Turmeric celebrates tradition and togetherness

 

In recent years, I have had the privilege to often visit the Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas in Desaru Coast for food reviews at Sea.Fire.Salt and Turmeric as well as for events hosted with foreign media at The Observatory.

 

View of the resort pools and landscaped garden
to a backdrop of the South China Sea

Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas is the Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas group’s first luxury hotel in Malaysia, designed within lush tropical gardens on the exclusive Desaru Coast in Johor.

 

After a smooth and uneventful drive on the Senai-Desaru Expressway, I am at the resort again for a media preview of their Ramadan breaking-of-fast dinner spread in the theme, Citarasa Rempah Warisan.

 

I always feel that walking in from the main entrance was like stepping through a portal to another world within… I know I will never get tired of that stunning view in shades of blue, the dazzling panoramic view of the resort pools and landscaped garden to a backdrop of the South China Sea…

 

An array of gravies in the Lauk Kawah

Staying true to its Thai brand, the décor throughout the Anantara, from the wooden furniture to the stuffed cushions, clearly reflected a typically Thai identity.

 

After a few minutes of drinking in this familiar, fabulous view, I walked down the wide flight of stairs and was warmly welcomed into Turmeric restaurant.

 

I watched the culinary team as they were putting the finishing touches to the buffet being set up within the dining hall and headed outdoors to see the live-cooking stations and the rows of kwali that served Lauk Kawah traditional rice and gravies.

 

Mouth-watering appetizers to savour
with traditional sauces

It soon became clear that the Citarasa Rempah Warisan buffet spread is a tribute to the rich cultural heritage of Malaysia that honours the tradition of Ramadan with an ambiance that reflects the warmth and spirituality of the holy month.

 

Rice, a staple is the Malaysian diet, is presented in choices of Lamb Briyani, Nasi Minyak Kismis or rice steamed with raisins, and Steamed Brown Rice, to savour with the mouth-watering gravies in this hot buffet.

 

I liked that gravies in the Lauk Kawah were clearly labelled with Malay names along with English translation as well as brief descriptions of the main ingredients, preparation and State of origin.

 

Lemang to top with various types of Serunding

A closer look at the labels revealed that the gravies in this menu were meticulously presented to showcase specialties from various States in the nation.

 

Among these interesting gravies were Ayam Masak Nomsoon Bambangan or Chicken cooked with Bambangan Mango (Sabah), Kurma Ayam Adabi or Chicken Korma (Selangor), Itik Salai Masak Lomak Cili Api or Smoked Duck in spicy gravy (Negeri Sembilan), Kambing Masak Hitam or Lamb cooked in spicy dark sauce (Kedah), Ikan Pais Kukus Daun Pisang or Fish with Spicy Shredded Coconut steamed in banana leaves (Perak) and Sotong Katok Serai Wangi or Squid with Lemongrass (Kelantan).

 

A serving of Laksa Johor

There were also popular gravies like, Asam Pedas Ikan Bawal or Hot and Sour Pomfret Fish (Melaka), Kari Kepala Ikan or Fish Head Curry (Penang) and Rendang Daging Penanggah or Braised Beef in traditional spices (Johor).

 

While the Patin Masak Tempoyak translated as, Silver Catfish cooked in Fermented Durian, may be a favourite among fans of fermented durian, it was very good that info was provided in English to help diners make their gravy selections.

 

The Citarasa Rempah Warisan spread in the outdoor section also features popular breaking-of-fast items, freshly made from live-cooking stati0ns.

 

A choice of comforting broths

In addition to stations for Laksa Johor, Thai Soup Noodles and Soto Ayam, that will be served on rotation, there was also a Pasta station that serves the diners’ choice of pasta topped with premium seafood in artisanal sauces.

 

Nearby, the Grill and Tandoori section serves Percik marinated Beef Fillet, Thai marinated Lamb Chops and Prawn on skewers, along with popular Beef and Chicken satay with condiments and a range of sauces.

 

Seasonal favourite, Kambing Golek, whole roasted lamb on a spit, remains a popular choice for meat-lovers who patiently joined a queue to be served.

