A traditional Christmas at Renaissance JB

In every community, food is central at any celebration and it is no different for the year-end festivities happening at the Renaissance Johor Baru.

My media friends and I feeling the festive joy in
a private dining room I dubbed, the Apple & Pear Room!

This December, Chef Arnold and his culinary team have prepared a buffet spread in Café BLD that features traditional recipes that (I’m told!) even Santa and his reindeers will come all the way from the North Pole just for a taste!

While this claim may be a bit far-fetched, I had to find out for myself.

At Café BLD, I feel a bit lost among the weekend crowd until being ushered into a private dining room decked out beautifully in festive Gold and White colours.

I guess it should be dubbed the Apple & Pear Room because decorative apples and pears are a main feature among the Christmas tinsel in the décor!

Look! Santa and his reindeers are already here!

It’s full-house for this weekend Year-End Festive Dinner Buffet with diners occupying most of the tables in the dining hall (that even spilled into the foyer!).

And this was why my media friends and I are seated in a private dining room, with a door that opens close to the buffet.

I’m keeping an eye out for Santa and spot a number of these jolly men in Red suits, some riding on sleighs drawn by reindeers, perched on the decorated Christmas Log Cakes, baked in a variety of flavours – Chocolate, Strawberry and even Pandan!

Yes, Santa and his reindeers are already here.

Carving a traditional Roasted Turkey

I’m told that Pastry Chef Nazmi has lined up six different types of Christmas themed desserts, so in addition to the festive treats, the Dessert section is bursting with a wide variety of cakes, puddings, pastries and tarts, including a chocolate fountain and local shaved ice favourite, ABC, short-form for Air Batu Campur.

I’m sure Santa will also enjoy the six different types of meats from the Carvery section, prepared in traditional English recipes, like beef, mutton, chicken, fish and the season’s favourite – Roasted whole Turkey with traditional stuffing and sauces.

This evening, the choices offered at the Carving station are Beef Brisket and Baked whole Salmon, along with roasted vegetables and Yorkshire Pudding!

(Wow! I haven’t seen this served on this side of the world! I can recall my last taste of Yorkshire Pudding was in a meal while visiting family in Oxfordshire, England!)

Here, the chefs are on hand to carve and serve portions to diners, with recommendations on the sauces to drizzle over the meat, fish, vegetables or Yorkshire Pudding.

The Carvery section features roasted meats, whole Salmon,
roasted vegetables and Yorkshire Pudding 

I was informed that the sauces and stuffing at the Carvery section are not labelled so as to encourage diners to ask/interact with the chefs and let them proactively suggest food combinations – from meat, stuffing to sauces – to let diners have a different dining experience, even from a buffet.

I’m familiar with Café BLD which has sections that serve a range of cuisine like Japanese, Chinese, Malay and Indian as well as Pasta, Appetizers and Salads with an outdoor section for grilled meats – including a whole roasted lamb!

That is why I’m pleased to discover a few festive specialties in the hot buffet like Swedish Beef Meatballs and Chicken Roulade Corden Bleu.

An appetizing dish of Salmon Fish Head Curry

In the Indian section, there is Tandoori Chicken with gravies like Paneer Butter Masala (cottage cheese) and Chickpea Dhall (lentils) to savour with Naan bread.

I’m sure connoisseurs of fish especially fish-head, cannot resist the Salmon Fish Head Curry prepared in a rich gravy, to enjoy with Naan or rice.

At the Malay section, I notice two chefs ensconced within a glass-paneled cubicle to grill skewers of beef and chicken satay.

Bright flames are leaping out of the grill and the chefs are enveloped in clouds of fragrant steam as they grill and serve freshly cooked satay (one of my all-time favourite local food!)

Kambing Bakar with a side of Briyani gravy

The spread of Malay specialties includes Mee Goreng or fried noodles, Ayam Masak Merah (chicken), Beef Rendang and a mouth-watering Kambing Bakar or roasted lamb, served with Briyani gravy.

Fans of Seafood-on-Ice will be happy that Café BLD has maintained their icy tower to serve staple items like prawns, fillet of salmon, flower crabs and for this festive season, they added scallops!

By the way, don’t miss the Chicken Liver Pate, a delicacy served in a cold meatloaf to spread on bread or crackers, as a special year-end festive treat.

There is indeed a wide choice of meat and seafood to enjoy – from traditional recipes to popular local flavours – and I’m sure Santa will be truly spoiled for choice.

My festive favourite at Cafe BLD this year,
Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries salad!

Then at the Appetizer section, I discover a delightful and refreshing salad of Brussels Sprout halves tossed with dried cranberries and sliced pear, a dish that I officially deem as my festive favourite at Café BLD this year.

As I’m enjoying the natural sweetness of the crunchy sprouts in wonderful contrast to the tangy taste of cranberries, I wonder if Santa likes it too?

From now till 1 Jan 2020, three days advance bookings are required for Turkey to Go takeaway orders that come with traditional stuffing, giblet gravy and cranberry sauce.

Year-End Festive Dinner Buffet on Fridays and Saturdays from 6.30pm to 10pm priced at RM123 nett per adult and RM61.50 per child aged between five and 12.

Christmas Eve Dinner Buffet on Dec 24 from 6.30pm to 10pm priced at RM160 nett per adult and RM80 per child aged between five and 12.

Christmas Day Brunch Buffet on Dec 25 from 12pm to 3pm priced at RM99 nett per adult and RM49.50 per child aged between five and 12.

Christmas Day Dinner Buffet on Dec 25 from 6.30pm to 10pm priced at RM160 nett per adult and RM80 per child aged between five and 12.

New Year’s Eve Dinner Buffet on Dec 31 from 6.30pm to 10pm priced at RM160 nett per adult and RM80 per child aged between five and 12.

Café BLD is on the lobby level of Renaissance Johor Baru, at No. 2 Jalan Permas 11, Bandar Baru Permas Jaya, 81750 Johor Baru, Johor.

For reservations and enquiries, Tel: +607 – 381 3322 or +6017 – 771 3327.