Bryan Chong and Ella Leong
In this interview, Bryan Chong and Ella Leong tell of how BrElla Bakery came to be and some of their best-selling items.
What do you do?
Bryan: We run a micro-bakery. We specialise in bagels, sourdough products, focaccia, Hong Kong polo buns, Taiwanese pineapple shortcake, burnt cheesecake, cookies and many more. Our best-selling products are our bagels, sourdough products and our Hong Kong polo buns. Also, our Taiwanese pineapple shortcake is really popular during the festive season too.
How did you get into the industry?
Bryan: Cooking and baking have always been things I truly enjoyed doing in my free time, and opening a minimalist and cosy cafe for people to chill, relax and enjoy a good cup of coffee was always my dream. This dream stayed a dream until I lost my job as a graphic designer at the end of 2019. Then, seeing this as an opportunity, my wife Ella encouraged me to take a leap of faith and become a full-time baker.
Share with us a story from behind the scenes.
Ella: People might be wondering why we specialise in bagels and sourdough, but we sell Hong Kong polo buns and Taiwanese pineapple shortcakes at the same time. Actually, those items are my food cravings, and Bryan worked very hard to perfect the recipe, and they happened to be our signature items on our menu alongside our bagels and sourdough products.
What’s a food memory from your childhood or travels that stands out?
Bryan: When I was young, my family often had weekend gatherings at my grandma’s house. My aunties always made fried rice noodles, curry chicken and red bean sweet soup. They even let me help out in the kitchen, and that is my fondest food memory from my childhood.
What’s the best/ worst part of your job?
Bryan: The best part is receiving compliments and validations from our customers. We have quite a number of foreign customers from different countries, and they often tell us they have been having a hard time finding good bread in town and they told us our bread reminded them of the taste of home. We are so honoured to be able to serve all of our customers, and their compliments just motivate us to work harder and become better at what we are doing.
I don’t think there is any worst part about my job. I would say it was a bit challenging at the beginning to wake up so early in the morning to start the day. But now, I do enjoy starting my day so early as it is really calm and peaceful when the whole city is still sleeping.
What’s your favourite food and beverage pairing?
Bryan and Ella: A cup of Yuanyang (a mixture of coffee and milk tea) and a Hong Kong polo bun with a slab of butter (all Hong Kong style).
The perfect day off would be…
Ella: Restaurant hopping!! We always enjoy trying new food out there because both of us are foodies!
A day in the life of a baker is…
Bryan: Starting at 4 am and finishing around 4 pm or sometimes later.
What do you do for fun?
Bryan: I like to cycle to train my stamina.
What’s something you’d like guests to know about Brella Bakery?
Ella: We always strive to be better and often challenge ourselves to try out different things to surprise our customers. For example, we used to sell plain bagels at pop-ups! But, we made fresh bagel sandwiches on the spot during our latest pop up booth, and it was a big hit!
How has the pandemic changed your perspective?
Ella: When the pandemic hit Malaysia in 2020, we noticed it was hard for people to go out and exercise, and we know a healthy lifestyle can begin with a healthy diet. After some consideration, we launched our bagels and sourdough to promote this idea. Also, we make sure all of our products are free from additives and preservatives because more and more people are aware of how eating can affect their health, and we do our best to respect that. We are really glad that many customers are on the same page as us and have been supporting us along the way.
What’s something you’d like people to know about being a baker as a profession?
Bryan: I think it is really important to remain humble and have the perseverance to keep growing. I believe in the power of sharing; the more you share, the more you learn! I think it actually applies to other professions too.
What’s in store for you in the upcoming months?
Ella: Other than launching new products, we will continue to attend various pop-up markets. Also, we have been in touch with different cafes and supermarkets; hopefully, you will be able to purchase our products soon at some cafes or supermarkets. Stay tuned for more updates!
Read more interviews such as this one with Bryan Chong and Ella Leong here, and stay up to date with the latest food and beverage happenings in KL here.
Taiwanese pineapple shortcake. a must-buy for anyone visiting Taiwan. Not cheap! We have a bakery here too – they make pretty good ones as well.