 

Indoors, the spread included a range of Appetizers with mixed salads and ingredients for diners to create their mix of local greens or ulam-ulam topped with traditional sauces of their choice.

 

Turmeric serves Bubur Lambuk Ostrich

A hot buffet of Ramadan specialties features comforting broths like Chicken Soup, Tom Yum Mushroom and traditional Bubur Lambuk rice porridge, uniquely brewed with Ostrich meat.

 

The taste of tradition continues with Lemang, steamed coins of glutinous rice, to savour with a selection of Serunding or savoury meat floss.

 

A section dedicated to Thai cuisine served items like Talay Pad Prik Pow (stir-fried seafood), Gaeng Panang Neup (Red Curry Beef), Gaeng Massaman Gai (Chicken in Massaman Curry) and Plamug Tod Gratiem (deep-fried squid with garlic).

 

There was also a platter of Miang Pla Too for diners to make their own lettuce wraps filled with Mackerel and condiments.

 

A range of sauces to taste with Seafood-on-Ice

To complement the breaking-of-fast meal, there is a range of refreshing drinks and sweets to enjoy in a range of local cakes, cookies, puddings and pastries as well as shaved ice specialty, a chocolate fountain and fresh cut fruits.

 

There are also traditional sweet porridge choices like Bubur Pulut Hitam (black glutinous rice) and Bubur Jagung (corn) to enjoy.

 

I was pleased to see a choice of dried dates as well as a traditional treat in mini triangles of Kueh Dodol to savour in a few flavours including fragrant Durian.

 

As I joined diners to linger over the meal, it was clear that this spread was designed to bring families and friends together for a breaking-of-fast experience with a sense of unity and gratitude.

 

A traditional treat of mini triangles of Dodol

The Citarasa Rempah Warisan dinner buffet at Turmeric restaurant will be served served from March 2 to 29, daily from 6.30pm to 10pm. Price at RM228+ per adult.

 

Group bookings for 30 persons and above will enjoy 25% savings while CIMB Cardholders will enjoy 20% savings for up to 12 persons.

 

Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas is located at Persiaran Pantai, Desaru Coast, 81930 Bandar Penawar, Johor, just a smooth drive away from Johor Baru city via the Senai-Desaru Expressway.

 

For reservations, email: fb.ades@anantara.com or chat on the Anantara app.

 

For more information on Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas, visit webpage: www.anantara.com

Tesla New Model Y unveiled in Johor Bahru

Recently I found time to watch documentaries on Tech Billionaires, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, and learnt more about these ordinary men and their extraordinary achievements.

 

Aerial view of the Tesla cars on display at
Centre Court of Mid Valley Southkey Mall

I learnt more about the life of Elon Reeve Musk, born in Pretoria, South Africa, and his key roles in Tesla Incorporated, SpaceX and X, the new name for Twitter.

 

This knowledge about the CEO of Tesla Motors was still fresh in my mind when I received an Exclusive Invitation to the launch of the Tesla Model Y in Johor Bahru.

 

With circumstances that were rather uncanny, I did not hesitate to accept.

 

Poster of the Tesla Model Y

While I am not a particularly tech-savvy, I must say that my only connection with this renowned brand was what I learnt from my nephew about the exciting features of his Tesla Model 3.

 

So there I was at the event, among the crowd of Tesla owners, potential owners, techies and media friends, to witness the unveiling of the Tesla Model Y in Johor Bahru.

 

In the introduction, we were told that the New Model Y was just unveiled a day ago at the Pavilion Damansara Heights and was on display up to 2 March 2025 while we in Johor Bahru, were privileged to see the New Model Y here, the very next day.

 

Karen Teo, Regional Manager, Tesla Malaysia
speaking to the crowd at the unveiling event

It was rather exciting that the New Model Y, the world’s best-selling vehicle and holder of the highest safety ratings worldwide, was being unveiled in its new form for the first time in Malaysia and was now in Johor Bahru.

 

More information was shared by Karen Teo, Regi0nal Manager, Tesla Malaysia, who endeared herself to the crowd when she introduced herself and said that Johor Bahru was her hometown and her identity was proudly “01” as a Johorean.

