Bazaar Makan-Makan at Cafe BLD

If Café BLD calls their Ramadan spread, Bazaar Makan-Makan, then I should like to add that it is in fact a Bazaar Besar (Big!) Makan-Makan as it serves a whole lot of food!

Chef serving portions of Lamb Quzi at Cafe BLD

The spread starts at the café entrance and lines the walls to the right. The buffet is also served around the central isle where chefs are already busy serving food.

Then it continues outdoors into the rear porch where more chefs are serving from live cooking stations. Whew!

“What a lot of food to eat!” I exclaim in amazement as I explore the various sections of the sumptuous spread.

“You must not miss the succulent Lamb Quzi, a popular house specialty that goes just right with its accompanying gravy,” reminded Director of Food & Beverage, Chef Mohamad Mahady.

Traditional soup pots are used to serve choices of soup

I make a mental note to try it but first, I want to see what else is in the buffet spread.

I’m told that while most of the popular items are regular features, the menu is rotated on a daily basis so that diners can sample different treats on each visit.

He recommends to start the meal with appetizers that range from refreshing green salads to the zesty kerabu and assorted ulam or kampong greens, enjoyed with various sambal sauces.

In the Soup Section, I discover traditional soup pots serving choices of Sup Kambing (lamb) Mamak, Sup Ayam (chicken), Sup Ekor (oxtail) and the next pot filled with traditional rice porridge, Bubur Lambok.

Traditional wok or kwali serve dishes in the hot buffet 

Next to the pots are bowls of condiments and toppings like fried shallots and chopped coriander and chopped spring onions, to enhance the flavours of the rich broths.

In the Johor tradition, a dark spicy sauce is also at hand for diners who prefer to add a dollop to give their broth an extra zing!

Directly opposite, the attractive display of seafood-on-ice offers chilled Tiger prawns, green mussels and split fresh oysters.

While there is Tobasco pepper sauce to flavour the oysters, there is also wasabi or Japanese horseradish, from the nearby Japanese counter, to add a further kick.

Ayam Golek should be enjoyed with a drizzle of sauce

Speaking of Japanese cuisine, there is a variety of sushi rolls featuring salmon and tuna, both in smoked and sashimi form, as well as sashimi in a choice of fish and squid.

In the hot buffet, some of the dishes to enjoy with steamed white rice, like Rendang Daging (beef), Ikan Masak Thai (fish) and Telur Mazak Sambal (egg) are served in traditional wok or kwali.

Next to the Lamb Quzi, is the Ayam Golek – whole chicken grilled on a rotating spit – that that I savour with a drizzle of gravy. The chicken is not only tender but also tasty.

Roasted Duck is also served in this buffet

Then I discover that chicken is not the only poultry they serve in the buffet. That’s because I spot the chef chopping up freshly roasted duck to serve in the Chinese cuisine section.

It’s interesting to see how Malaysian we are because I see a variety of crisps like muruku and krepek ubi alongside kueh Rose and kueh bangkit in the dessert section.

In addition to a range of local kueh, there are also popular sweet broths and a variety of cakes and pastries plus ice-cream and shaved ice delicacies like Air Batu Campur (ABC) and cendol to end the meal sweetly.

And there’s more food at the outdoor section where live cooking stations are whipping up freshly made murtabak and a variety of deep-fried Malay and Indian delicacies, while the charcoal stove is flaming non-stop to grill skewers of satay.

Among other hot favourites, one of the most popular items here must be deep-fried durian fritters, stuffed with real durian – a lip-smacking must-have for durian lovers!

The Bazaar Makan-Makan buffet served at Café BLD from May 18 to June 14, is priced at RM160 nett per adult and RM78 nett for children aged five to 12.

Diners helping themselves from the hot buffet at Cafe BLD

Early Bird promotion for vouchers bought before May 14 offers two (2) complimentary vouchers for every 10 vouchers OR 15% per cent discount for Standard Chartered Bank card holders.

Purchases from May 15 to May 31 receives one (1) complimentary voucher for every 10 vouchers.

Diners who wish to host their own buka puasa gathering may opt for a banquet package for Ramadan and Raya, valid from May 17 to June 15, offered in two menu selections starting from RM98 nett per person for a minimum of 30 people.

Café BLD is located at the lobby level of Renaissance Johor Baru Hotel, 2 Jalan Permas 11, Bandar Baru Permas Jaya, 81750 Masai, Johor.

For enquiries and reservations, Tel: +607 – 381 3322 or +607 – 381 3317 or send email to: rosliza.lazim@renaissncehotels.com or evelyn.soh@renaissancehotels.com