Dorsett Regency Hotel,
172, Jalan Imbi,
55100 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2716 1000 ext 188
VETERAN celebrity Jaafar Onn will not only be entertaining guests at Dorsett Regency Hotel this fasting month but also will be cooking a host of dishes.
The actor-cum-singer said his first love has always been cooking but never had the chance to pursue it as work began to pile on his shoulders.
“I started cooking when I was in Form Four and that was the time when everyone was using black and white television,” said Jaafar who remembers fondly how his mother passed him recipes over the phone.
Jaafar said he was living with a relative when he was younger who usually prepared one dish to go with rice for meals.
“She usually prepared the same dish every day because she did not know of any other. I was so bored of it after a while,” he said, resulting in him making frequent calls to his mother and she taught him how to cook, over the phone.
Over the years, Jaafar went from acting to singing as well as being a celebrity chef on cooking shows where his fans loved him not only for his talent but also for his slapstick humour.
This Ramadan, the cheerful Jaafar who hails from Muar in Johor, will be sharing some of his home recipes to guests at the hotel.
Every evening, guests will be able to try two dishes prepared by Jaafar such as Chicken Rendang, Daging Briyani and Mixed Vegetables as well as a variety of rice dishes like Nasi Ambang, Nasi Pulauwan, Nasi Briyani Johor, Nasi Herba, Nasi Dagang, Nasi Udang Galah and Nasi Mutiara.
Besides cooking at the hotel, Jaafar and local artiste Haiza will also be singing Hari Raya songs to entertain guests dining at the restaurant every night.
The hotel’s in-house chefs are assisting Jaafar out with other buka puasa dishes such as Mee Rebus Sungai Dua Utara, Ayam Masak Merah Berkacang Peas, Udang Masak Kelio, Daging Dendeng, Assam Rebus Keladi, Balitong Masak Lemak Cili Padi, Briyani Gam Kambing, Ikan Patin Assam Tempoyak, Kerutup Daging, Udang Masak Tomato, Sambal Tumis Udang Petai, Pari Masak Assam Pedas, Sup Rusa, Rendang Tok Kuala Kangsar, Sup Rampaian and Sup Ekor Lembu.
Also on the buffet line are traditional Malay starters of Gado-Gado, Kerabu Nangka Muda, Pasembor Penang, Kerabu Udang Su’un, Sambal Belacan Budu, Cencalok and Sambal Tempoyak.
For chili lovers: The Balitong Masak Lemak Cili Padi.
For dessert, guests can indulge in the Hazelnut Chocolate Pudding, Bread Butter Pudding, Bubur Nangka, Bubur Kacang Hijau Berdurian, Pulut Mangga, Banana Pudding, Serawa Pisang and a selection of Malay and Nonya kuih.
Pastry chef Badrol Hisham Mohd Ali came up with a special addition to the dessert line, the Kek Budaya Dorsett which has ingredients such as rice tapai, glutinous rice, vanilla sponge cake, custard, pandan leaves , blue pea flower, fresh milk and sugar.
“Many people enjoy eating tapai (fermented rice), but it is usually served plain or with ice-cream, so i thought why not turn it around and use it as an ingredient for a cake,” said Badrol who hopes to create more of such recipes in the future.
The buffet dinner is priced at RM80++ per person. Senior citizens (55-years and above) and Children (four to 12 years) are entitled to a 50% discount.
This is the writer’s personal observation and is not an endorsement by StarMetro.