 

The anticipation went a notch higher as she stood by the New Model Y that was still covered by a dark shroud and congratulated the crowd for being among the first to see this car.

 

A section of the crowd at the event

She went into great detail to share about the company’s objectives and introduced the impressive features of the New Model Y.

 

This model comes with various unique designs, including a customized launch badge at the rear, puddle light badge and doorsill plate with ‘Launch Series’ wordmark that welcomes the drivers every time they entered the vehicle.

 

Then cameras flashed and videos rolled as the car was unveiled to reveal the New Model Y in a stunning ‘Glacier Blue’ paint option, a cool shade inspired by Nature.

 

Many captured the light-and-sound
show on video

I thought I discerned a collective sigh of approval from the crowd as all eyes were riveted on this gleaming vehicle.

 

The New Model Y comes with a bespoke cyber design – the new cross-car lightbar at the front and the industry’s first indirect reflective body panel taillight – inspired by the Cybertruck and Cybercab, to give the world’s top vehicle a symbolic and futuristic look.

 

Apart from the exclusive exterior styling, the centre charging console comes with a special launch design with silver accents, and an all-black vegan suede interior trim.

 

In addition to the unique and refined styling, the New Model Y comes with a noticeably quieter cabin with double-layer glass for all windows while the panoramic glass roof can now further reduce the UV rays and heat entering the cabin, seven times better than before.

 

Many took the opportunity to view the
interior features of the New Model Y

Tesla also introduced newly designed wheels and a rear diffuser, to reduce air resistance and optimize the lift balance between the front and rear wheels.

 

This enhances rear-wheel downforce that delivers a quieter, more stable and highly efficient experience at high speeds.

 

Signature features of the Model 3, such as ambient lighting, ventilated front seats, and second-row 8” touchscreen display for passengers, are also available in the New Model Y.

 

At the press of a button the position or fold down of the rear passenger seats can now be effortlessly adjusted to provide over 2,130 liters of storage space.

 

Rear view of the New Model Y

From the front bumper to the taillight, the exterior is completely redesigned to unlock maximum aerodynamics efficiency and get the most range out of every charge.

 

The New Model Y is available in two variants: Rear-wheel drive and Long Range, with prices starting from RM 195,450 and RM 242,450 respectively.

 

The Long Range variant comes with 15 speakers and one subwoofer while the Rear-wheel drive variant comes with nine speakers. We also were treated to a short light-and-sound demo by the two cars on display.

 

Meanwhile, charging the New Model Y is easy with the robust charging network in Malaysia. Simply plug in to charge automatically and get up to 266 km of range in just 15 minutes.

 

With the opening of the new V4 Supercharging Station in The Gardens Mall, there will be a total of 14 Supercharging Stations with 64 Superchargers and 15 Destination Charging Stations with 70 Destination Chargers in Malaysia.

 

The Launch Series is now available to order within a limited time.

 

The New Model Y is now available to order on Tesla’s official website: https://www.tesla.com/en_my/modely/design#overview

 

Contact Tesla Malaysia at 1 800 810 655 for more information or visit Tesla Experience Centres.

 

To view cars and for test drives, visit Tesla locations at Cyberjaya Experience Centre, Pavilion Damansara Heights Experience Centre, Gurney Plaza Penang and at Sunway Big Box, East Wing, 1 Persiaran Medini 5, 79250 Iskandar Puteri, Johor.

 

For info updates, stay in touch with Tesla social media at X @Tesla_Malaysia, Instagram @teslamotorsmys and TikTok @teslamotorsmys 

Sedap Corner for a cosy Iftar buffet

 

The very name, Sedap Corner, evokes a sense of comfort and the love for familiar food simply because Sedap Corner has been keeping the tradition of serving Johor delicacies and family favourites since 1987.

 

A section of the dessert counter at 
Sedap Corner's Iftar buffet

I arrived for the media preview of their Iftar buffet and was in the dining hall at the rear section of the flagship Sedap Corner café where the culinary team was still busy with setting up the buffet spread.

 

I am familiar with the cuisine at Sedap Corner and eagerly anticipated the pleasure of enjoying a buffet of all-time favourites in addition to items prepared for the breaking-of-fast buffet.

