Eat-all-you-can durian kampung

Creamy goodness: Moh (second from right) tasting the King of Fruits as he serves the durian kampung to Haskic and his wife azra at the buffet in George town.

GEORGE TOWN: Forget about “branded” durians such as Musang King, Or Chi (Black Thorn) or D24.

The sweet, juicy, succulent, and not too expensive durian kampung is still considered the best of the lot for many.

A hotel has even organised an “eat-all-you-can durian kampung” buffet at the back lane of its building off Jalan Magazine here.

M Summit Group founder and managing director Datuk Albert Moh says that the buffet at M Summit 191 Executive Hotel Suites is priced at RM35 for adults and RM15 for children with reservations required.

He said the hotel was doing its bit to help promote the state’s most famous fruit via its durian kampung buffet promotion.

The buffet will be held until July 30 from 3pm to 9pm.

“Durian lovers do not need to go all the way to the orchards in Balik Pulau as we are bringing them to town. People will have the chance to enjoy durian at an affordable price as we deal with the operators directly.

“Durian kampung grows from its seed and the taste is as good as the branded ones.

“Come, taste it and you’ll know,” Moh said, adding that 1,000 customers are estimated to join the durian buffet.

Among those spotted at the buffet were Australian couple Muhamed Haskic, 67, and his wife Azra Haskic, 62, who claimed “there are no bad durians but only good ones”.

Muhamed said they fell in love with durians after tasting them in Singapore 20 years ago.

“We tried durians in Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore, but the best durians are the ones in Malaysia,” he said.

Durian seller L.Y. Ang said the seasonal price for durian kampung now ranges between RM8 and RM10 per kg, compared with Musang King which is priced at RM40 per kg.

“Some customers prefer the sweet ones whereas some like those which are slightly bitter.

“We will usually ask our customers’ preference before recommending them the durians that suit their taste buds for a pleasant feast,” said Ang, who operates his 3030 Balik Pulau durian stall in Bandar Baru Air Itam.