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.