NASI PADANG PARIAMAN di Melting Pot Café, Concorde Hotel

Mother and son duo, Nurdeli Mansorman (Mak Deli), 57 and Irwan Arifin, 29 will be dishing up a stunning array of Padang specialities for this year’s Ramadan buffet.

Padang food is the cuisine of the Minangkabau people of West Sumatra, Indonesia. It is amongst the most popular food in Maritime Southeast Asia. Padang food is also popular in neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore. Its food is famous for its rich taste of succulent coconut milk and spicy chilli.

Both cooks originate from Pariaman, a coastal city located in West Sumatra. The distinct difference between Padang and Malay cuisine lies on the method of cooking. Of course, there are similar dishes by name, yet one or two main ingredients used in a Padang dish can give a totally different taste, texture and aroma.

Signature dishes from the duo include ayam goreng berempah, daging dendeng bakar (salai), daging dendeng berlado, rendang daging Pariaman, ayam opor, ikan goreng sambal merah, ikan berlemak belimbing, sotong berlado, sayur pucuk paku, sambal terung, dendeng paru, udang sambal petai, udang tusuk and more. Padang flavoured curries are usually called gulai. Favourites include gulai urat kaki lembu and other flavourful ones like gulai udang, gulai kepala ikan and gulai ayam. Specialty at the ikan bakar live cooking action will be a sure hit! The perfect marination of 18 ingredients is the secret to Padang’s recipe.

Side items such as petai rebus with assorted keropok malinjo, keropok kulit lembu, bergedel are must-haves, can be eaten in between your mains. These dishes are so delicious, so tasty with a hot plate of rice anytime of the day! Be sure to keep your August calendar free for a great culinary experience right here! Nasi Padang promotion has three daily rotation menus.

Mak Deli has been residing in Malaysia for 17 years. She is currently busy with her daily job, cooking at a restaurant in Ampang area. She has nine children, four are boys. Her sidekick cook for this promotion, Irwan is the seventh child. Whilst Irwan is busy running his textile and furniture business in Kuala Lumpur, he still finds time to in the kitchen, cooking his best Padang dishes.

Melting Pot is offering a 20% discount during the first and fourth week of Ramadan. Price : RM89.00++ per person. Melting Pot’s kitchen officially received its ‘halal’ certification from Jakim on July 16, 2011.

To book seats this Ramadan, please call Melting Pot Café at 21442200 extn 2337.

BUFFET BERBUKA PUASA AT THE FEDERAL KUALA LUMPUR

The Federal Kuala Lumpur cordially invites all culinary enthusiasts to savour Citra Rasa Malaysia menu prepared by guest chef, Chef Harmizie bin Mohamed and Teams of Chefs led by Chef Sharun bin Ramli. Diners will be spoilt for choices as the promotion features a lavish spread of mouth-watering dishes ranging from tempting appetizers to delectable desserts at The Federal Kuala Lumpur’s Verandah Restaurant from 3 to 24 August 2011.

The exquisite sumptuous Citra Rasa Malaysia buffet spread of tantalizing local dishes comes all corners of Malaysia. The buffet spread of 8 different menus rotates daily with more than 100 food items available for diners to indulge. Among the must-haves are Tunku’s favourite dishes such as ayam golek, ayam kurma, daging bakar, anchovies with petai just to name a few. The popular Tunku’s dishes are picked from the Favourite Dishes from the Tunku’s Kitchen or Hidangan Kegemaran Dari Dapur Tunku, most importantly, this legal cookbook is our Federal Hotels International and The Federal Kuala Lumpur’s tribute dedicated to our Malaysia’s beloved first Prime Minister or our Father of Independence, Y.T.M. Tunku Abdul Rahman.

For starters, there are salads and traditional fare such as lemang with chicken & beef serunding, kurma manis, Malay hot Salad (ikan bilis sambal, acar rampai, acar buah, acar limau, limpa goreng, tah hu sumat, mixed salad that includes tuna salad potatoes salad, pasta salad, cold cut salad, kerabu mango, kerabu nangka, kerabu sotong, just to name a few.

Other delectable dishes are roast lamb with bukhari rice, roast beef with black pepper sauce, spaghetti with tomato herbs sauce, fried butter fish fillet, fried chicken wing, the popular northern Malaysia dishes such as nasi kandar served with a plethora of side dishes and a magnitude of sumptuous Malay traditional dishes such as nasi dagang, nasi kerabu, kerabu pucuk paku, laksam, gulai ikan, laksa, mee rebus, mee mamak, satay, sotong sumbat pulut, daging masak kicap, ayam ros, ayam percik.

