It Takes Two

Cafe owners Shahreen Bux and Nadal Murray work hard together to turn a lifelong dream into a reality, writes Sangeeta Devi “We complement each other. What she lacks, I make up for and vice-versa”

All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them”—walt Disney’s quote comes from experience and can be applied to individuals from all walks of life, including the owners of Patty & Pie cafe in Aman Suria. As we arrive at the quaint cafe to have a chat with the husband-and-wife duo responsible for dishing out exotic wood-fired pizzas and delicious gourmet burgers—food that the couple love—we are greeted by a warm ambience. Red brick and polished wooden tables add rustic charm to the inviting space, attracting a volume of daily patrons. However, the highlight of the cafe is the specially imported handmade Italian oven, which creates a crispier pizza base. “Can I get you guys anything?” Patty & Pie co-owner, Shahreen Bux, asks us before we begin the interview. Her sweet and personable nature must work in her favour, working in the hospitality industry and is most likely one of the reasons why the cafe has done so well. That, and the food of course. Yet, this wasn’t exactly Shahreen’s original career plan. Prior to managing Patty & Pie, the mother of two young children was a medical practitioner at King George Hospital, United Kingdom. “I studied medicine at Barts and at Queen Mary University of London under a full scholarship. It was during my studies there that I met my husband Nadal, a British lawyer working in investment banking. He had always dreamt of running his own restaurant,” Shahreen shares. Her husband, Nadal Murray, grew up in South London but had dreams of moving elsewhere and opening a restaurant. “I have always enjoyed cooking and dining out,” he revealed. As Nadal’s mother is Middle Eastern and his father Irish, food has always been diverse in his household. “Being exposed to bold flavours as a child helped me develop a more adventurous palate,” he explains. Nadal tells us that he had little interest in being a high flying lawyer. “I have always felt hampered being stuck with a dull office job and immediately set about working towards saving enough capital to open a food related business from the moment I left university,” he admits. “I wanted to wake up and feel good going about my day, providing a service that people appreciate. If I can create food that even a small number of people enjoy, that’s enough.” According to Nadal, marrying Shahreen strengthened his resolve to move to Malaysia and realise his dream. As for Shahreen, after working as a doctor for two years, she was offered the obstetrics and gynaecology specialisation training course in London. It was also around the same time she found out she was pregnant with her son. She was faced with two choices—accept the seven-year contract and stay in the UK or head back home to Malaysia and raise her child among family, while running a business with her husband. Shahreen chose the latter. In the end, everything worked out well for the couple who have achieved success with Patty & Pie and are looking to open a second outlet. Having no background in F&B meant it was a steep learning curve for the couple, but they managed along the way. “We complement each other. What she lacks, I make up for and vice versa,” Nadal reveals, adding that he is more laid-back while she is more organised and meticulous. “However, she can’t cook! And that’s where I come in.” “You only get one chance at life so it is important to live it by your own standards,” Shahreen says with conviction. “If you want to quit your job and try your hand at running your own show… do it! There will always be a reason not to and there will never be a more perfect time.”