JEFFERY Bong, 35, grew up in Pandan, Johor, observing how his parents ran a fresh fruits business and quite naturally led him to start a culinary career in the kitchen of the former Hyatt Regency Johor Baru (now Thistle Hotel Johor Baru).
To gain more experience, he ventured further to work at Pete's Place, a popular Italian restaurant at the Grand Hyatt Singapore.
Armed with a wealth of culinary experience, Bong decided to explore career options back in JB and had the opportunity to work with a pioneer team that launched a quick-service Italian restaurant here.
Bong's desire to start his own business challenged him to step out of his comfort zone and 12 years ago, this JB guy turned his dream into reality when he opened Lemon Tree Restaurant.
His perseverance paid off handsomely because Lemon Tree has since established itself as a popular restaurant with a loyal clientele, not just from the neighbourhood but even with many who don't mind travelling there from afar.
Lemon Tree has a cafe menu and serves rice, noodles, sandwiches, pizza, pasta and Western favourites like chicken chop and fish and chips, at affordable prices.
Orders are delivered promptly with generous portions in the main courses and they even offer thirst-quenching fruit juices in jumbo-size jugs.
"Our Special Fried Rice was inspired by a regular customer," said Bong with a laugh, who went on to explain how a customer dined so regularly at Lemon Tree that he often asked for add-on items to his usual order of fried rice.
While the fried rice was already tasty with ingredients, each time he would ask for something extra like a piece of fried chicken, a fried egg (sunny side up), ham and cheese and even coleslaw, to go with his fried rice.
This led Bong to create a Special Fried Rice presented with these items and a side of black-pepper sauce for as gravy.
This Special Fried Rice is a signature dish along with the Ham & Cheese Chicken Chop which is so named because the grilled chicken chop is topped by a slice of cheese and chicken ham.
Another popular item is the Seafood Spaghetti Alio Olio created with pasta tossed with slices of fish, squid and prawns.
At Lemon Tree, they make their own pastry for their pizzas so diners can be assured of freshly-baked pastry with a variety of topping including their popular Island Seafood Pizza.
Lemon Tree is located in the commercial square of a residential area which is distinctly shaded by matured trees. While these are not lemon trees, Bong's restaurant sports a charming sun-dappled facade which is modestly welcoming.
Recently he expanded his business premises into two shop lots with an air-conditioned section when business partner, pastry chef Kevin Sio, joined him to add value to Lemon Tree's desserts.
Sio, also 35, was a former schoolmate of Bong in Johor Baru and he, too, has a great deal of experience while working with bakeries here and Singapore.
While working at the Pan Pacific Hotel Singapore, Sio specialised in Japanese desserts and acquired skills in artful presentations.
Now diners can linger over afternoon tea as Sio serves a range of elegant desserts like Pick Me Up Tiramisu, Volcano 75, tangy Lemon Cake and spicy Chilli Padi Sorbet.
The piped-in music in the restaurant has an enviable a playlist that inevitably includes pop-song, Lemon Tree by Fool's Garden.
Listen closely because it is sung not only in English. While this is a catchy tune to sing along to, Bong prefers the folk tune, Lemon Tree by Peter, Paul and Mary.
Lemon Tree Restaurant is at 18 & 20, Jalan Bedara, Taman Melodies, Johor Baru.
It is open daily from noon to 11pm except Monday. It is a pork-free restaurant. For details, call 07-335 5688.