The standards are set pretty high this Ramadhan when it comes to hotel and restaurant offers for the breaking of fast. Prices are competitive, with all you can eat buffets featuring a variety of local traditional cuisines to fusion and international delights.
Recently I got invited to the Macam2 Ada Ramadhan Buffet at Grand Margherita Hotel, Kuching, along with about 7 other bloggers. Arriving late was a mistake, as I missed a whole lot of photo ops, so I made do with my own plated presentation. That said, as much as I want to plate all of the yummies, I have to eat them in the end, and thus I plated only a bunch of them.
What's special?
Macam2 Ada is macam-macam indeed! We're talking about local Sarawak dishes - Laksa Sarawak, Bubur Pedas, Ice Cream Gula Apong - and Malaysian food in general - Laksa Penang, Penang Char Kueh Tiaw, Mee Udang (Prawn Noodle) - and International cuisines - Japanese, Indonesian, Cambodia, Vietnam, Indian - soooo many!
Usually when I dine in hotels or restaurants, if it is a buffet, I would start off with some fruits, bread and soup. This is probably the few exceptions where I actually start of with mains. I have on my plate from the Indonesian section (with local Malaysian thrown in there because why not) - Bubur Pedas (in the bowl), Ayam Dendeng, Daging Balado (I think), Sambal Terasi and Begedil Tauhu.
I especially enjoyed the chicken and beef, followed by the sambal terasi and bubur pedas. Usually I would enjoy begedil too - but made with tofu - it's a taste I have yet to acquire. But if you're into those, I'm sure you would enjoy it.
Next, I made an attempt at Indian cuisines and the BBQ area. I was expecting curries and naans, but settled with the popia and samosa served there instead. As for the BBQ - you will need patience as the chefs are working overtime to prep from grill to dish. I managed to grab a couple of sate and grilled chicken.
Eh, I have to say the sate was really good - tender and juicy. I silently regret having taken only a couple, but then my fellow blogger came in with a whole plate I was secretly jumping up and down inside! LOL!
The Venue?
This is also the first time I actually dined al-fresco at a hotel - as far as I can remember. Normally I would be in the comfort of air conditioning, but dining al-fresco has it's perks. I have yet to find it, but give it another try or two.
Our table for 10 was seated just next to the pool. Pro? We're quite away from the food stations so we don't have as many people walking by our table (believe it or not, I get motion sickness from that. Weird huh?) Con? We'll we're outside in the heat next to the pool which releases heat slowly throughout the night. The hotel is also just beside the river, so the heat is something if you're not used to it.
What about Desset?
What about it? Haha! If you've heard about the hype on Ice Cream Gula Apong, yeap, Grand Margherita is in on the hype too! and no, this is not the traditional Open Air style Ice Cream Gula Apong where it is a vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, pandan flavored ice cream with gula apong on it - the one that Grand Margherita has incorporates gula apong into vanilla based ice cream. It was good! Pro-tip: Probably because of the weather, you should pump the ice cream from the machine, add your favourite toppings and run Forest, run! to your table to snap a photo for your insta. Otherwise, if you dilly dally and take your time, your ice cream will melt.
Of course, the next best thing to that, especially on a hot day is a cool bowl of ABC. There are all kind of assortments of cakes and pastries and cookies - which my friends took a whole bunch for the table too, mostly generic cakes.
Last Thoughts?
We're still in the middle of Ramadhan, and for Muslims who wishes to catch Tarawih, Masjid Bahagian is nearby. There is also an in-house prayer room provided as well. The facilities are great, the host and staffs, although overloaded with dishes and trays are always smiling, the food keeps coming and the setting is generally ok.
Given that this year is the hottest year so far in Malaysian history of recorded temperature (I think I just made that up) dining al-fresco feels like dining whilst on a 10km marathon (you sweat, you literally sweat a lot!) but everything else is just peachy. 7.5 out of 10 would recommend.
*The following photos are credited to their rightful owners. Clicking on the photos will like you to them. Read their entry while you're there.
While it is always recommended to exercise modesty during the month of Ramadhan, it is not wrong once in a while to enjoy the offerings around you. One of such enjoyments is to break the fast at Merdeka Palace Hotels and Suites. Kuchinglite is more than familiar with the name, but just in case, Merdeka Palace Hotels and Suites is located at the heart of Kuching, facing the grand Padang Merdeka. Among other landmarks are the Museum, Plaza Merdeka and, most importantly for muslims who wants to catch up on the tarawih prayer, Masjid Bahagian.
This year could possibly the grandest Ramadhan Buffet by Merdeka Palace. Instead of the resident restaurant, the Ristorante Beccari, the buffet this year has been moved to Level 3 Grand Ballroom! Operating in an instant kitchen fashion, a wider variety of dishes is served, one or two will definitely be to the fancy of your taste buds.
I was lucky enough to be invited to the buffet a couple nights ago by Irene and James of Merdeka Palace, along with fellow bloggers Lindy and Brian.
For starters, the Ramadhan buffet offers fresh dates (yes, those on stems - I prefer them over honeyed or preserved) and sweets in forms of local kuih-muih. That's the best way to break your fast and 'wake' your tummy after a whole day of fasting.
For drinks, quite a variety is also up for offer - Teh Tarik, made fresh at the drinks bar, bandung (rose or grenadine syrup with condensed milk), sugarcane, soya bean and plain water on the side. I held back and had myself a glass of teh tarik as I ate through my food and washed them down completely with bandung so I couldn't say much about the sugarcane, soya bean and the rest.
Probably the most recommended item on the buffet are the pizza (they do change and rotate every night), the roasted corner (which I - for whatever reason - forgot to photo! There was a whole lamb carved on the spot by the chef and my goodness it was so tender!) and roti John (a kind of oblong sandwich with egg, chicken or beef, salad and tomato dressed with mayonnaise and chilli sauce). Of course I tried all of them!
Another favourite of mine is Lok-Lok, also a nice variety at Merdeka Palace Ramadhan Buffet. Lok-Lok is a variant of the steamboat/hotpot meal, except that the food served is skewered and the skewered food is dipped into a hot boiling pot of water to be cooked. This is then dipped into a variety of sauces provided for you. Pick ones or twos (go ahead pick more if you want) on your plate and hand it over to the chef, tell him/her do you want to have them boiled or fried, and enjoy!
Dessert is where I missed out most. Having not eaten for the whole day, I cannot shock my body by loading on food so I went for what is most special in Merdeka Palace - the home made ice cream. I cannot begin to tell you how soft, moist and flavourful each bite is. It melts in your mouth like velvet, definitely one that you cannot not try! Sprinkle some almonds on it and voila, your dining experience at Merdeka Palace is complete!
If you ask me, I would definitely come again to the Ramadhan Buffet by Merdeka Palace Hotels and Suites. I do think, and don't quote me on this, that they accept walk-ins, but like any other place, I'm sure they would appreciate you calling ahead for reservation. The number to call is +60 82-258 000. Send me a shoutout if you've been there or planning to go!
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