Business License to operate a restaurant 
Darus with his Jaguar Sport Car at Kafe Selera Alor Star
The tranquility at the Hilton on 12.07.2011 as compared to Saturday 09.07.2011
It only needs one policeman to keep the peace at the Hilton's front
British tourists flocking back to Kuala Lumpur 
Very knowledgeable Victhern, the smiling driver 
Chot Golek's daughter (second from left) who was responsible in bringing Chot Golek to the Kafe Selera Alor Star
Amira attending to Idrus
Ad inquiring the needs of the customers 
Ad frying mee for Zam
With proper attire, surely Ad would easily passed as a competent original Mamak mee Although most of the ladies in our extended family from Kampung Kelubi, Hutan Setali or even Jejawi were in born chefs par excellence to any commercial chef in Kedah or Perlis, yet only two of our family members were actually involved in commercialising their in born culinary skills.
The late Ami Hamzah from Kampung Hutan Setali was the pioneer in venturing into the business world of food. To late Ami Hamzah was idolized by his grand kids for his prowess in exhibiting his magical tricks. The late Ami Hamzah was a confirmed bachelor but he would return to Kampung Hutan Setali on the eve of every Aidilfitri. Every Aidlfitri, we yearned for his homecoming and we would always enjoy gleefully for his amusing magical tricks. Although he did not finished his primary school education but Allah has blessed him with abundant culinary skills.
He was the first among our family members who dared to venture into the world of food business. In the late fifties and early sixties, the restaurant in Kuala Sanglang where Ami Hamzah was a resident chef flourished because of Ami Hamzah’s famous fried mee and koeteow. He was a very straight forward gentleman and as such he has suffered silently as the restaurant owner took advantage of his honesty. Although he was the crowd puller to the restaurant yet he died as a pauper because the owner did not give due recognition to his vast contribution to the popularity of the restaurant.
The second family member who ventured into the food business was Kak Nab who opened a very simple restaurant in Tambun Tulang in the early sixties whereby she specialised in mee and beehoon soup. With the income from her culinary skills, Kak Nab managed to provide ample education to her children. During her ripe golden years as a single mother, she is now enjoying the fruits of her labour whereby her children are providing her with ample financial and moral assistance. After her retirement from the food business, Kak Nab has passed on her secret recipe of beehoon soup to Za who has acquired the knowledge skillfully. In our annual family gathering on the eve of Aidilfitri, the gathering would not be complete without Za's beehoon soup.
It never came into my wildest dream that in the 21st century, another family member of ours who is a very highly educated gentleman and shrewd businessman would dare to venture into the challenging world of food business. Both of the pioneers in our family who were involved in the food business earlier did not even possess any legal approval by their respective local authority. I was very proud indeed that my cousin, Syed Izhar Al Idrus was the first in our family who possesses a valid business license to operate a restaurant at Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.
His restaurant Kafe Sajian Alor Star is situated at Blok B-G-18, Jalan 13D, Taman Dato' Ahmad Razali, 68000 Ampang serves the famous Alor Setar owned brand of nasi lemak in the like of Nasi Royale and Nasi Ali.. My brother in law Syun who is a ardent nasi lemak of Alor Setar savvy has frequented the restaurant and he has vouched on the authenticity of the nasi lemak.
With the strong recommendation by Syun, when Zam and I were in Kuala Lumpur recently we were thankful to Allah for giving us the golden opportunity to step foots on Kafe Selera Alor Star at noon, Tuesday, 12th July 2011. Even then, we were grateful with the assistance of Ad's driver, Victhern.. True to the word of Syun, we really enjoyed the rice served at Kafe Selera Alor Star. We were again taken by surprised when Ad took the pleasure of cooking for us fried mee par excellence than Mee Abu in Alor Star. My grand children also enjoyed the rice and fried mee that we brought home on the auspices of Dato' Idrus Zainol. Ad even provided us the transport back to Nana's residence at Persada Damai, ENSTEK, Labu.
Before our departure back to Labu, Ad, who was very closed to my late mother reminisced that if my mother is still alive, she would naturally complimented Ad for his endeavour by uttering her famous quotation, "Daje betoi hang Ad, mengaji tinggi-tinggi, hang goreng mee."
Adding to our surprises, we were also really amazed that Ad's favourite daughter, Amira who is on a semester break from her studies in John Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA. willingly providing her helping hands to her father at the restaurant. I raised my hat to Amira who is a modern global girl who could stoop low to be a cashier and a server in her father’s restaurant. We do really pray that her younger brother, Amir would follow her footsteps but please Che Minah do not harbour the slightest thought of following suit. I do sincerely pray that the honourable attitude and deeds of Amira would surely be blessed by Allah for the prosperity of Kafe Selera Alor Star. Insya Allah.
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