X-Iftar at Holiday Inn Express & Suites

 

On my arrival, I was in the lobby as the hotel’s culinary team put the final touches to the buffet spread and a two-piece band was tuning up to provide live entertainment during the meal.

 

Carving the whole roasted lamb to serve

I am at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Johor Baru for a media preview of the breaking-of-fast buffet in the Great Room, presented in the theme, X-Iftar.

 

While X-Iftar instantly reminded me about the X-Files, I figured that the “X” here referred to the shortform of ‘Express’ in Holiday Inn Express & Suites.

 

Diners who walked up the staircase to Level One from the lobby, will be greeted by the sight of a stall that served Sup Berempah, a rich beefy broth that they may top with meat and condiments of their choice.

 

A rich beefy broth of Sup Berempah

The breaking-of-fast meal begins with 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.

 

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

 

Nearby, a helpful staff was on hand to carve and serve from a whole roasted lamb that paired well with Jambalaya Pilaf Rice along with condiments like lamb gravy, raita and papadam crisps.

 

Jambalaya Pilaf Rice, a seafood platter and satay

There was a large platter of grilled seafood made up of whole fish, prawns, squid and shellfish to top with a range of sauces, best savoured with hands in a shell-out dining experience.

 

Another Ramadan favourite are skewers of grilled beef and chicken satay with condiments like sliced raw cucumber, onions and nasi empit or rice cubes, to savour with peanut sauce.

 

In the hot buffet, a menu of popular dishes was served for diners to enjoy eating with steamed white rice.

 

Three choices of spicy curry prepared
with beef, chicken and fish

Among these dishes were Chicken Pad Krapao, Ayam Percik (chicken), Daging Masak Merah Ala Thai (beef), Sotong Sambal Kering (squid), Thai-style Baby Grouper, Mapo Tofu, and Sayur Kailan Ikan Masin (vegetables).

 

There were also three choices of spicy curry gravies to savour with rice, prepared with beef, chicken and fish. I thought these curries will pair well with the rolls of Roti Jala, a Johor-style net bread.

 

There were favourite snacks like deep-fried prawn fritters which I also thought, would taste good when dipped in chili sauce or those curry gravies.

 

Freshly-made Indomie to
savour with the buffet dishes

A live-cooking station provides diners with ingredients to assemble bowls of Mee Udang (prawn noodles) or to instantly cook packets of Indomie, a popular noodle brand from Indonesia.

 

Thirst-quenchers come in a choice of cut fresh fruits, a range of refreshing cool drinks as well as hot coffee and tea.

 

For a sweet ending, pick from cakes, puddings and pastries and assemble your own concoction of Ice-Kacang, a shaved ice specialty, filled with your choice of condiments.

 

The daily Ramadan buffet menu will rotate to present diners with a variety of dishes to enjoy even when they made repeated visits to dine here.

 

The X-Iftar Ramadan Buffet Dinner will be served at the Great Room, from March 3 to March 29, 6.30pm to 9.30pm. Prayer Room is provided for diners’ convenience.

 

The dessert section with cut fresh fruits,
cakes, pastries and puddings

Rate at RM98 nett per adult and RM78 nett per senior citizen (aged 60 years and above) and per child aged six to 12 years.

 

Take advantage of the Special Promotion deal for vouchers bought before February 20, when you Buy five vouchers and get one Free or when you Buy eight vouchers and get two Free.

 

The Great Room is on Level One of the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Johor Baru, located at Lot 512, Jalan Syed Mohd Mufti, 80000 Johor Baru, Johor.

 

For reservations and enquiries, please call Tel: +6016 365 0177 or email reservation.jhbjb@ihg.com.