Ramadhan Review : Berbuka Puasa at Serena Brasserie

Melihat anak bulan sabit menandakan permulaan Ramadhan. Jatuh pada bulan yang kesembilan, Ramadhan adalah salah satu bulan paling suci dalam kalendar Islam.

The sighting of the crescent moon marks the beginning of Ramadan. Falls on the ninth month, Ramadan is one of the holiest months in the Islam calendar.

Pada bulan ini, umat Islam bangun seawal jam 5 pagi untuk makan sebelum fajar (Bersahur) sebelum bersembahyang pagi (Solat Subuh). Mereka kemudian akan berpuasa sepanjang hari sehingga mereka mendengar panggilan untuk solat malam (Solat Maghrib).

During this month, Muslims wake up as early as 5.00am to have their pre-dawn meal (Sahur) before the call for morning prayers (Solat Subuh). They will then fast for the rest of the day until they hear the call for the evening prayers (Solat Maghrib).

Umat Islam berpuasa pada bulan yang mulia ini dan menawarkan lebih banyak doa-doa daripada biasa. Ini adalah masa penilaian kendiri dan refleksi diri. Mereka meminta ampun dan lain-lain Pengampun, menahan godaan, menunjukkan lebih kebimbangan kepada masyarakat mereka, menyatakan cinta mereka dan meremajakan hubungan dengan keluarga dan rakan-rakan mereka. Untuk melakukan ini, ia memerlukan tahap kesabaran, disiplin, ketaatan, dan pengorbanan yang tinggi.

Muslims fast during this holy month and offer more prayers than usual. This is a time of self-evaluation and self-reflection. They seek for forgiveness and forgiving others, resist to temptations, show more concerns to their community, express their love and rejuvenate relationships with their family and friends. In order to do these, it requires high level of patience, discipline, devotion and sacrifice.

Oleh kerana ini adalah satu tempoh untuk mengukuhkan hubungan dengan keluarga dan rakan-rakan mereka, umat Islam biasanya berbuka puasa bersama-sama dengan orang yang tersayang.

As this is a period to strengthen ties with their families and friends, Muslims usually break fast together with their loved ones.

Hari ini umat Islam mula berpuasa.

The holy fasting month starts today.

Hidangan kampung tradisional di Serena Brasserie, InterContinental, Kuala Lumpur

Feast of traditional kampung dishes at Serena Brasserie, InterContinental, Kuala Lumpur

Dahulunya dikenali sebagai Hotel Nikko, ia dilancarkan secara rasmi sebagai InterContinental Kuala Lumpur oleh Dato’ Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen, Menteri Pelancongan Malaysia pada 30 Mac 2011.

Formerly known as Hotel Nikko, it was officially launched as InterContinental Kuala Lumpur by Dato’ Sri Dr. Ng Yen Yen, Minister of Tourism Malaysia on the 30 March 2011.

Ramai orang bukan Islam juga menyertai rakan-rakan mereka yang beragama Islam dalam menyambut bulan ini yg mulia ini. Ai salah satu daripada mereka yang bertuah dapat review berbuka puasa kat Serena Brasserie malam ni.

Many non-Muslims also join in their Muslim friends in welcoming this propitious month. I am one of the fortunate ones to get the opportunity to review the Ramadhan feast with my dear friends at Serena Brasserie tonight.

Untuk kepuasan anda, menu berubah setiap hari. Berbuka lah dengan buah kurma manis yang terdapat di kaunter buah-buahan.

To please your palate, the menu changes daily. Break fast with sweet dates available at the fruits counter.

Jom tengok apa yang ai santap..

Let’s take a look at what I had…

Kalio Udang Galah Minang Kabal

Isi udang ni lembut dan manis. Sedap sangat!

The meat is very tender and sweet. Delicious!

Ketam goreng berempah bersama tepung

Ketam yang berkulit lembut ni enak sekali. Senang jugak nak makan sebab tak payah buang kulit dia :)

This soft shell crab fried with spice flour is scrumptious. It is easy to consume as we do not have to peel the shell off :)

Ayam Golek Percik

Kalau berbuka ni, tak sah lah kalau tak der ayam percik kan?