What more on the menu are the tantalizing main dishes which includes udang masak manis, sotong lemang kuning, beef rendang, lamb kapita, ayam masak merah, cabbage goreng kunyit, syam masak korma; ikan keli masak sambal tumis, petola tumiskunyit;, lamb rendang, western hot dishes such as mixed trill seafood with tomatoes herb sauce, braised ox tail with vegetables; salmon cube glaced with honey sauce; braised chicken with creamy mushroom sauce, Chinese Hot Dishes such as stir fried chicken with dred chili; Japanese tau food with chicken meat sauce; fried butter fish fillet; omelet with onion & Capsicum; stir fried green mussel with black sweet soy, the Indian hot dishes such as aloo ghobi, dhall vegetable curry, palak laneer, rajmah meat curry, lamb indaloo, palak panner; ladies finger raitta, araichi mulugu, Rogan Josh, Vegetable jal frazi, palak murgh, jingha masala, Nasi Kandar corner that serves nasi palnta with jagus, lamb dhall vege curry, ayam masak kapitan, sotong berempah, ikan tengiri goreng berempah, labu masak lemak putih, peria tumis dengan telor. Check out for more on the different menu that rotates daily.

Among the live cooking stations, chefs will whip up the best for the diners from western food items to Japanese, Indian and dessert. The different stalls include serving roasted beef with black pepper sauce; assorted pasta; mini chicken or beef burger; crab stick & vegetable tempura, Japanese skewer; Chicken Tandoori or Lamb Tandoori; Shih Kebab served with naan bread; waffle with assorted jam & butter; grated ice with condiment served with three types of sugar syrup; Stall Air Manisan and many more. Round up your meal with a sweet note. Indulge in 20 types of Malay juih, dodol kampong, wajid kampong; pudding buah, French pastries; bubur kacang; bubur buah, bread & butter pudding; assorted cakes such as black forest, chocolates, dates, prune, ice cream, Jelly in glass, chocolate terrine with chocolate sauce; tapai, to name a few.

The buffet dinner at The Verandah is priced at RM70+ per person; RM40+ per senior citizen; RM35+ per child from 3 August – 24 August 2011 from 6.30pm to 9.30pm.

Bring your loved ones, friends, associates, colleagues, relatives and family to enjoy this delicious buffet spread. Enjoy the casual atmosphere, friendly service and pleasant views of the tropical garden and swimming pool while tucking into scrumptious meals. The Verandah is located on the first floor of The Federal Hotel.

For reservation and booking, call 03-21489166 or log on to www.fhihotels.com

Dokumentari Syahadah Musim ke-7 Selusuri Perkembangan Islam di Malaysia

Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) sekali lagi merealisasikan ungkapan “Syahadah” yang diterjemahkan menerusi penerbitan dokumentari Syahadah musim ke-7 yang pelancarannya telah pun disempurnakan oleh Menteri Besar Terengganu, YAB Dato’ Seri Haji Ahmad Said bertempat di Dewan Besar Darul Iman, Suk Kuala Terengganu, 26 Julai lalu.

Penerbitan Syahadah nyata memperlihatkan satu jalinan ukhwah yang utuh antara masyarakat seluruh Semenanjung Malaysia termasuk Sabah dan Sarawak malah menariknya Syahadah musim ke-7 ini turut menjalankan penggambaran merentasi peta dunia dengan mengekori kesan-kesan peninggalan Kerajaan Andalusia sekaligus membongkar kedatangan Islam, kesannya kepada komuniti setempat dan global di Morocco (Maghribi) dan Sepanyol.

Penerbit Penyelaras – Ibrahim Hj. Ismail

Syahadah musim ke 7 memaparkan sejarah awal kedatangan Islam ke setiap negeri, peninggalan manuskrip dan kitab-kitab lama, peranan utama serta tokoh-tokoh agama yang bertanggungjawab menyebarkan agama Islam di Malaysia. Anjakan paradigm ini berjaya melahirkan generasi modal insan yang cemerlang hasil daripada pengalaman Islam yang syumul dan ilmu pengetahuan serta keperibadian yang tinggi.

Syahadah turut mengetengahkan usaha peranan dan agensi kerajaan seperti Jabatan Agama Islam dan Majlis Agama Islam di peringkat negeri dan daerah-daerah yang membentuk jalinan kerjasama dengan pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO) dan juga badan kebajikan yang diwujudkan di setiap negeri dalam usaha pembangunan ummah.

