WOODS Bio Marche opened its new outlet in SS2 Petaling Jaya recently. The restaurant is part of Woods Macrobiotics, which is a health, healing and lifestyle centre providing vegan macrobiotics organic food.
Woods Bio Marche in Jalan SS2/72 is a new cafe which has an open-concept kitchen manned by three macrobiotic chefs serving five different types of organic cuisine — Japanese, Malay, Indian, Chinese and Western.
Delicious spread: The tempting Organic Cherry Cake.
“Our dishes are priced from RM3 onwards for the budget-conscious looking for healthy and affordable meals,” said senior baker and founder of Woods Macrobiotics June Lim.
The outlet also sells organic macrobiotic groceries, fresh produce, naturally leavened bread and pastries made without dairy, eggs, butter or trans-fat.
Its 1,200 sq feet outlet seats 50 and opens for brunch, lunch, tea and dinner from 11am to 9.30pm daily, except Mondays.
Healthy greens: Lim serving up a salad dish during the opening of Woods Bio Marche
Media and loyal customers were treated to a free buffet lunch and a cooking demonstration by macrobiotic dessert specialist from Japan, Yuka Ikeda.
The noon buffet menu comprised vegetarian cous-cous, nyonya curry, organic cherry cake, brown rice bihun and organic vegetable fritters.
“When we first started, we catered to a niche market. Now, we want to target the mass market by really positioning the goodness of macrobiotic food. So far the customers have been giving positive feedback,” added Lim.
Historically, Dr Sagen Ishizuka, a Japanese army medical officer began the macrobiotic lifestyle movement in the 18th century.
George Oshawa and Michio Kushi first brought the deeply rooted Eastern vegan lifestyle to the West in the 1950s.
Since then, the philosophy and practice of macrobiotics has spread globally as more people realise the importance of eating the right food for optimal living. In Malaysia, macrobiotics was introduced in 1993 by Lim.
The other two outlets are Woods Macrobiotics in Jalan Telawi 2, Bangsar, and Woods Bio Marche in Wisma Bukit Bintang as well as in Muar, Johor.
Its expansion plans from the second half of 2011 is to operate its health concept cafe franchise for both the local and overseas markets. This will cater to the growing demand of health conscious young people who are aware of the benefits of pure food.
