Lifting the Kimono - OBD's Secret Restaurant

Modern styling is evident from the ground floor

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Matsuba restaurant is tucked away on the right-hand side of the pool

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It was packed on a Sunday night. This was taken before we left, long after dinner time!

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Many people know about OBD Garden Tower in Taman Desa. One of the pioneering condos in our suburb, it stands prominently in white and was constructed NOT by Faber Union, which is a good thing indeed. Famed for having its Japanese residents it is kind of cloaked in secrecy-cum-good security.

My Mum and Dad were intrigued by the restaurant that started advertising itself and eventually tried it out. After more than 11 years of living in Taman Desa (since I returned from Oz) Nim, Elle and myself accompanied the parents and our cousin Diane to try it out.

The first thing that strikes me is how beautiful and clean the condo is. This one almost sparkles. The interior common areas clearly show off the Zen-style architecture that is minimalist, yet so distinctive of what we have seen of Japan. The pool is wide and at the centre of the property. Next to it, lies the restaurant.

It was packed and slightly noisy. Typical of a Sunday. We took our seats and ordered. As usual I tried out the bento set comprising of Unagi which was very reasonably priced (RM20?) while the others tried their own sets too. It was air-conditioned.

Service was prompt and our meals got the proverbial thumbs up.

We didn't really go anywhere else but toured more of the common area on our way out to the carpark. Two well-maintained tennis courts were occupied.

Overall, I'd say OBD is a true pride of Taman Desa and a model for other developers. I'm not sure but it must be pricey, either for buying or for renting. Which is the way it should be, I believe.

In The Name Of A Good Cause

Some highlights of the day... participants and winners of the colouring contest...


Indah Water's En Ahmad Budaya taking a mundane subject...


...and having us in stitches several times as he entertained.












Finally, Bernard getting the money from Alam Flora for our recycled goods. I'm sure the next one will yield a lot more.


Gosh, this may sound sheepish but I felt proud having co-organized the first big community event in Casa Desa. Being a proud environmentalists I always believe actions speak louder than words. Thus, when fellow committee member Bernard proposed the Recycling Day I jumped on the chance to work with him.

Trust me, it was a hell of a lot of work. Organizing, learning, communicating and even putting in the hard work like carrying chairs and speakers from our cars to the condo.

We learnt a lot and that's the best thing about it: the next ones will be better and better. We had a few nervous moments though.

The morning started really well and we had most of the furniture set up in our vacant restaurant/common area by 9.45am. Then the weather threatened to intervene. The clouds got dark and started coming our way. After a few minutes it finally gate-crashed the party by introducing gale-force winds. The buntings and exhibition panels that Indah Water put up were inadvertent sail boards for a wind force right out of Wolfgang Petersen's A Perfect Storm.

Running for our lives, we grabbed everything and turned our outdoor fair into an indoor one. Within half an hour it was settled.

The colouring contest (organized by Bernard's wife Celine) next door was a hit with families but everyone seemed diverted from the Indah Water talk that was scheduled to go on so I ushered the parents and got as many people as I could to sit in. Some might have been moaning internally about a perceived 'lecture' heading their way. But Indah Water's rep En Ahmad Budaya gave a remarkable and funny explanation on the state of the nation's wastewater and the role Indah Water plays. The man himself is a hilarious character, part-comedian, part-educator.

Alam Flora, Hong Leong bank (who were our main sponsors), Streamyx and a few others played their part in the event. Committee president Lai Fong was there, as were other members Alifah, Ramlan, Jonathan and my beloved Nim too.

Of course, we wanted people to come down with their recycled goods; or we'd even go to them if they needed help. Which is what Bernard and a few committee members did, going from block to block. My good friend Charles helped me out too, although he found our second-hand book sale too good to ignore at times.

Due to some technical problems our planned movie screening didn't get underway but we managed to get people involved, meet some new friends and collect over RM200 dollars worth of goods to raise for our residents' leisure needs.

Malaysians can be a shy lot but it was great to meet a few people concerned about their neigbourhood. It's a start for us. And a good one at that.

A Liberating Experience

One of my favourite Taman Desa hang-outs, if you've read my Facebook/Twitter status occasionally, is Cafe Libre. Taman Desans, you must try it out at least once. This charming place, located behind the row of shops facing Danau Idaman condo, serves great coffee, great cakes and wonderfully affordable food. Most importantly, it serves its customers really well.

It starts with Jimmy, the young manager. He's friendly and polite without neglecting the art of customer service. His boss and owner, Yasmin, is just as affable. While I can't complain about the cosy yet modern environment Cafe Libre is set in, I enjoy coming here just to have a friendly chat, grab a newspaper and surf the net while waiting for the food and coffee.

Speaking of coffee, Jimmy is a true barister and will give handy advice to those wanting to know more about the art of brewing coffee. A recent, free talk-cum-coffee tasting had the regulars out in force.

Just like the eponymous bar in the sitcom Cheers, this is one place where people will know your name. Okay, maybe my name. Good friend and erstwhile futsal teammate Colin was sighted here once. His fellow business partners also drop by once in a while and it's always great to see. Sunday Star Chief Reporter Andrew walked in recently to both our surprise. Singer Farah Asyikin also came by, although she spotted Nim first (whom she knows well). Oh, and even a fellow committee member from Casa Desa took in the alfresco experience last weekend.

The mains are quite affordable, with Spicy Seafood Spaghetti, cooked in olive oil costing RM10.90. The Nasi Minyak, which Nim loves, comes with rice and a portion of lamb in an aptly oily gravy and costs a bit less. Cakes are priced less than what you'd expect from many branded cafe chains. And their quality coffee? Well, it starts at RM4.50 for an Americano and goes up from there, with many flavours to choose from.

