Estimation to perfection
> Agak Agak assists the community while bringing a twist to nostalgic taste
different peanut candies we knew and grew up with,” she said.
Basira, who runs the operations side of the restaurant, added that other dishes served include the Chili Pate Mee (an upgraded version of Pan Mee) and Kacang Pol.
“The food has influence from our travels abroad, but retains its core as Malaysian food,” she said.
Open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10am to 6pm, Agak Agak sees the regular lunch crowd as well as the older generation who would stay and enjoy the cakes during tea time.
Ili noted that some of the older customers would be sceptical when they look at the menu.
“When they see the Kacang Pol, they question if it is the same as the one served in Johor – and we explain to them how we make ours, and encouraged them to try it out. Fortunately, we managed to win over these people,” she laughed, noting that they also welcome criticism and comments in order to improve on their food and services. Ili then explained that the restaurant’s apprenticeship programme aims to help train “marginalised youths” in the community.
“These can vary from youths from low-income families to those who are unemployed for some time – the urban poor. We decided to bring these youths who have social issues and economic challenges to be trained,” she said.
The youths will be taught not only to prepare meals, keep inventory and serve people, but they will also learn about finance, branding, marketing, communication, writing emails effectively, and have an organised calendar.
“We want to build character and confidence into these youths which would then help provide the Food and Beverage industry with capable workers,” Ili said.
Currently, they have two youths being trained and Ili expressed hope that once the year-long programme ends, they could be retained as full-time workers, or start their own business.
“Imagine if we can bring in more people in the next three or four years, we can have perhaps 20 people who are passionate and driven in changing the industry,” she added.
When asked about Agak Agak's future, Basira and Ili said there are many possibilities to where the restaurant and its apprenticeship programme can go. “We can either open up another restaurant, have a kiosk or even have a cafe; nothing is written in stone yet,” Ili
said. ‘