Mula diterbitkan tahun 2005, program Syahadah telah menjelajah ke tujuh negara termasuk Singapura, Brunei, Indonesia dan Kemboja dengan paparan kehidupan kontemporari masyarakat Islam di samping mengangkat keunikan budaya, warisan dan pencapaian mereka dalam pelbagai bidang. Musim ke-2 (2006) pula liputan Syahadah di Negara Cina, tahun 2007 pula kegemilangan Islam dan Syahadah di negara India menelusuri pendekatan Islam Hadhari. Kemudiannya tahun 2008, musim ke-4 pula meneroka Balkan dan Eropah untuk melihat tamadun Islam masa silam dan kecemerlangan Islam masa kini. Seterusnya Syahadah musim ke-5 (2009) mendekati sisi unik budaya, kepelbagaian etnik, kemajuan dan pembangunan Islam di negara bekas jajahan Soviet Union iaitu Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan dan Azerbaijan. Tahun lalu kecemerlangan Syahadah musim ke-6 (2010) membongkar sejarah kedatangan Islam di Alam Melayu termasuklah di Melaka, Terengganu dan Kedah), Indonesia, China, India, Kemboja dan Negara kuasa baru Asia (Jepun dan Korea Selatan).

Syahadah musim ke-7 mengekalkan tiga penerbit berpengalaman dari Unit Majalah dan Dokumentari RTM; iaitu daripada Syazariah Majidi (Terengganu, Kelantan, Pahang, Kuala Lumpur juga dua negara Morocco dan Sepanyol), Ibrahim Hj. Ismail (Melaka, Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor dan Sabah) dan Ramlee Johari (Sarawak, Kedah, Perak, Pulau Pinang dan Perlis).

Menariknya sepanjang penggambaran Syahadah di Morocco (Bandar Marrakech. Casablanca, Rabat dan Fes) di mana ketika di Bandar Marrakech program ini mengunjungi kawasan Old Medina, Bandar Islam lama yang dibina semasa pemerintahan Islam pada abad ke 11 hingga ke 13 Masihi. Selain itu rakaman di Istana El-Bahia, bangunan senibina Islam yang paling cantik dan agung dibina pada 1884 oleh golongan bangsawan Islam zaman itu. Rakaman turut memaparkan aktiviti pasar tradisional masyarakat kaum Berber dan juga aktiviti kanak-kanak Berber mangaji di sebuah surau dan menggunakan papan kayu yang bertulis dakwat serta kaum wanita memproses minyak Argan yang satu-satunya hanya terdapat di Morocco.

Krew Syahadah juga sempat mengadakan rakaman khas Aidilfitri bersama penduduk Islam Maghribi selain melawat dan merakamkan keindahan Masjid King Hassan 2 di Casablanca dan perusahaan membuat seramik di Bandar Fes.

Di Sepanyol pula, Syahadah berkunjung ke Granada, Cordoba dan Madrid serta menyingkap khazanah sejarah Islam yang pernah terpahat di kota-kota tersebut antaranya penggambaran indah di Istana Al Hambra iaitu istana lama yang didirikan oleh kerajaan Bani Ahmar atau bangsa Moor (Moria), Masjid Granada, iaitu satu-satunya masjid yang dibina di bandar tersebut serta Masjid Cordoba yang dibina ketika pemerintahan Abdurrahman III daripada Bani Umaiyah yang kini 90 peratus sudah diubahsuai menjadi gereja.

Selain melakukan penggambaran untuk tujuan penerbitan, Syahadah berkongsi buah fikiran serta pandangan bersama penduduk tempatan mengenai kesyukuran mereka terhadap pengembangan dan amalan ajaran Islam di Malaysia yang jauh lebih baik.

Secara jelas penerbitan Syahadah yang diusahakan oleh RTM selama ini menyingkap rahsia peradaban Islam dengan mengambil iktibar daripada mujahid terdahulu serta umat Islam masakini dengan memaparkan realiti kehidupan, pegangan dan amalan masyarakat Islam sebagai satu inspirasi dan inovasi dari satu zaman ke satu zaman.

33 episod dokumentari Syahadah serta satu episod khas “Disebalik Tabir Syahadah” berdurasi 30 minit menemui penonton pada setiap hari sepanjang bulan Ramadan ini jam 6.30 petang dan siaran ulangan jam 5.30 pagi hanya di TV1. Manakala versi Inggeris pula disiarkan jam 4.00 petang dan ulangan jam 4.30 pagi di TV2.

Penaja utama adalah Kerajaan Negeri Terengganu dan Yayasan Islam Terengganu.

Kelas fardu Ain, kanak-kanak tadika tengku Anis, Kota Bharu, Kelantan

Penggambaran di Muzium Pekan, Pahang

Pasar Pagi di Pergunungan Kaum Berber, Marrakech, Morocco

Dalam masjid Cordoba yang kini menjadi Gereja di Spain.