Being born and raised during my childhood in a small town, Teluk Intan, Perak, I always enjoy eating “rebung” or bamboo shoots among our family diets. These bamboo shoots are the young, edible sprouts of the bamboo plant and are popular vegetable in many of our village cuisines up north of Peninsula Malaysia. They are also known as “pucuk rebung” and can be found in various dishes, from soup to curries turns natural ingredients into flavorful meals.
I remember my wife, Zarina's uncle, Allahyarham (late) Datuk Dr. Ariffin Ngah Marzuki, the 1st Malay gynaecologist in Malaysia & founding VC of UKM said, “Rebung is more than just delicious - it's low in calories, high in fiber, and a great source of potassium and plant-based protein. The nutrients support digestion, heart health, and even help manage weight. Traditional healers also value rebung for its real cooling properties and ability to detoxify the body.”
I like eating the tender, young shoots of bamboo plant as a prized vegetable for my meal. It's cooked by removing the hard outer layers & simmering until tender. So, Zarina & I seized the earliest opportunity to visit Rebung Chef Ismail 2 in Putrajaya, one of the country's most prominent local chefs specialize in authentic Malay cuisine, using only the finest home-grown ingredients. We had enjoyed its buffet spread at Rebung Restaurant located just off Jalan Parliament on the outskirts of the KL Lake Gardens. This restaurant at Putrajaya has the space and ambience overlooking the nice Putrajaya Lake & PICC. (rebung.putrajaya@gmail.com)
I understand the owner of Rebung restaurants, Celebrity Chef, Dato' Haji Ismail Ahmad, originated from a small Malay village in Negeri Sembilan. He was introduced to cooking by his grandmother, an avid food lover and cook. Chef Ismail discovered his passion in trying out the herbs and spices & fresh produce from orchards which were growing in abundance around him then. He recollects that helping his grandmother in kitchen has certainly helped to pave his successful entrepreneurial career journey in the competitive world of F&B. (restoranrebungchefismail@gmail.com/@rebungchefismail2)
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