 

As a fan of Sedap Corner, I have documented the Sedap Corner story among brands that were proudly established in Johor in My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now, the final instalment that completed the trilogy of My Johor Stories books.

 

Mrs Lam ensured that food taste and
quality standards were maintained
  

My eyes were riveted to the trays of lovely local kueh arranged below a giant poster of the original building for this flagship outlet with logo and tagline, “The tradition lives on,” printed on it.

 

When I turned the corner of this L-shaped dessert counter, I was pleasantly surprised to see Mrs Lam there.

 

While she looked older than when we last met, Mrs Lam, the mother of Executive Director of Sedap Corner, Alisa Lamlertkittikul, was still as graceful and very alert.

 

I watched as she meticulously tasted the buffet servings of warm Bubur Pulut Hitam or black glutinous rice sweet porridge, refreshing Iced Jelly and Sago Gula Melaka and turned to give her comments to a culinary staff, next to her.

 

Grilled seafood from a live station

When she had completed her tasks, Mrs Lam, a gracious lady of Thai origin named Apimon, warmly welcomed me and reminded me to taste everything so as to give constructive feedback to Alisa, for the team to make any necessary improvements.

 

“Everything…,” This thought lingered as I pondered upon her request to taste everything in the buffet, ready to oblige as this spread was just right for a leisurely breaking-of-fast meal where dining was not only tasty but affordable and simply unrushed.

 

A fresh serving of Mee Bandung

I joined Mrs Lam at the outdoor terrace where stalls were arranged on one side while a row of banquet tables opposite, was arranged with a hot buffet.

 

I spotted the ingredients that should go into serving Johor Laksa and correctly concluded that this stall served bowls of Laksa Johor and Mee Bandung. Other popular Johor dishes served on rotation include Mee Rebus and Soto Ayam.

 

The fragrance of seafood being grilled drew me closer to see squid, prawns and siakap fish on the grill, ready to be savoured topped with a choice of Thai seafood sauce, sambal kicap and panggang sauce.

 

I was delighted to learn that the skewers of tender Chicken and Beef satay and spicy Peanut Sauce were prepared in Sedap Corner’s own recipes.

 

Traditional sambal sauces to drizzle on salads

Their signature dishes served from the live stations were Fried Mee Siam and Beef Kway Teow, flat rice noodles topped with delicious beef gravy complete with slices of beef.

 

Two types of Sedap Corner’s signature noodles will be served on rotation and they include Mee Goreng Mamak, Penang Fried Kway Teow and Radna Kway Teow.

 

Among the gravies to savour with steamed white rice and Briyani Rice were Beef Rendang, Ayam Masak Merah (chicken), Daging Lemak Cili Api (beef), Oriental Ginger Fish slices, Siakap Asam Pedas (fish), Sambal Longbeans, Telur Dadar (egg omelet) and Tom Yam Chicken Soup as well as Thai-style Egg Tofu Salad.

 

Mouth-watering gravies to savour
with rice from the hot buffet
 

In addition to the meat, poultry and fish dishes in the hot buffet, there were salad vegetables to drizzle with a choice of traditional sambal sauces like sambal belacan, budu and cincalok.

 

I liked that popular appetizers were served in small portions for diners to enjoy freshly-fried Cucur Udang, prawn fritters with a side of sweet chili sauce, Cha-kueh rojak in petis sauce and Gado-Gado, vegetables topped with spicy peanut sauce.

 

For the young and young-at-heart, there were non-spicy choices like Spaghetti Bolognese, Chicken Nuggets and French Fries.

 

I was impressed that while this was a small spread, everything that was essential for a full meal, was all here for diners to savour for the breaking-of-fast.

 

[Clockwise] Appetizers of snacks like Cucur
Udang, Cha-kueh Rojak and Gado-Gado
 

The drinks counter was set up indoors, along with the dessert section that featured a spread of Sedap Corner’s range of local kueh, cupcakes and cubes of baked cakes, puddings and cut fresh fruits.

 

The drink dispensers served hot beverages like Coffee and Tea, while the cold drinks included Iced Lemon Tea and Iced Mango juice.

