2019 Ramadan Buffets: Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel
By Aiman Azri
Chef Azrul's roasted lamb, Chef Nazri's chicken murtabak and Executive Chef Supi's beef rib soup: Too many cooks might spoil a broth but not a buffet, especially one that showcases local talents and temptations like Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel's Ramadan celebration. The Sajian Aneka Rasa nightly buffet, which begins 5 May through 3 June, promises a chance for the hotel's chefs to shine, placing them firmly in the spotlight based on their experience and expertise. Expect a cornucopia of classic festive favourites to warm the spirit this Ramadan season, rooted in time-honoured tradition.
Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel's preview of Sajian Aneka Rasa brought us up close and personal with the chefs, raring up to offer their best to guests. For fans of live cooking stations, there'll be hearty cooking galore to explore, from Azrul's kambing golek, spit-roasted over charcoal, and kambing gulai kawah, to Nazri's signature chicken and beef murtabak, to Supi's fall-off-the-bone tender meat in his sup tulang rawan.
The selection has been thoughtfully curated to affirm the work of culinary craftspeople who've been creating these dishes for decades. Heritage recipes include Pak Udin's lemang, the unmistakable Ramadan treat of glutinous rice cooked with coconut milk in hollowed bamboo lined with banana leaves. Pak Udin has been perfecting his technique since 1995 in Sikamat, a small town near Seremban, so the buffet provides the opportunity for the Klang Valley residents to sample his work, best served with serunding and rendang.
True to its name, Sajian Aneka Rasa proves to be a satisfyingly wide-ranging spread. Start with kerabu salads (mangga muda, sotong, or taugeh, to name merely three), then make your own bowl of ulam, with plenty of fresh vegetables, leaves and herbs complemented with everything from budu and cencalok to sambal belacan and tempoyak for a full-bodied taste of generations-old Malay flavours that span the breadth of Kelantan and Terengganu to Kedah and Perak.
Main courses are spiced up with crowd-rousing staples like robust ayam percik, aromatic sambal udang petai, kenduri-suitable beef rendang, and lip-smacking fish head curry. There'll also be a noodle station that we predict will be massively popular, whipping up soto, laksa Johor and Sarawak mee, for an advance peek at hometown fare before the balik kampung rush.
Desserts span seri muka to kuih ketayap, Sarawak layer cakes to kuih lopes, with much, much more for Raya-time snacking, including cookies and pineapple tarts. The buffet will be rounded out with international cuisine too, ranging from pasta to dim sum, biryani and tandoori. The Sajian Aneka Rasa buffet will cost RM138 nett per adult and RM69 nett per child. Early bird bookings (until 30 April) will enjoy a special rate of RM99 per adult and RM49 per child. Many thanks to Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel for this preview.
Sajian Aneka Rasa at TEMPTationS Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel, Corner of Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur. Reservations: 03-2771-6692 or email rhi.kulrn.fb@renaissancehotels.com
