Neighbourhood nostalgia

If you’re looking for a buka puasa spread that trumpets quality over quantity, and peace of mind over unnecessary angst, head to The Snug at Hotel Stripes KL, writes

I’VE never been partial to buffets because of my pitifully tiny tank. And Ramadan buffets? Even worse because after a whole day of abstinence from food, my already pitifully tiny tank becomes near non-existent. So every time Ramadan rolls in and the flurry of invitations lands on my office table, my inclination has always been to ignore them.

Somehowthemerethoughtoftraversing the length of some chilly ballroom or crowded restaurant to get to your food, jostling against fellow starving souls while at the same time mentally planning a strategy on how best to manouvre a buffet spread of 200-plus items, do not seem appealing.

But when an invitation to savour a Ramadan spread at Hotel Stripes KL appeared in my email recently, I was piqued. For a number of reasons.

With the YTL-owned boutique hotel still considered somewhat of a new kid on the block against other behemoths in the local hotel-scape, I was curious to see what the F&B team could cobble together in such a short time.

Somehow I was confident that I wouldn’t need to manouvre a culinary showcase that would put me in food coma or require me to carry a map to locate the various items from the spread.

Secondly, its Festive Celebrations’ menu looked interesting.

Instead of the usual theme of kampong nostalgia and the ubiquitous trumpeting of quantity of dishes, this one was pretty simple — the promise of a spread that

Grilled whole Snapper. would showcase the best in local food from the urban neighbourhood of Jalan Kamunting, KL, and the chance to explore the nostalgic culinary past of this locale, formerly a tin mining settlement.

a coSy affair

“Are you going to get your food now?” The urgency in my friend’s voice is palpable as she taps on her watch to remind me that

time is drawing nigh.

She’s perplexed at how I can remain so calm when I should be parking myself by the buffet queue ready to pounce once the strains of the (call to prayer) are heard.

Mutton Biryani.

Smiling serenely, I point to the succulent dates on the table.

“I eat that first-lah. No need to rush Do you see any queues?” I reply, motioning for her to scan the restaurant.

True enough, there’s none of the annoying features commonly associated with Ramadan buffet lines — the irate jostling, the wasteful piling of food, the snaking queues.

Befitting its name, The Snug, located on level 2 and the venue for the Ramadan buffet, is indeed snug and cosy, set against a backdrop of warm brick walls interspersed with dark wooden wall cabinets lined with books. The lighting is dim and the vibe? Laidback.

Although the restaurant, one of two food outlets in the hotel, the other being Brasserie 25, an elegant French-style restaurant by the lobby, is already filling up with couples, corporate groups and families, there’s still a sense of calm permeating the whole place.

The only bustle comes from wait staff, of which there seems to be plenty, ever ready to replenish your drinks, see to your empty plates and offer recommendations on what you can explore next.

Perhaps it’s because this Ramadan fare from the hotel is meant to be a cosy affair. And this is reflected in the modest but delightful selection of dishes that await the hungry diner.

Digging into noStalgia

One of the nicest things about this festive menu is the fact that you get to really savour authentic local food that, I have to say, hits the mark as far as taste is concerned.

Who cares about numbers when each and every one of the dish that you sample