Dining Duos
We speak to three business partners in the dining industry who shed light on how they separate work and personal life to maintain a healthy relationship
LIM HENG KIT AND ZIYAN LEE
“We have grown stronger with a clearer alignment for our brand”
While they have been business partners for eight years, Lim Heng Kit and Ziyan Lee’s friendship began much earlier— the two first met while completing their Culinary Management degree at William Angliss Institute in Melbourne. Their first venture in 2016 was contemporary Malaysian eatery Li Restaurant, but they now also run bakery-café Provisions and Locus, an experience-based dining hub.
Lim runs the back of house working with the team of chefs and bakers while Lee’s expertise lies in hospitality, providing training to front of house members. “Our friendship is actually a strength when it comes to work,” Lee says. While the two connect on their love for the industry, their personalities are different: “Heng Kit is calmer, while I have a lot of energy, which translates into a genuine, good restaurant experience for customers,” adds Lee.
The two recognise conflict is common when running any business, but what matters is how it is overcome. “We run weekly meetings with our third partner, Yee Rui Lim, to discuss how we can improve,” says Lim. “Over the years we have grown stronger with a clearer alignment for our brand.” Lim and Lee hope that they will continue building their restaurant group to offer Malaysians more highquality dining options.
CHRISTIAN RECOMIO AND JENIFER KUAH
“We believe that everything plays a part in the dining experience”
Combined, Christian Recomio and Jenifer Kuah have over 40 years of industry experience. The two first met in Malaysia when Kuah attended a supper club that Recomio was hosting with one of her friends. Though sceptical at first, she ended up enjoying the food. The two opened Sitka, their first restaurant together, over ten years ago.
Currently, Kuah and Recomio run Alta Cafe, Alta Pizza, and Studio Restaurant, all tied by the ethos that high quality food is possible at every level. Kuah is a seasoned front-of-house, gracefully running operations, while Recomio is the talent behind the dishes. Having said that, there are overlaps: “Jenifer’s palate is invaluable and anything she says, I always take on board,” Recomio shares.
While different in nature, the two are similar when it comes to what they want to achieve
and how they perceive the business. “We both believe that everything, from restaurant design to hospitality, plays a part in the dining experience,” the chef continues.
Kuah is a planner but Recomio lives in the moment. “I need to know what is happening three months down the road to plan, but Christian does not,” Kuah laughs. When asked about how they have grown over time, Kuah is quick to answer: “Sideways!”
ALEX CHEAH AND KELVIN CHEAH
“Our bond as siblings strengthens our professional partnership”
“Having a twin brother is like having a built-in best friend who shares my genes and my jokes!” laughs the amicable Alex Cheah. Both men have always been passionate about the dining scene and share the belief that culture and culinary experiences should be intertwined. The Cheahs handle the marketing and business development of Beta KL and Skillet KL, with Alex kick-starting new projects and Kelvin focused on communicating with relevant parties. Kelvin remarks, “Our bond as siblings definitely strengthens our professional partnership.”
When asked about how they separate work and personal life, the duo says: “We’re a package deal of business and brotherhood, and boundaries blur more often than not.”
However, this is not necessarily seen as a negative but a testimony to how their bond is able to extend seamlessly across all aspects of life. When conflict arises, they’ve got it handled: “Our shared goals and the fact that we are family first, keep us grounded, even in the middle of disagreements,” Alex shares.
In business together for close to a decade, Kelvin says, “Our journey of shared experiences has shaped us into a strong, resilient team. We’ve navigated challenges, evolved, and grown together, both as professionals and individuals.”