Living a chef’s dream

It’s been an amazing journey for chef David Chin.

When the going was still good, chef David Chin decided to take a break from all his businesses at the young age of 58 in 2010. He relinquished the directorship of his companies and stopped work for seven years. The man who made Dave’s Deli a household name, retired to his leisurely interests and embarked on cycling adventures with his buddies, including taking part in the Penang International Bridge to Bridge Ride in 2019.

In 2016, he started Kedai Makanan Basikal Stopover in Kuala Kubu Baru, Hulu Selangor and it was a hit, even though it was only opened for business on Sundays, or whenever he felt like it. Then, four years ago as he was walking past where Cafe Bistrot David is now in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, a thought struck him: “Maybe I should establish some legacy, reignite my passion, reinvent myself and start something again.“Darren (my son) encouraged me to open Cafe Bistrot David. He felt that I had been in retirement for too long and volunteered to help me. The cafe opened in February 2020, a month before the pandemic and we were overwhelmed by the response.