Bertam: Lembu golek or roast whole cow was the highlight of the breaking of fast menu for around 1,000 visitors at the Mahabbah Carnival at Bertam Square here yesterday, as part of the ‘Iftar on the Road’ programme.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, as early as 6.30 pm, a crowd, mostly families, had already formed long queues for the dish, believed to be the first of its kind at any venue and was served free with a rice platter set. Programme organiser Zaini Aboo Hassan mentioned that two cows weighing over 200 kg were specially prepared for the event.

Zaini explained, “Every year, we try to bring something different for visitors. For this edition of ‘Iftar on the Road,’ we serve roast whole cows. Last year, we surprised them with kurma kepala kambing, but we opted for something unique this time. People are used to seeing roast lamb or mutton, but here, we have lembu golek.”

He further elaborated that the idea was to create a memorable experience for visitors, with 200 rice platters accompanied by dalca and air asam also prepared, each serving three to four people. Zaini admitted that his team faced challenges in preparing the dish due to the weight of the cows, adding that nearly 24 types of herbs were used to marinate the meat.

The response was overwhelming compared to the previous year, with around 1,000 people enjoying the open-air dining experience. Meanwhile, visitor Shahar Lutfi Azhar, in his 30s, from Sungai Dua, expressed that he came to the carnival with his wife and cousin not only to shop for Raya essentials but also specifically to taste the lembu golek. “I’ve been looking forward to this since early in the week. I missed last year’s event, so I was excited to come this time,” he said.