It won’t be official to break fast without ayam percik, will it?

Arnab

Hu hu hu! Ai makan arnab! Bukan nya sengaja nak telan binatang yang tersangat kyut ni tapi apa kan daya? Ai tak perasan pun yang ini daging arnab… Ai makan punya lah sedap, kite pun tanya lah depa, apa yg kitorang makan ni, bukan main shiok lagi? Tengok-tengok HAH ITU DIA! Arnab jawab chef! *Pengsan*

Hu hu hu! I ate rabbit meat! It’s not that I ate this cute little animal on purpose but what can I do? I was not aware that I was eating rabbit… I was enjoying it so much that I had to ask what was being served and then THERE! The chef answered, RABBIT! *faint*

Rendang Rampai Darul Makmur

Yang ni tok sah cakap banyak. Rendang memang sedap. Makan jer, jangan banyak soal :P

I don’t need to elaborate much  on this. This rendang dish is really tasty. Just eat, don’t question further :P

Nasi Kerabu Ulaman

Nasi kerabu ulaman memang my peberet! Ya lah, ai ni kan minat makan ulam. Kene dengan nasi kerabu, apa lagi? Gasak jer…

I love this rice dish as I’m a vege and salad lover. Coupled with rice, this is simply delicious!

Asam pedas kepala ikan bersama bendi

Lagi satu benda yang ai minat ialah ikan. Ai memang tak boleh miss makan ikan. Asam pedas ni memang mengingatkan ai kat mama ai kat kampung tu. Haih… rindu lah alamat nya…

One more thing that I really love is fish. I can never say no to fish. This sour and slightly spicy fish dish totally reminds me of my mom back home in hometown. Sigh, I miss her already..

Masak Pindang N. Sembilan perut bersama rebung muda

Ai tak berapa reti makan perut-perut bende macam ni. I amik kuah jer. Sedap jugak!

I’m not so fond of eating ‘spare parts’ so I did not touch this dish. I did taste the gravy though. Very rich!

Carving station

Itu dia, tempat ai dapat daging itik dengan sos lada hitam. Tak sangka daging itik tu lembut sangat.

The carving station, where I got my roast duck. The roast duck is moist and tender. I had it with black pepper sauce.

Tapi kan, banyak-banyak makanan kat situ, ai paling minat yang ini. Apa dia ko tanya? Ini dia…. tengok lah sendiri…

But then, of so many dishes there, my fascination goes to these. What you may ask? Here… take a look yourself…

Kuih-muih tempatan

Ada jugak bubur lambuk, makanan Arab (kebab), makanan India (tandoori, murtabak dll), makanan Cina (nasi ayam Hainanese, Chee cheong fun, yong tau fu dll) ais krim dan banyak lagi lah!

There is also bubur lambuk, Arabic food (kebab), Indian food (tandoori, murtabak and more), Chinese food (Hainanese chicken rice, chee cheong fun, yong tau fu and more), ice-creams and more!

Umat Islam boleh lah sembahyang Terawih kat surau kat level 5.

Surau at level 5 allows our Muslim guests to break fast at ease without have to go far for their Terawih prayers.

Buffet Berbuka Puasa “Balik Kampung” berharga RM95.00 untuk orang dewasa dan RM47.50 untuk kanak-kanak. Dari 1-8 August dan 25-30 August, nikmatilah harga istimewa RM80.00 untuk orang dewasa dan RM40.00 untuk kanak-kanak. Diskaun 20% akan diberikan untuk kumpulan 40 orang ke atas. Hanya sah kepada 20 kumpulan pertama yang membuat tempahan dengan deposit. Untuk membuat tempahan, sila panggil +603 2782 6228 atau di www.intercontinental-kl.com.my

The Berbuka Puasa “Balik Kampung” is priced at RM95.00 per adult and RM47.50 per child. During 1-8 August and 25-30 August 2011, diners enjoy special price at RM80.00 per adult and RM40.00 per child. 20% discounts will be accorded to groups of 40 persons and above. It is only limited to first 20 groups that make reservation with a deposit. For reservations or inquiries, +60 3 2782 6228 is the number to call. You may also make reservation via www.intercontinental-kl.com.my