Buffet Club

Buffet lovers will find it hard to say no to The Buffet Club card

A special card to enjoy food

By K.W. MAK
The Star

A BUFFET is one of the best solutions to group dining where every one has differing tastes.
Buffet Club started in Hong Kong in 2001 based on this concept.

The Buffet Club card is now available in Malaysia, benefiting both restaurant operators as well as buffet lovers.

Members enjoy a 20% discount on the total bill when the card is used at selected restaurants all year round. This card however is not just a discount card per se.

At present, there are 15 hotels participating in the programme, including Palace of the Golden Horses, Dorsett Regency, Eastin Hotel, Maya Hotel, Cititel Mid Valley, Holiday Villa and Sunway Lagoon Resort with a price range between RM35 and RM65 per buffet.

The Buffet Club is currently offering its annual membership for the promotional price of RM398.

For information, call 03-2166 8185 or visit www.buffetclub.com.

Source: The Star...A special card to enjoy food

Terengganu dishes

Text and pictures by HANNAH ABISHEGANADEN
The Star

MENTION Terengganu and at once you think of keropok, fish and turtles. It is a state that has lots to offer tourists, especially its rich culinary heritage. Traditional is the way to go. None of the fancy fusion stuff which can lead to confusion. Chefs and homemakers take pride in preparing their specialities the old fashion way with all its proper traditional ingredients and no substitutes. Given the abundant supply of fish, it is small wonder that most of these recipes are fish-based.

With the festive season approaching you might like to try something authentic and different. Some are easy to prepare and you will be amazed at the results. Others may take more time and patience as there are no shortcuts. The sweets can be a little tricky and you will need a bit of practice.

Try these Terengganu dishes:

1. Laksa


2. Nasi Dagang


3. Gulai ikan nasi dagang


4. Otak-otak ikan (grilled fish paste)


5. Sata (another type of otak-otak)


6. Mas sejemput

Queen of herbs - Turmeric

Turmeric is used in many dishes to add colour and flavour

By Chia Joo Suan
The Star

In recent years, turmeric, known as the queen of herbs, has become known for its healing powers following much research on its therapeutic properties. Curcumin, the yellow pigment in the root, is the primary pharmacological agent in turmeric.

Benefiting our brains
Turmeric has been used extensively in traditional Indian medicine to treat a variety of ailments. It is also a spice commonly used in cooking.

Interestingly, in the elderly Indian population whose diet has turmeric as a common spice, they have very low incidence of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s (online edition of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, Dec. 2004).

Alzheimer’s disease is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that occurs gradually and results in memory loss, unusual behaviour, personality changes and a decline in thinking abilities.

Research has narrowed down to curcumin, the yellow pigment in turmeric, which could work by inhibiting the accumulation of destructive beta amyloids in the brains of Alzheimer patients.
Curcumin has a low molecular weight and polar structure, which allows it to penetrate the blood-brain barrier effectively and binds to the harmful beta amyloid. Curcumin is also capable of break up existing plaques.

Traditional practice
The powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin can explain why turmeric is used in folk cures and as a spice in food.

A teaspoon or more of the extracted juice is effective for treating diarrhoea, flatulence, colic or jaundice. Turmeric is a popular herb for postnatal care to stimulate milk flow and production of red blood cells, dissolving blood clots, easing pain in the abdomen and to treat irregular menstruation.

Turmeric’s combination of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects explains why many elderly women with joint problems or rheumatic pain find relief when they use the spice regularly.

Fine properties that work
Curcumin also exerts very powerful antioxidant effects, which help to neutralize free radicals and prevent damage to healthy cells and cell membranes.

When patients with rheumatoid arthritis were treated with curcumin or drugs such as phenylbutazone, curcumin produced comparable improvements in terms of shortened duration of morning stiffness, lengthened walking time and reduced joint swelling.

As a strong antioxidant, curcumin protects cells from free radical damages, plus its ability in destroying mutated cells provides protection against cancer, especially of the colon.

Turmeric improves liver function in detoxifying xenobiotic (toxic) chemicals and may reduce the effects of dietary carcinogens.

Read full story: Queen of herbs...The Star

McDonald's Special Ramadan Buffet

This is one Ramadan buffet that will surely please fastfood lovers.

This is from 11 - 31 October and from 6:30pm to 8:00pm only.

Applicable for eat-in only.

Ramadhan treats

The fasting month of Ramadhan is an exciting month to explore food outlets to take your family and friends to. One can savour home-cooked style kampong delights; there is the expanded buffet line; food cooked in Mediterranean style; a variety of fresh seafood and classic Chinese dishes; a selection of speciality teas and coffees, juices, wines and champagnes, cold cuts, smoked seafood, herbs, spices, pastries, cakes, breads and chocolates as well as homemade pasta and lots more. This list has the best restaurants in town. Selamat Berpuasa.