Is it just me, or does time appear to be moving pretty fast?
So fast that it seemed like Chinese New Year hadn’t even arrived when InterContinental Kuala Lumpur invited us to its Santai-Santai Iftar and Raya Dinner Buffet at Serena Brasserie.
But this isn’t an illusion or a case of having a bad memory. When most businesses were busy preparing for the hustle and bustle of CNY, I was trying the hotel’s upcoming Ramadan specials.
Here are some of the highlights that showed me Ramadan buffets still have something new to offer.
We’re not “Rama-done” gushing about these
Inspired by the malay phrase “santai-santai” (which means a relaxed state or leisurely activity), this year’s Ramadan collection encourages guests to unwind and reconnect with loved ones.
Or as Matthew Everson, the General Manager of InterContinental KL puts it, this iftar dinner buffet is a chance for guests to reflect on the blessings of this sacred season. All while savouring the joy of shared meals and meaningful traditions, of course.
This year, Serena Brasserie’s Executive Chef Rudy Junaidie curated four main specials that honour nostalgic dishes while giving them an elevated twist.
We started off by trying the least spice-coated main—Baked Honey-glazed Chicken. Inspired by American-Asian cuisine, the chicken is marinated overnight with orange juice, turmeric, and honey.
It’s not overly citrusy or sugary, landing on the right balance of savoury and sweet. My friend who tagged along to the preview called this one of the best honey-glazed chickens she’s ever had.
Next on the agenda was the Xinjiang Whole Lamb with Bukhari Biryani Rice.
Having worked in Macao for three years, Chef Rudy took inspiration from the local Xinjiang community’s cooking. For the uninitiated, Xinjiang cuisine is characterised by the use of spice seasonings like cumin and Szechuan peppercorn.
As such, you’ll find this Australian lamb dish features a strong cumin taste with milder hints of Szechuan peppercorn and garlic. Paired with the fragrant Bukhari biryani rice, tomato cucumber salad, and mint raita, you’ll get a symphony of flavours.
One of my favourite picks of the night would have to be the Rendang Minang Smoked Barbecue Beef Ribs.
Using Australian beef ribs, this dish combines Western and Eastern cuisine. The team at Serena Brasserie first boils the ribs for a few hours before marinating them with Minang rendang spices. Once done, the ribs are smoked until they’re fall-off-the-bone tender.
Both rendang and barbecue sauces are served to intensify whichever taste you prefer. Even without them though, the ribs are delectable as is.
But if you ask me what’s the one dish you can’t miss, I’d say it’s the Gulai Assam Rong-style Claypot Roasted Duck. Full disclaimer, I’m not the biggest fan of gulai assam and hardly reach for it, but this dish changed my mind.
Chef Rudy explained to us that Gulai Assam Rong is a traditional Pahang dish commonly found in areas like Jerantut. Much of the flavour comes from the dish’s paste, which is made from rubber seeds and buah perah.
The paste is then fermented for a couple of days before it’s turned into a gravy and cooked with other ingredients, such as turmeric leaves and torch ginger flower. These give the dish a fragrant aroma and helps to balance the sourness of the broth.
It’s a rather rare dish because buah perah can only be found in deeper parts of the tropical jungle. Hence, we highly recommend giving this a try, else you might not easily find the opportunity again.
As sweet as a date pudding
Truth be told, I didn’t attend the buffet with high expectations, because how different can one Ramadan buffet be to another? I’ve been to a few over the years and they slowly became too predictable and boring.
So InterContinental KL’s spread this year was a welcome surprise to me. Instead of turning classical dishes into something that don’t resemble their original forms, the team focused on adding refinements that don’t take away from the traditional dishes’ essence.
Complementing the main courses is a scrumptious selection of traditional Malay specialties. This includes classics like lemang, kuah kacang, Rendang Tok, and Chef Hafiz’s Sup Tulang (or bone broth).
If these don’t satiate your appetite, Serena Brasserie offers non-Hari Raya dishes as well. We recommend Sambal Tumis Sotong, Daging Masak Hitam, and Cencaru Bakar with Sambal Belacan.
To end the night, there’s a wide array of kuih-muih and desserts that await, so much so that I didn’t know where to begin. Two stars you have to taste yourself are the Jackfruit Creme Brulee and Sticky Banana and Dates Pudding. My friend and I still crave them to this day.
InterContinental KL’s Santai-Santai Iftar Dinner Buffet and Santai-Santai Raya Dinner Buffet will be served starting from March 4 and April 10 respectively, from 6:30PM to 10:30PM.
| Santai-Santai Iftar Dinner Buffet (Week 1 and Week 4 of Ramadan) | Santai-Santai Iftar Dinner Buffet (Week 2 and Week 3 of Ramadan) | Santai-Santai Raya Dinner Buffet |
| – March 4 to 9, 2025 – March 24 to 27, 2025 | March 10 to 23, 2025 | April 10 and 11, 2025 |
| Adults: RM216 nett per pax Children (aged 6 to 12): RM134 nett per pax | Adults: RM288 nett per pax Children (aged 6 to 12): RM278 nett per pax | Adults: RM288 nett per pax Children (aged 6 to 12): RM178 nett per pax |
Reservations can be made here. For further enquiries, you can also contact the hotel via email at fb.lead@ickualalumpur.com.my or via WhatsApp at +601 6202 4623.
- Learn more about InterContinental Kuala Lumpur here.
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Featured Image Credit: Vulcan Post