I can't quite put my finger on one good point about Cafe Libre that alone compels me to visit each week. It's the whole package that really makes it the best place in Taman Desa to hang out. Just like a home away from home.

Casa's A Real Home

Casa Desa above and below ground>






Casa Desa’s been slowly flourishing. We’ve got a laundry service shop now, although I think they outsource the work as we didn’t spot any washing machines in the tiny premises. And most noticeably, the swimming pool has become the hang-out area for the residents. With lots of greenery around us, good barbecue facilities and a nature-themed pool layout it all looks homely enough.

I ventured down on with my new Panasonic Lumix camera, underwater housing and all, and took some pix. They turned our great. Nim was in her element – she loves the pool – and some a fellow committee member turned up with her daughter. I even managed to grab some priceless pix of a little maintenance problem (Faber Management take note!). But simply put, it was a great day and the shots turned out well.

What we next need is a proper café and perhaps a mini-mart. But let’s hope we use our creative imagination and put up a professional-looking business. With 5 years of experience in the branding/advertising industry I hereby offer my services free of charge to any fellow Casa Desa/Taman Desa resident submitting a proposal to management.

That’s right, you it heard it – free! I’ll help design the brand identity for your business and design the environmental signage that goes around the premises to make it look good and gel with Casa Desa. If you get the proposal then fine. I’ll might help design the menu too.

Casa Desa’s a great place. With the right effort it could turn out into a wonderful condo with an enviable reputation. But getting the image right is a crucial start. More to update!

Salute To The Colonel

Is it a momentous occasion for Taman Desa or just one of resigned cynicism? It really depends on your age but the call for review is simply due to KFC's impending arrival to our suburb. It's a sign of things to come. Taman Desa has blossomed so fast that it really was a case of fait accompli.

Ironically, the corner where KFC is appearing has had a checkered history. When it first opened, a rip-off chain called KLG actually had the nerve to open there. Apparently KLG has over 30 outlets in Northern Malaysia and wasn't really meant as homage to the Colonel more than it was to capitalize on his popularity. KLG served similar items but with a notably slack food presentation, lousy overall branding and over-salty taste. Surprisingly, it drew a large crowd in its first month, then (unsurprisingly) petered out as fast as a hurricane over a mountain range. To use Aussie slang, KLG 'gave up the ghost' six months later and was hardly mourned by Taman Desans (except Mike C who loved their Chicken Burgers).

Extensive renovations ensued and a Japanese restaurant took over. It was relatively cheap and welcome but it was hardly authentic. The response, though, was energetic (Taman Desans are opportunistic kia su people who will give things a try) and business flourished for about three months. Somehow, the novelty factor wore off and the owners then realized that there were half a dozen similar restaurants in the suburb run even more authentically. This, potential patrons were aware of too. Ten months later and the restaurant also sank into oblivion.

Mike C and I had joked that KFC would do well to copy KLG and make a move to Taman Desa. Maybe in the same spot. And whadya know, they apparently surveyed the empty lot in the past five months and thought the same thing.

It was just a few days ago that the signage finally went up and Nim told me. So the answer to the early question? Well, I think most of us will appreciate KFC coming here. They'll be a lot cleaner than the previous tenants, who also attracted riff-raff to the area. And, if you're gonna have fast food at least the quality is now available (just stay away from the dangerous fries and whipped potato, that's all). Mike C will also enjoy better Chicken Burgers now while I'll be happily eating away at Hot N Spicy Chicken and peeling off two-thirds of the skin.

Mike C and I have joked about opening up our own Coffee Bean outlet to really exploit the opportunities in Taman Desa. That may well come. In the meantime, we're going to KFC when it first opens and salute the Colonel for coming to town.

All Quiet on the Urban Front

Ever wonder what the sound of silence in the 'burbs feels like? Especially when you live in an area that's increasingly congested with cars and the buzz of people? I turned open the window of my apartment the other day and it seemed like the Malaysian version of 'I Am Legend' (or 'Omega Man' to the older ones like me!).

I thought the usual screaming kids in the swimming pool might have drowned, accept the pool was crystal clear and nary a body was to be found.

It was Chinese New Year after all so half of Taman Desa must have packed up and went back to their kampungs (hometowns or home villages). The other half seemed to be sleeping in or just staring out the window like me agape in half-amazement.

I strolled down the shops and it was like that scene in 'Devil's Advocate' where Keannu Reeve's character goes home through downtown NY and it's dead quiet. Okay, I exaggerated. The local supermarket in the corner was open. Of course, further down, the local 'mamak' eatery was also open, hoping to cash in on those like me who couldn't be bothered to cook.

Over the next few days I simply ambled around for my daily meals. Even Mid Valley, my local and aptly named megamall seemed like Las Vegas on a gamblers' strike. Many shops couldn't even be bothered to open for the long weekend.

However, the tradition is that Chinese folk do have to go back on the eve of CNY for the obligatory family dinner and spend some time with parents for a few days if possible. So it's hardly suprising now that you know that fact.

But here's another fact that's slowly been becoming a reality. Chinese restaurants that DO open will add a surcharge on your meal. Now, what the hell's that for? It's not like they're paying their foreing labour any more. And I don't think many of the produce or supplies go up during this period.

I had this rude shock when I decided to eat at the local vegetarian restaurant with Nim. We got got graciously slapped with a 30 percent surcharge. If he had told me during the meal Nim might've had to rescue me with the Heimlich Manouevre. And there was no written sign to speak of on the front of the restaurant.

Anyway, it was the same thing all around Taman Desa. It simply varied according to the amount they wanted to charge you.

Chinese New Year is about wishing for prosperity in the coming year. Heck, some people don't have to wish for it. They just put it in their bills from Day One!