 

Besides their signature kueh Sri Muka, there were popular kueh like Rainbow Lapis, Bingka Ubi, Koswi, Dangai, Bakar Pandan and Talam Ubi.

 

There were also savoury snacks like Spring Rolls and Samosa along with neatly cut, small portions of Brownies and Red Velvet cake.

 

Ais Kacang and Cendol
icy treats

Chef Azri Ismail was all smiles when we met and assured me that the menu will be served on rotation for diners to enjoy a different dining experience throughout the Ramadan month.

 

Then I was reminded that Ais Kacang and Cendol will be prepared upon receiving orders so diners should go to the counter to place their orders and the staff will send these freshly-made icy treats to the table.

 

The Iftar Buffet will be served at the Sedap Corner flagship outlet from March 7 till March 28, from 6.30pm to 9.30pm. A space upstairs is prepared for Maghrib prayers.

 

Priced at RM85 nett for adult and RM53 nett for children, aged six to 12 years, and seniors, aged 60 years and above, while kids aged below six will eat for Free.

 

Take advantage of Early Bird promotion at RM75 nett for vouchers bought from now till March 6, 2025.

 

Sedap Corner café is located at No. 11 Jalan Abdul Samad, Kampung Bahru, 80100 Johor Bahru, Johor.

 

For reservations, Tel: +607 224 6566, +6011 1137 7652 and +6017 760 5679.

 

For info updates on Sedap Corner, follow official pages on Facebook and Instagram or visit website: sedapcorner.com.my.

Syoknya Ramadan at Palm Garden

 

The traffic was horrendous after a terrific thunderstorm but I arrived safely and on time at the Palm Garden Coffee House in New York Hotel Johor Baru for a media preview of the breaking-of-fast buffet, presented in the theme, Syoknya Ramadan.

 

Carving a whole roasted lamb;
Note that the juicy pieces of meat are ready to be
served from the warming grill

On arrival, I was enveloped by live music performed by local talent Edmire Acoustic, a one-man band, with his rendition of festive songs and familiar favourites in pleasant and unobtrusive entertainment.

 

I saw many diners and media friends walking around to survey the sumptuous spread and decided to ask my host if I may sit closer to the hot buffet as I wished to have a better view when the dining starts.

 

Besides having easier access to the buffet (ahem!) I wanted to observe the diners’ dining habits – like which items they chose and how much – and how alert the serving staff were to top-up of dishes in the buffet to meet the diners’ needs.

 

Seafood grilled teppan-style

While it was the restaurant’s role to provide top-ups to the buffet and ensure that diners have plenty to help themselves to, diners must also have the discipline to take only what they can eat and return to the buffet for more, as often as they wished.

 

In buffets such as these lavish spreads served during the Ramadan month, I have observed that many diners often take more than they can eat and will carelessly leave the portions, sometimes untouched and wasted.

 

From a distance, I observed Chef Jaafar Ibrahim as he was putting the final touches to the dishes served in the hot buffet.

 

I thought that it was good to be mindful of the diners eating habits so that the culinary team may better plan their menus to stay close to their syok theme.

 

Freshly grilled satay in choices of
chicken, lamb and beef on skewers

To readers unfamiliar with Malay slang, syok translated into English, simply describes a feeling of glee and a taste that was ‘superlatively good.’

 

I watched as Chef Jaafar made his rounds of the buffet spread and did not hesitate to meet him along the way to quiz him about the menu’s signature dishes.

 

In addition to steamed white rice to eat with the range of appetizing dishes, there was also flavoured rice of Nasi Briyani to savour with Ayam Masak Briyani (chicken).

 

Diners helping themselves to
the dishes in the hot buffet

In the hot buffet, there were familiar dishes like Asam Pedas Ikan Merah (fish), Kambing Peratal (lamb), stir-fried Black Pepper Prawns, Terung Goreng Berlada Ikan Bilis (eggplant), and Flower Crabs fried with Salted Egg.

 

I liked that this syok spread included non-Asian items like Baked Macaroni with Minced Chicken and a dish of fall-off-the-bone tender Beef Osso Buco with Tomato Concasse.

