IT WAS just after the Year of the Tiger roared in that I decided to scoot over to a kopitiam in Damansara Jaya for a change of pace in my usual diet of cereals and fast food.
The traditional kopitiam brings back high nostalgia of days in humble coffeeshops where eggs, toast and kaya are complemented by a choice of coffee, tea or Milo. Round porcelain tables and wooden chairs or stools add to the rich setting.
 Such joints have since evolved into eateries catering to, shall I say, more refined taste of urbanites. They have sprouted up everywhere in recent years, trying to recapture the mood of yesteryear.
Throw a stone in any direction these days and it’s bound to hit one.
And so the little pebble led me to the door of Coffee Connexion.
It’s a spacious eatery occupying two intermediate shoplots nestled in a quiet neighbourhood that had seen better days before it gave way to more bustling pockets of human commotion in PJ such as The Curve and Jaya One.
Coffee Connexion is located a few hundred metres from the Atria Shopping Centre. The shopping centre, a major landmark in Damansara Jaya, remains a likable and secluded place, a contrast to its colourful reputation during the Piccadilly Disco heydays in the early 1990s.
Coffee Connexion is run by Desmond and Vivien Wong, a husband-and-wife team, who declares the food they served contribute to healthy living.
Yes, we all can do with some of that. I confess I spend way too much time glued to the PC, Twitter-ing and Facebook-ing away.
Coffee Connexion bills itself as a place where the public can go for healthy and tasty food that’s also value for money.
Desmond and Vivien Wong.
How does RM2.50 for a cup of steaming hot coffee and RM9.90 for a set meal sound? Not cheap but typical pricing in a city café that's modern and clean.
It exudes a cosy atmosphere and is a good place to while away the time with friends and family.
Healthy food need not be bland and the Wongs are out to prove it. What better way to do so than through the tastebuds.
"Our menu is a fusion of Cantonese, Hokkien, Malay and mamak,’’ says Vivien, who doubles as the head chef at Coffee Connexion that’s easily one of the biggest in the neighbourhood.
The food are based on original recipes that have “done away with some of the classic elements."
 "We don't include artificial flavourings, colouring or monosodium glutamate (MSG). Essences and flavours are purely derived from natural food sources. We grind our chillies and spices to deliver the authentic taste in our fare," says Vivien, a mother of two, and who comes from a Baba and Nyonya parentage.
The halal menu is also concocted following customer feedback, she adds.
Like many such outlets today, Coffee Connexion offers WiFi Internet access, which according to Vivien, has “the best connection” around. It seemed probable as a quick check showed a cellphone could pick up a 2MB video from the Internet in less than 60secs.
Office mates Lau Chung Han and Emily Gun came along for dinner, so we could compare notes as we digged in. So here goes.
Nasi Lemak chicken rendang 
It’s one of the signature dishes at Coffee Connexion. The nasi lemak comes with chicken rendang, sambal cuttlefish and acar buah as side dishes. The rice is steamed with pandan leaves for a nice aroma.
Honey: Yummy , but a bit hot for a person who is not really into spicy food. The portion is generous and a “must-have” for a growling stomach.
Chung Han: Great taste for a dish that uses healthy ingredients as it still brings out the flavour of the rice and rendang. The chicken tastes good as it is none other than the famous ‘Dai San Geok Gai’ roughly translated as ‘Mertajam Chicken’ and so does the sambal cuttlefish.
Emily: The gravy tasted great and the chicken is nicely cooked. The cuttlefish, however, is so-so. I rate it 4 out of 5.
 Side Dish: Glutinous rice with chicken slices
It also makes a good basis for the soup. This is a departure from the ridiculous amount of starch that goes into most shark's fin soups.
Honey: The 3-grain glutinous rice taste nicer and it is healthier than the normal. With red rice, sun rice and glutinous rice , it is a welcome dish for those who wants to reduce the calories intake.
Chung Han: In line with the motto of Coffee Connexion to balance health and taste, this glutinous rice with chicken is made out of 3 kinds of rice instead of one – Red rice, sun rice as well as glutinous rice while still maintaining the taste and introducing more subtle flavours into the dish.
Emily:This actually tasted good even though they had mixture of other rice types instead of fully glutinous rice. It is not so oily and of course, healthy!
Side Dish: Pumpkin cake
The cake is made of steamed pumpkin with shredded chicken. The delicacy is to be eaten with papaya gravy sprinkled with sesame seed and home-made sambal.
Honey: The delicacy has to be eaten with its savoury papaya sauce and sambal, only then you can taste the goodness.
Chung Han:It is a healthier alternative to the original carrot cake and tastes good.
Emily: It’s fine along with the papaya sauce and the sambal, which may be the element in bringing out the tastiness of the pumpkin cake.
Dessert: Durian cake
Honey: Just LOVE it! The creamy cake tastes just like durian minus the pungent smell.
Chung Han: Although not a fan of durian, I find this cake creamy, soft and goes down well with the coffee. Another must-have for durian and non-durian lovers alike.
Emily: The cake tasted slightly salty and the durian taste and smell are mild. It didn’t have the tang of a durian I expected.
Drink: White coffee
Coffee Connexion offers a cup of strong smooth white coffee straight up.
Honey: Coffee lovers will love it. For 'milder' type of drinkers, they might like the ice-blended coffee with cendol better.
Chung Han: Again, this is a healthier ‘version’ because they have cut down on the condensed milk. Also take note that the coffee for each cup is never diluted (ie. one satchel for two persons) therefore you will always be guaranteed all the goodness in full.
Emily: Bitter! Perhaps the coffee lover would enjoy it.
The dishes offered at Coffee Connexion didn't win full marks on all counts. They were better than average and that's already high praise for food that's supposed to be healthy while minimising on the empty calories.
All in all, the cosy setting, friendly proprietors and healthy bias at Coffee Connexion, makes this place worthy of a return trip to sample its other delicacies on the menu.
I'll be back.
Coffee Connexion is located at 12 & 14, Jalan SS 22/25, Damansara Jaya, 47400 Petaling Jaya.
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