“I felt very disappointed at the time. It took time for me to accept it,” Amer, now 23, told FMT Lifestyle.
An animal lover, he had dreams of becoming a veterinarian. But he struggled with his science subjects in school. He was brilliant in the kitchen though, having learnt how to cook from his late grandmothers.
So, after completing his Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia, he enrolled at Cilantro Culinary Academy. There, he found himself in his element.
“Dyslexic people are not like normal people. We don’t like theory but enjoy working with our hands.”
In 2020, he and his mother, Nor Haslinda Mohd Hanafiah, started a home business selling dishes like chicken chop, aglio olio and kuih, among others. They named their business Dyslexia Cafe.
With business booming, they were able to open a physical café in Bangi two years later which they called Dyslexia Cafe MY.
Today, they have relocated to a café in Batu Caves closer to their home. They have also employed others with disabilities – two with dyslexia and one with autism.
According to Nor, 49, the business was named as such to raise awareness about dyslexia and since then, parents with dyslexic children have visited the cafe to learn more about Amer’s experience.
“When they see Amer with this café, it shows them that having dyslexia is not the end of the world,” she shared, adding that in the future they hope to open a school for dyslexics where they can learn skills in culinary art, sewing and art.
During FMT Lifestyle’s visit, Amer and his father, Shaharom Shamsuddin, were seen chatting with customers.
For Amer, a memorable highlight in his career as a chef was when Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, the prime minister’s wife, visited their café in Bangi last January. “I didn’t expect it and I felt very, very excited.”
He advised those with disabilities not to restrict themselves in any way. “Disability is not a barrier. Don’t look down on yourself, build yourself up. Do what you like. Just don’t stop.”
And it’s a blessing Amer took his own advice. The ribeye steak he cooked was absolutely a delight – juicy, tender and full of flavour. It was served on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes with a side of fresh vegetables, and a homemade barbecue sauce.
Pasta lovers should opt for the spicy pan-fried salmon with olio fettuccine. The salmon was moist and flaky and a delightful complement to the simple yet flavourful pasta.
For Asian fare, try the Loh Fan chicken mushroom. The silky smooth chee cheong fun made of rice, that encased a generous portion of chicken and mushroom, was especially scrumptious when eaten with the Thai chilli sauce and dried shrimp sambal, both of which were made in-house.
Don’t leave without sinking your teeth into some of the café’s cakes – chocolate, red velvet and sea salt caramel. For a fusion of western and local, the pengat pisang cheesecake was fabulous. The cakes, Amer shared, were made by his younger brother.
The pengat pisang cheesecake was decadent. Served with a drizzle of sweet caramel, it was perfect with a cup of hot coffee. The colourful jelly balls were a fun dessert too – both for children and adults!
For drinks, there is a selection of hot beverages such as latte, cappuccino and Americano as well as refreshing mocktails and fruit juices.
Overall, Dyslexia Cafe MY was more than just a café serving good food and desserts – it was a testament of one chef’s inspiring journey of overcoming his disability to make a success of his career.
Dyslexia Cafe MY
No 12-G, Jalan PPS 1
Pusat Perdagangan Selaseh
Taman Selaseh
68100 Batu Caves
Selangor
Business hours:
11am–11pm (Closed on Wednesday)