A rich heritage in road names, was documented in My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now, (MPH Publications 2022) the third and final instalment in the trilogy of My Johor Stories.

 

I must commend Manisha and her visitors who braved the rain as we walked along the route to visit the Johor Old Temple and the Indian Heritage Center in the compound of the Arulmigu Raja Mariamman Devasthanam Temple.

 

Nothing will stop us from enjoying our
Heritage Walk - not haze, not rain or sunshine!

I was pleased that along the way, the children warmed-up to the adventure and even happily posed for photos. Well done, everyone!

 

This is the right attitude of visitors who do not mind the weather when they were keen to explore and experience a new place to learn more about its culture and heritage.

 

Many thanks Manisha, for the privilege to share a bit more about Johor with your visitors from Austria. My best wishes go with you as you and your visitors explore the sites in the eastern coastal region, enjoy the hospitality of international brand hotels in Desaru Coast and bring home many meaningful memories.

Chill-out at Al Dente Pasta & Wine Bar

 

Every now and then, it is good to withdraw from the maddening crowd in the mall and chill out in a cosy cafe for a leisurely evening meal, paired with chilled wine.

 

The team at work behind the bar at
Al Dente Pasta & Wine Bar

For this experience, I was back at Hyatt Place in Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru to discover what Al Dente Pasta and Wine Bar has to offer.

 

As its name suggests, this café by the swimming pool, linked to On Seven Bistro on Level Seven, serves freshly prepared pasta for diners to savour with a choice of wine and chilled drinks.

 

After a busy day, I welcomed some help from knowledgeable serving staff who were on hand to suggest which appetizers and main course items to order from the menu.

 

A crispy slice from a serving of
Bruschetta Al Pomodoro E Basalico

Azlan proudly announced that their sourdough breads were prepared in-house and that the meat used to make Polpette, juicy Italian meatballs, was Angus beef created with 70% tender meat with 30% fat.

 

With this in mind, it was not difficult to decide on a choice of two appetizers from among the menu items that offered soup, salad or starter dishes and mains.

 

While the menu was small, I was pleased – when I tasted the dishes – that the quality ingredients were fresh and prepared with serious consideration for the right balance to present rich flavours that will please the palates of pasta fans.

 

Juicy meatballs in the
serving of Polpette

Soon after our meal order was placed, I reminded the staff NOT to serve our choice of White wine yet. This was because I wanted the wine to stay chilled and be served only when our dish orders were already at our table.

 

One serving of Bruschetta Al Pomodoro E Basilico comprised two pieces of crisp, toasted artisan ciabatta bread, topped with a vibrant mix of sliced cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and fragrant oregano and a touch of garlic.

 

This, my friend and I agreed, was best savoured by using our hands to firmly hold the crispy slice of bread and to sink our teeth in without toppling off its toppings.

 

It was both satisfying to hear the crispy crunch of the toasted bread and taste the rich flavours of fresh ingredients, a blend that worked well to whet our appetites for more.

 

A subtle spicy flavour in this
serving of Spaghetti Zucchini, 
Gameri E Calamari

The highly recommended dish of Polpette was made up of three large meatballs served in a bowl with two slices of garlic-infused bruschetta on the side.

 

Simmered in a rich tomato sauce, the meatballs were all that it was touted to be –

tender and tasty – savoured with a bite of the crunchy bread, a perfect foil of tastes and textures.

 

Just before the main course items arrived, our orders of chilled White wine were served to the table. Its chilled, crisp flavour paired perfectly with the seafood pasta dish, Spaghetti Zucchini, Gamberi E Calamari.

 

This was essentially a pasta dish where spaghetti – prepared al dente – was tossed with tender whole prawns, squid rings and slices of fresh zucchini, flavoured by garlic chili, Italian parsley, cherry tomatoes and a touch of lemon zest.

 

Cutting through the layers
of pasta in Lasagna Al Forno

I was often wary of how the taste of tomatoes in lasagna may be overpowering but at my first taste of a bite of Lasagna Al Forno, I was pleased that the rich Bolognese sauce was just right as it did not overshadow the creamy bechamel sauce and blend of mozzarella and parmesan cheese. 

 

Having split the dishes between us, my friend and I sat back, feeling quite comfortably full and pleased with ourselves because we have wisely kept some space to savour the desserts.

 

We both agreed that a meal should always end sweetly, so we have paced ourselves throughout our leisurely meal – sips of wine and nibbles of food – with enough space left to indulge in the servings of Panna Cotta and Italian cheesecake, Tiramisu.

 

The silky Panna Cotta was topped with slices of fresh strawberries and blue berries while the Tiramisu was made with layers of expresso-soaked sponge fingers, creamy mascarpone cheese, dusted with a blanket of cocoa powder.

 

Ending our meal sweetly with
a dessert of Tiramisu

The cosy ambience, soothing soundtracks and the attentive, yet unobtrusive service, all played a part in making our leisurely meal, a much-desired, chill-out evening of quiet conversation over comfort food and chilled wine.

 

Al Dente Pasta & Wine Bar is located on the Lobby Level of Hyatt Place Johor Bahru within Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru. Take advantage of the Opening Promotion from 5pm to 10pm of Buy-One-Get-One-Free from the menu, only for a limited time.

 

For diners who are driving to Paradigm Mall, please park at the hotel carpark located on Level Six and enter through the elevator lobby dedicated to the hotel. Take the elevator to Level Seven, the Lobby Level of the hotel.

 

Hyatt Place Johor Bahru is located in Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru, Jalan Mewah Ria 2, Taman Bukit Mewah, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor. Tel: +607 – 291 1234. For more info, visit official pages for Hyatt Place Johor Bahru on Facebook and Instagram.