Bear with us for a bit of history in introducing this place: It begins with Malaysian filmmaker Au Tai Hon, who was a major fan of Solaris Dutamas' Craft Bakers, which closed last November when its owners left KL. Au, a co-founder of the much-missed Yogitree restaurant at The Gardens, lost no time in hiring Craft Bakers' head baker Johnny & secured the bakery's recipes to nurture this new patisserie of his own in Bukit Tunku, calling it Kenny Hills Bakers, a nod to his neighbourhood's old name.
Kenny Hills Bakers opens this week; step inside & the irresistible fragrance of fresh baking might sweep you off your feet. Hand-crafted sourdough loaves, ciabatta bread & baguettes made with stone-ground organic flour share the showcase with croissants, scones & tarts, supplying a sensational excuse to indulge in the most satisfying of carbs.
This has the feel of a real community space, with customers from nearby strolling in & out, some buying bread to take home & others lingering over coffee. Seating is limited inside, so most folks will have to endure the heat outside - thankfully, it's a calm & leafy setting. Kenny Hills Bakers has no signboard for now, so it still retains the charm of a hidden secret.
Fluffy-flaky croissants (RM6) with sides of salted butter & kitchen-made marmalade (RM2 surcharge); prices here hit harder than initially expected, but the top-flight ingredients & painstaking attention to detail do combine to elicit extra-delicious results.
Slather lots of Kenny Hills' chunky-creamy peanut butter on rye bread, but beware: a bite may coax you to buy a whole jar.
Don't skip the banana almond tarts (RM10) - they give tarts a good name. Warm raisin scones (RM6) prove worthwhile too.
The pies have it - meaty-buttery ones, only minutes out of the oven if you're fortunate enough, stuffed with slow-cooked beef & Swiss brown mushrooms or succulent chicken & leek (RM10 or RM18, depending on the size). We prefer the beef - it's tastier.
Kenny Hills Baker is serious about its coffee, with single-origin beans currently roasted by Solaris Dutamas' Hot Shots. Cappuccinos, lattes & flat whites all clock in at RM10 each; organic tea - English Breakfast & Earl Grey - costs RM9 per cup.
Affogato arrives with Kenny Hills' own salted caramel ice cream, pretty mellow in flavour, perfect for steamy afternoons. RM15.
Cold-pressed juices are offered too - try the passion fruit with wild honey, winningly balanced & natural-tasting. RM10.
Expect the selection to expand in the days ahead - there'll be banh mi with chicken liver pate (RM18), roasted vegetable croque monsieur (RM18), quiche with house-cured salmon & broccoli (RM18) & more. And expect to hear much more about this friendly bakery-cafe in the weeks to come.
Kenny Hills Bakers Taman Tunku
I-1B, Taman Tunku, Off Langgak Tunku, Bukit Tunku, Kuala Lumpur. Currently open daily, 730am-7pm. Tel: 03-6206-4111
I-1B, Taman Tunku, Off Langgak Tunku, Bukit Tunku, Kuala Lumpur. Currently open daily, 730am-7pm. Tel: 03-6206-4111
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