Makan2 With Stars_jojo Struys

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R E V I E W

by Fong Wai Ling

Makan-Makan

WITH THE STARS

Who: Jojo Struys Where: Aliyaa Island Restaurant and Bar, 8, Lorong Dungun, Bkt Damansara Tel: 03 2092 5378

KL Lifestyle seeks restaurant recommendations from two celebrities, Jojo Struys and Henry Golding.

Aapam Galore

HOOKED ON SRI LANKAN FARE

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estled in the hills of Bukit Damansara is Aliyaa Island Restaurant and Bar, an authentic Sri Lankan restaurant which model, blogger, TV host and producer, Jojo Struys cites to be her favourite restaurant. “I like it because it’s Sri Lankan and we have so many Indian restaurants in KL but where would we go for Sri Lankan cuisine?” Jojo also credits the ambience of Aliyaa for why it is her preferred place to dine. “It’s

Jojo, a familiar face at Aliyaa, personally recommends the Sri Lankan crabs and eggplant sambal, even if she is not a fan of seafood. Her favourite “must-order” meals whenever she dines at Aliyaa are the Aapam Galore and Kandian Chicken Dance.

a stand alone house and it brings one back to the colonial times. I like the cement floor and the minimal feel of it,” she said. She shared how she was there to witness the inception of Aliyaa right from the beginning. She recalled that it was her friend, Abbi, who is a Sri Lankan, who once mentioned that there was no where in the Klang Valley that he could find an authentic Sri Lankan restaurant. “So, my good friend Abbi actually set out to build Aliyaa from scratch. I remember walking through it when it was dust and rubble. It was incredible seeing the transformation from a construction site into a charming restaurant that it is today,” she said. Jojo, a familiar face at Aliyaa, personally recommends the Sri Lankan crabs and eggplant sambal, even if she is not a fan of seafood. Her favourite “must-order” meals whenever she dines at Aliyaa are the Aapam Galore and Kandian Chicken Dance. Asked how often she dined at Aliyaa, Jojo said her visits largely depended on what party hat she was wearing for the day or night. “I usually go there with a group of friends for dinner and sometimes, just for drinks because there’s a band with live music. Those who enjoy cigars can also have a nice lounging session on the balcony. It’s really chilled-out. I like the wine there too.” Jojo also recommends Aliyaa to be the perfect place to host a launch or an intimate private party. “It’s actually quite a large venue. The last time I was there was for a charity dinner Abbi hosted to raise funds for underprivileged children in Sri Lanka,” she said.