Seri Pacific Hotel Kuala Lumpur: Buka Puasa with Taste of Citarasa Kampung Ramadhan Buffet

 

Going Big with Citarasa Kampung!

Something big is happening at Seri Pacific Hotel Kuala Lumpur this Ramadhan! Featuring a staggering menu with over 500 different dishes every day for the month of Ramadhan, guests are in for a big feast. Chef de Cuisine Chef Saad Bin Othman and his team have whipped up a touch of creativity to every menu served during this holy month. The buffet has a big list of action stalls featuring lots of kampong classics in addition to the hot and cold buffet served. Besides great food, diners are able to enjoy their breaking fast in a cool and cozy atmosphere while being serenade by live musicians named ‘Los Labamba’, a 4-piece band all the way from Indonesia.

Seri Pacific Hotel Kuala Lumpur also provides surau to visitors to perform Maghri and Isha’ prayers without leaving the hotel. The hotel is also involved in their ‘Sentuhan Kasih Ramadhan’ whereby every RM1 of Ramadhan Buffet sold will be given to Tabung Kebajikan Islamic Aid Malaysia (IAM) and Majlis Kanser Nasional  (MAKNA).

Mohamad Halim Merican, the General Manager of Seri Pacific Hotel Kuala Lumpur said that this contribution is in line with the hotel’s commitment to bring cheer to the less fortunate, especially during festive seasons. ‘We hole this small contribution will ensure that children who are less fortunate can enjoy and celebrate this holy month just as everyone else,’ he said.

Highlight of the night was this powerhouse Ramadhan favorite, Sup Gear Box ‘Power’! Foodies will definitely warm up after a long day with Sup Gear Box, also known as Sup Tulang or Bone Marrow Soup, filled hours of love simmering huge bone marrows, beef meat and offals and vegetables. The end result is a spice up aromatic meaty broth served with the bone marrow, small chunks of meat and offal, fried shallots, coriander and an array of chili sauce. We love sharing and so we asked for this gargantuan bowl of a huge bone marrow and broth for extreme satisfaction. It also comes with straws for sipping pleasures of the creamy and rich bone marrow!

Not far behind, another special feature vying for equal attention is the Sup Ekor Bakar! A twist in grilling up the marinated and boiled chunks of oxtail before serving it in its own broth, this one is also really warming and delicious coupled with a smoky edge.

I was never a fan of Briyani but the Tanjung Emas station from Muar impressed me that night with its Briyani Gam. The Briyani rice is absolutely scrumptious! Laden with chicken and boiled eggs, the rice is extremely fluffy and moist, flavorful from all the spices and beautiful at sight. A huge steel cauldron kept with lined cloth kept the rice warm thoughout the night. Cashew nuts, fried shallots and coriander complete the assembly. Wait, that’s not all, savor the biryani with Vegetable Dhalca and Bendi Masala as accompaniments but I really felt the rice was already superb on its own.

What’s a Ramadhan feast without a BBQ lamb? The grill station named Panggang Corner features Roasted Marinated Whole Lamb, slowly being cooked under the eyes of the chefs and guests. Tuck into tender slices of lamb to be savored with essential sauces like Mint Sauce, Sambal Kicap and Air Asam. Else there are other charcoal grilled items like Ikan Kembung, Ikan Pari, Ikan Tenggiri, Sotong and Kerang at the Bakar Bakar Corner.

There is also Bubur Lambuk, a traditional Trengganu Ramadhan dish where the origins of the porridge had everyone gathered from the various communities to make this slow cooked porridge. The dish is usually cooked in big batches to feed the whole community and is comfort food at its best for the Ramadhan period.

Two stalls of Eyes of Malaysia showcase various claypots of authentic Malay curries and dishes. Make sure to visit these for Nasi Gunting served with Laut Limpa Kari, Limpa Rendang, Paru Dendeng, Daging Dendeng, Perut Lembu Masak Lemak Rebung, Sambal Udang Petai, Masak Lemak Pucuk Paku Manis dengan Keledek, Korean Mussel Cooked In Spicy Chili Paste, Acar Sayur and more. Let’s not forget Serunding, a must-have this season, with options of Chicken or Beef Serunding to be enjoyed with Lemang, Ketupat and rice.

Other usuals like Ulam Ulam with Sambal, Kerabu Mangga dan Daging, Goreng Ikan Masin, Telur Masin, Gado Gado and Keropok are also present. I spied Ikan Masin like Sepat and Cekik Leher while the Ulam station has Daun Kadok, Daun Selom, Ulam Raja, Paku Rawan, Kerdas, Petai, Jering, Kacang Botol, Peria Rebus, Pucuk Ubi Rebus, Timun, Tomato, Nangka Rebus to be savored with Sambal Belachan, Cencalok, Budu and Tempoyak. Even the Keropok station is big, filled with Keropok Udang, Malinja, Sauran, Ikan, Papadom, Keladi, Ubi Keledek, Pisang and Rempeyek!

Have a thing for noodles? Check out Noodles action stalls for Char Kway Teow, Mee Mamak, Mee Maggi and Mee Rebus for some noodling action. There is a Fatty Corner station for Yong Tau Foo and Lok Lok action featuring lots of choices and skewers too.

Need a little international fare? Head over to Kofuku stall for a twist of Japanese sushi with Sambal Ikan Bilis, Rendang and Serunding. A western corner featuring Hot From The Oven are pizzas also twisted up with similar filings of the sushi. I must say, the pizzas tasted really good with creamy spicy Rendang and Serunding!

If you are not stuffed by now, make way to the dessert bar where Aneka Kuih Melayu, Cake Counter, Assorted Fresh Fruits, Bubur Manis Station and Chocolate Fountain Bar will cater to your sweet tooth. Choices are again quite mind-boggling and there is also a lovely beverage station featuring Air Kelapa, Lai Chee Kang, Teh Tarik, Nescafe Tarik and Air Bandung.

The best kept secret in town has to be the Durian stall! This is one of the first places I know that dares to serve up baskets of Pondok Buah Durian. Though I stayed away from this fruit, my other foodies flocked to the stall to enjoy the king of fruits gloriously!

In addition all the above, there is just so much more and everyday features a different menu to please! If choices for authentic Kampung cuisine are what you seek, then Citarasa Kampung at Seri Pacific Hotel Kuala Lumpur is your place to visit this Ramadhan!

Ramadhan Buffet is served from 14 July till 3 August 2013 at Pacific Ballroom priced from RM80nett per adult. For those who prefer the ambience of a coffee house, Zende Restaurant is offering the buffet dinner at RM50nett per adult with a slightly different menu. ‘Hari Raya Open House’ functions or outside catering is also available at RM80nett per person.

For reservations, please contact 03 4049 4302 or email asha@seripacific.com or visit their website at www.seripacifichotel.com

SERI PACIFIC HOTEL KUALA LUMPUR

Jalan Putra, Level 4

50746 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

Tel: 603 4042 5555

Website: www.seripacifichotel.com