'When we were young, cookies and sweets were served during Chinese New Year, Christmas and Hari Raya [to celebrate the end of Ramadan]. They were all cooked at home. As time passed and we left for school or moved away, we'd take cookies with us, to remind us of home. We still have cravings for them and Scrumptious is an attempt to bring back and share some of these memories.'
Chia (below) is starting out small, taking orders over the phone and through the website, although he hopes to open a retail shop and expand the selection to include other traditional Malaysian treats such as pandan cakes, thousand-layer cakes and kaya (coconut jam). For now, Scrumptious sells only buttery, delicate pineapple tarts and six types of cookie (macadamia; chocolate-dipped cornflake and oat; chocolate chip with hazelnuts; cranberry; shortbread; and butter).
His aunt 'uses butter - not shortening, chocolate from Holland, dried cranberries from the US and pineapple from the Philippines. The pineapple is slow-cooked for 12 hours, to evaporate the liquid. Everything's made without preservatives,' he says.
Small orders (two boxes) can usually be delivered on the next working day; larger orders should be placed one to two weeks in advance. Delivery along Hong Kong Island and Kowloon MTR lines is free for a minimum order of two boxes, or HK$300 worth. A box of assorted cookies (90 pieces, or about a pound) is HK$120; a box of pineapple tarts (48 pieces) is HK$180.