 

Osso Buco is a traditional Italian stew made with juicy beef shanks, braised in a rich and aromatic tomato sauce, and simply means, ‘bone with a hole’ for diners to enjoy the tasty marrow from the bones.

 

When I helped myself to a portion of this delicious Beef Osso Buco, I was pleased to discover that there were also chunks of meaty oxtail in this succulent stew.

 

A choice of mouth-watering sauces

The breaking-of-fast buffet has a range of appetizers like dried dates, ulam-ulaman kampung or local greens topped with a choice of sambal sauces, and a selection of kerepek and keropok crisps.

 

The variety of mouth-watering sambal sauces included hot and spicy favourites like Sambal Belacan, Cincaluk and Sambal Kicap.

 

In addition to a variety of traditional pickles, there were ready-mixed Kerabu salads as well as Western-style salads to assemble and savour with dressings of your choice.

 

A serving of Roti Kacang Pool

In the outdoor section, there were live-cooking stations for teppanyaki-style fried seafood and smoking grills to grill skewers of grilled beef, lamb and chicken satay for diners to eat with with peanut sauce and condiments like sliced raw cucumber, onions and nasi empit or rice cubes.

 

Diners made a beeline for the whole roasted lamb being carved and served to savour with a drizzle of Mushroom or Black Pepper sauce. I liked that the meat portions were carved and kept warm over a glowing grill, ready for diners to help themselves.

 

Back indoors, a row of live-cooking stations lined one wall of the dining hall to serve interesting items like Fritto Misto De Mare, an Italian fried mixed seafood, Korean-style Ramen & Egg, Pita Bread stuffed with Minced Beef, and freshly-made Murtabak to eat with Dhall gravy.

 

Don't miss this specialty, Durian 
Goreng, deep-fried durian!

Along another wall of the dining hall, a live-station served freshly-fried fritters of banana and sweet potatoes, mini spring rolls and samosa. The most popular of these fried favourites must be the Durian Goreng, fried durian wrapped in crispy batter.

 

Skewers of meat and vegetables or Yakitori were grilled on a teppan grill by a helpful staff as diners waited, while other stalls served Johor specialties like Laksa Johor and Roti Kacang Pool with a side of toasted bread.

 

Nearby, a variety of ingredients were presented for diners to pick and heat-up Chinese Steamboat style in the soup of their choice, either Chicken or Tom Yum.

 

Thirst-quenchers come in a choice of cut fresh fruits and a range of refreshing cool and colourful drinks.

 

A serving of Bubur Lambuk with beef

For a sweet ending, diners may pick from a range of cakes, puddings and pastries or assemble their own mix of ingredients for Ice-Kacang, a shaved ice specialty.

 

Among the local kueh and sweet porridge like Bubur Pulut Hitam, I was pleasantly surprised to spot traditional favourites like Wajik Pulut and Tapai Ubi.

 

And yes, there was also Bubur Lambuk topped with strips of beef as well as comforting hot soups in Sup Kambing Mamak and Sweetcorn with Shrimps.

 

The daily Ramadan buffet menu at Palm Garden will rotate to welcome diners back throughout the month of Ramadan to break their fast with a range of delightful dishes.

 

Tapai Ubi, a traditional favourite

The Syoknya Ramadan Buffet Dinner will be served at Palm Garden Coffee House, from March 2 to March 29, 6.30pm to 9.30pm. Prayer Room is provided for diners’ convenience.

 

Normal Rate at RM110 nett per adult, RM80 nett per senior citizen (aged 60 years and above) and RM65 nett per child (aged five to 12 years).

 

Take advantage of the Early Bird deal for vouchers bought before March 1, to enjoy special rate of RM95 nett per adult, RM70 nett per senior citizen (aged 60 years and above) and RM50 nett per child (aged five to 12 years).

 

Palm Garden Coffee House is on the lobby level of New York Hotel Johor Baru, located at No. 22, Jalan Dato Abdullah Tahir, 80300 Johor Baru, Johor.

 

For reservations and enquiries, please call Tel: +6016 721 5373, +6012 795 7740, +6016 301 2032, +6016 311 6944 or +6016 721 5381.

 

For more info on New York Hotel Johor Bahru, visit webpage: www.newyorkhotel.com.