1 week Ago
RECIPES that endure have flavours that resonate on an emotional level. As these recipes evoke precious memories, they gain popularity during festivities when people’s thoughts turn to home. In Malaysia where food has distinct regional nuances, every bite can take one on a journey through place and time − as guests will discover at Penang Marriott Hotel’s Sago restaurant.
For Ramadan, the hotel is serving the “Citarasa Serantau a la Warung” buffet featuring traditional kampung dishes from different states. Head chef Nor Ismail Mat Esa said, “Our team curated a selection of crowd favourites so diners can sample everything in one location. “We tweaked some recipes with our own spice blends, but dishes will still taste nostalgic.
” The buffet’s main attraction is the Kawah Station featuring Malay dishes such as Rendang Daging Tok from Perak, Ekor Asam Pedas from Melaka and Ikan Patin Tempoyak from Pahang. Such dishes have graced the festive tables of countless families. But the tastiest of them all could be Sup Meletop Tulang Merah, a popular item from Johor.
The dish of braised lamb shanks in spices gets its reddish hue from tomato puree. “Technically, it is more of a curry than a soup. Nor Ismail presenting a tray of satay varieties, ‘otak-otak’, ‘ketupat’ and ‘murtabak’ at Sago’s ‘Citarasa Serantau’ buffet.
“However, the gravy is so delicious that people tend to slurp all of it up, hence the term,” shared Nor Ismail. More spicy flavours come in the form of Ayam Goreng Lengkuas, Sotong Sambal Petai and Kepah Kukus Cili Api as well as ayam percik and chicken cooked in pandan. There is also laksa, available in Penang, Johor and Sarawak variants.
Few will be able to resist the Kambing Golek that is seasoned, slow-roasted and served with Sarawak black pepper sauce. Other festive must-haves include lemang pulut hitam, otak-otak, ketupat, serunding and bubur lambuk. These are served with chicken, beef and fish satay, murtabak, kerabu mangga, kerabu daging, ulam-ulaman and rojak buah.
The focus on traditional flavours does not stop Nor Ismail from inventiveness, seen in his Strawberry Sambal Salmon that is a play on ikan bakar. “It is inspired by a trip to Cameron Highlands,” the Penangite said. “After sampling some strawberries, I realised that its sweetness makes it a good substitute for the sugar that’s normally part of the marinade.
Kawah Station with (clockwise from front) Sup Meletop Tulang Merah, ‘asam pedas’ and ‘ayam percik’. “This adds a pleasant, fruity zing to the spicy and sour flavours, and elevates the dish without diverging from its original character,” he said. The accompanying grill station brims with baby abalone, yabbies, tiger prawns, stingray fillets, golden pomfret and seabass paired with balado sambal.
At live cooking stations, crustaceans, molluscs and fish are served according to guests’ orders, while those who prefer marine morsels in its simplest form are amply catered to at the seafood on ice section. Adding variety is the Flavours of India corner with items like Mamak-style Salmon Curry Fish Head and paneer burji. Oriental Flame-Kissed Delights offer dishes such as Stir-Fried Black Pepper Prawns and Penang char koay teow.
Desserts like pengat pisang, pulut tai tai and kuih badak berendam prove tempting too, while the Cempedak Financier, Cendol Cheesecake, Harum Manis Mango Tart, Teh Tarik Swiss Roll and Dates Toffee Pudding are local takes on Western pastries. These dovetail well with Middle Eastern counterparts like kunafa, halawet el jibn and aish el bulbul. The desserts are washed down with “air balang” (colourful iced drinks) such as Bandung Strawberry, Soya Gula Melaka and Lychee Ice Mint Kelapa Muda.
“Citarasa Serantau a la Warung” is priced at RM178 for adults, RM98 for senior citizens (aged 60 and above) and RM68 for children (aged seven to 12). It is available Mondays to Thursdays until April 1. For a seafood-centric break of fast, there is the Sustainable Seafood Harvest Buffet Dinner served on Fridays and Saturdays, priced at RM228 for adults and RM108 for seniors and children.
There is no buffet on Sundays when the restaurant offers a la carte dishes instead. SAGO, Level 2, Penang Marriott Hotel, Gurney Drive, George Town, Penang. (Tel: 04-566 1888).
Business hours: 6.30am to 11pm, daily. This is the writer’s personal observation and is not an endorsement by StarMetro.
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