Warisan Selatan Ramadan buffet at Swatches

 

As the Ramadan month is fast approaching, Swatches in Fraser Place Puteri Harbour recently hosted a preview of their breaking-of-fast buffet presented in the theme, Warisan Selatan or Southern Heritage.

 

Guests being served kawah dishes at the preview

The entrance into Swatches was decorated with wooden arches, festooned with batik curtains, to welcome diners into the restaurant for a leisurely breaking-of-fast meal.

 

I joined guests entering the restaurant who included corporate clients and media representatives along with students from Sekolah Ladang Pendas, Gelang Patah, as the hotel’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiative.

 

In the restaurant, we were enveloped by live music entertainment provided by solo keyboardist, Aziz from Kumpulan Gemersik, who entertained with lounge favourites to dine along to.

 

Live music entertainment by
solo keyboardist, Aziz from
Kumpulan Gemersik

This buffet spread featured authentic breaking-of-fast favourites curated in the Southern Heritage theme with traditional dishes like Bubur Lambuk and piping hot beef soup for diners to pick an array of ingredients to add to the brew.

 

In the tradition of Ramadan buffets, there was a whole roasted lamb with roasted whole chickens, ready to be carved and served to diners.

 

The tradition continued with the serving of popular local dishes presented in a row of kawah or wok, to savour with fragrant Nasi Minyak Jagung.

 

Among the exotic dishes were Belangkas (king crab) Sambal Telur, Siput Gong Gong (shellfish) Singgang, and Kulit Lembu (cow skin) Sambal Taun.

 

Appetizing sauces served in stone mortars

For starters, there were salads, both tossed salads in a variety of kerabu and ingredients to assemble your own with local ulam-ulam and fresh greens to enjoy with a selection of salted fish and a choice of salad dressings and spicy dip sauces.

 

For an added touch of tradition, appetizing sauces like Cincalok, Budu and Sambal Belacan, were served in traditional stone mortars.

 

Live-cooking stations served various items including freshly-grilled beef and chicken satay, freshly-made apam balik or pancakes filled with crushed peanuts, while a chef was stuffing pockets of pita bread with roasted beef to serve portions of shawarma.

 

Carving the whole roasted lamb to serve

In the hot buffet, among the dishes served were whole baked fish prepared as Ikan Bakar Portugis, Ayam Masak Merah Kacang Pea, Siput Sedut Masak Lemak Cili Api, and Pucuk Manis Masak Lemak Putih.

 

The Chinese dishes to enjoy included Braised Broccoli with Black Mushrooms and Butter King Prawns.

Some of the deep-fried items included mini-spring rolls, fortune bags and keropok lekor to savour with a chilli dip sauce.

 

Hotel General Manager, Johnny Lau, presenting
duit raya to the students from Sekolah
Kebangsaan Ladang Pendas, Gelang Patah

Diners were also invited to help themselves to pickled fruits and individually wrapped triangles of kueh dodol, served in tall glass jars.

 

In addition to refreshing cool drinks, there were hot beverages as well as traditional desserts like Bubur Kacang Hijau and Bubur Cha Cha.

 

During the event, the hotel’s general manager, Johnny Lau, welcomed guests to the preview event and presented duit raya to the students.

 

“This event is not only a celebration of Ramadan but also an opportunity for us to express gratitude to our media and corporate partners for their unwavering support,” said Lau.

 

Steaming hot beef soup to enjoy

As a token of appreciation, the hotel also held a Lucky Draw for an opportunity to win prizes in the form of vouchers for hotel stays and dining at the hotel restaurant.

 

Besides pastries, puddings, cakes and cookies, there was a variety of fresh fruits and local kuih to end the meal sweetly. Not only for the children but the colourful jellies served in tall glasses, were simply irresistible.

 

Speaking of irresistible, fans of the King of Fruits – the mighty durian – will be delighted to know that from 8.30pm onwards, fresh fruits will be served from a counter set up in the front porch.

 

Plastic gloves are provided for diners to indulge in these fragrant fruits served on small paper plates where they could sit or stand around nearby cocktail tables, to savour these fruits to their hearts’ content.

Sweet treats in local kueh and
jellies served in tall glasses
 

The Warisan Selatan Ramadan buffet will be served at Swatches from 6.30pm to 10pm, from March 12 to April 9, 2024.

 

Price at RM168+ (adult) and RM88+ (child aged six to 12 years and senior citizen aged 60 years and above).

 

Enjoy Early Bird rate of RM148+ (adult) for purchases from now till March 11.

 

Swatches Restaurant is located on the lobby level of Fraser Place Puteri Harbour at Jalan Persiaran Tanjung, Pengkalan Puteri, 79100 Iskandar Puteri, Johor.

 

For enquiries and reservations, Tel: +607 – 530 8837, +6013 – 778 6821.