Ramadhan is upon us again. And whether or not you fast, there’s one thing we all look forward to. Food – all the glorious food when it’s time to breakfast. You’d think with all its popularity, buffets were invented for the sole purpose of Iftar. In fact, it was invented by the Swedish when they had to invent a new way of showcasing the best of their food to large numbers of visitors. The takeaway word here is ‘best’, which is exactly why droves of people swear by the hotel buffet when this time of year comes around.
The minute it’s sundown and the call for prayer commences, the feasting begins too. Some will have something light, break for Maghrib prayer, and then resume eating again. Seeing how buffets have way too much food, it would be impossible for you to sample everything.
Make the most of this holy month and check out our guide to the top 5 highlights at a buffet Ramadhan that will satisfy your hunger but keep you in check as well.
An appetizing mix and match
Rojak Buah
A good choice to satiate the hunger is a crunchy selection of fresh fruit tossed in a special blended sauce that’s sweet, spicy and has a zesty finish. Rojak buah, which literally translates to a mixed fruit, is not only light on the stomach, but contrary to popular belief, fruits should be consumed before a meal as it helps you from overeating.
A meaty affair
A Meaty Affair
Meat eaters rejoice! The one thing to look for in a good buffet spread is a carnivorous variety to choose from. A favourite to look out for is leg of lamb. When cooked right, expect a tender and succulent explosion of flavours. Top it off with some mint sauce and you’ll be good as gold. Lamb is not only considered a protein powerhouse, it’s also an excellent source of iron and an immune booster.
Quenching the thirst
Staying hydrated is essential during Ramadhan. You’ll be tempted to drink a lot at these buffets to wash down all the different foods, but you’ll also fill up very fast. Aside from water, quench your thirst with an ice cold sirap limau. It essentially is rose syrup with lime and you’d never think that something so simple could be so delicious too.
Satisfy the sweet tooth
Ais Batu Campur (ABC)
In scorching hot and humid weather, seek solace in the Air Batu Campur (ABC). This local dessert is Malaysia’s answer to Korea’s Bingsu. With shaved ice as the foundation for the dish, it is a blank canvas for you to create. In general, almost all ABC contain attap chee (palm seed), red beans, sweet corn, grass jelly and cubes of agar agar. But nowadays the variants have expanded to almost anything you want from ice cream to even durian.
Enjoy the company
While not something you’d actually find on the buffet table, the people you go with to these buffets makes up a big chunk of the experience. Not only do you have someone who is all in tune with you and critique the food you haven’t gotten around to trying, but good conversation makes the evening a great one to remember.
Feeling hungry yet? Check out MAKAN @ Tune Hotel klia2 for their Ramadhan buffet promotion and enjoy a wholesome spread of over thirty varieties of Asian and western dishes (and yes, all the above-mentioned dishes will be available!). Book before 15 May for an early bird price of only RM55++ for adults and RM25++ for children 3 -11 years old. For booking, call +603 8787 1726 or email makanminum.klia2@tunehotels.com.