The Ramadhan season is truly a time to look forward to for the plethora of buka puasa dinners to be enjoyed by not only our Muslim friends but also Malaysians from all walks of life.
This year, The RuMa Hotel and Residences invites guests on a culinary journey at SANTAI through its wide spread of traditional Malay cuisine. A step through the doors of the hotel was like walking into someone's home with decors that spoke of a personal touch. Similarly as you make your way up to Level 6 where SANTAI sits beside the pool, it will feel as though you were welcomed into your doting rich auntie's humble abode.
Lovers of Malay cuisine will enjoy the traditional touches to the buffet spread this year with highlight on the more unique and oft-overlooked aspects of traditional Malay cuisine, featuring an expansive assortment of aromatic ulam, piquant kerabu, punchy jeruk and crunchy keropok.
Chef Mohammad Rizuwan, Chef de Cuisine of Production Kitchen at The RuMa Hotel and Residences, draws from the flavours of his childhood as he recalls the experiences that have shaped his palate and culinary abilities. “Ramadhan is a time for connection with all that we hold dear: our values, our community, our family and our roots,” he shares. “I learned to cook from my mother and to me, the festive season will always bring back the flavours of ulam-ulaman kampung—herbs like pucuk paku, daun selom and jantung pisang grown in our own backyard that my mother and I would pick and prepare for buka. These traditional preparations will always take me back to my childhood—a reminder of the importance of family and of sharing during this special time.”
To start, I beelined it for the lemang and rendang and found the pulut hitam lemang to be the winner between the two lemang types. The rendang was good, pairing well with the coconut flavour of the lemang. Next was the Sup Perut Lembu Berempah, a dish spoke of warmth and the comfort with each sip. It could have used a sprinkle of spicy though.
Of course, it was hard to ignore the centerpiece of nasi kabsa with a slab of juicy lamb hanging over it. The nasi was aromatic with a generous portion of cashew nuts and raisins. My recommendation is to try the nasi with the lamb first to enjoy the moistness of the meat with the rich flavours of the rice before piling on the gravy items for round two.
One unassuming dish that stood out for me from the first bite was the Sayur Lodeh. Rich with santan with a hint of smokiness amidst the fern (I think), it was a good combo to eat with anything.
If grilled is more your thing, then head on over to the Warung Pak Bakar corner. Here you can have your pick of Satay Ayam, Ayam Bakar Madu Merah, Slipper Lobster Percik, Udang Bakar, Siakap Bakar or Salmon Bakar.
Apart from that, there are many other dishes laid out such as the herbaceous daun pegaga and raja ulam paired with a smorgasbord of sambals; to an assortment of kerabu such as mangga sotong, taugeh kerang and jantung pisang guaranteed to take you down memory lane. Alongside these favourites are modern iterations of Malay classics, from salmon bakar and slipper lobster percik, to durian strudel and pandan crème brûlée to finish on a sweet note.
Ramadhan Buffet
28 March – 20 April 2023, 630pm
Price: RM218 Nett per person
Offer: Get 20% off if you booked before 31 March 2023, dine in from 28 March - 16 April 2023)
Reservation: two days in advance, no walk-ins. WhatsApp or call +603 2778 0614 to book.
Eid Al-Fitr Delicacies
13 March 2023 – 20 April 2023
Ramadhan is a time for reflection and for sharing, and what better way to connect with friends and family than by sending them a well-presented box of sweet treats. Let loved ones know you are thinking of them with kuih bunga dahlia, symbolising kindness and beauty; peanut cookies as a wish for longevity and good health; pandan sable to symbolise care and affection; or chocolate chip cookies for a lovely and cheerful life.
Each box of cookies comes with a selection of three kinds of dates as well as a packet of elegant sampul raya.
These festive delicacies are priced at MYR128 per box. For orders and inquiries, please contact the In-Room Dining team via +60327780745 or email IRD@theruma.com.
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