Here, 5 Wells, a restaurant in the 225-room hotel that opened in December last year, will be serving a delightful buffet dinner from March 23 onwards.
From refreshing appetisers and tantalising mains to delectable desserts, it will truly be a feast of gastronomical delights.
Speaking to FMT, Arfizan Ab Rahim, executive chef of Courtyard, shared that the theme of the buffet, “Santapan Nusantara” is primarily inspired by his love for Javanese cuisine.
“While Malaysian cuisine is usually on the spicy side, Indonesian cuisine tends to be sweeter,” said the 41-year-old who hails from Klang.
Patrons can look forward to enjoying a variety of dishes with Malaysian and Indonesian influences. Among the highlights, he shared, are a fruit salad called Rojak Uleg, the sweet and spicy Ayam Masak Habang and an Indonesian meatball dish called Bakso.
“In fact, the Bakso is made using a recipe from my wife’s family who are Javanese,” he added with a smile.
The FMT team sampled the buffet dinner recently and here are some of the highlights.
Tasting notes
To begin your gastronomical adventure, why not sample some Rojak Uleg? A delicious appetiser, the selection of fruits and vegetables that make up this dish – pineapple, rose apple, starfruit, and cucumber – are refreshing, juicy and delicious. But the real star of the dish is the homemade rojak sauce that is a perfect balance of spicy and sweet.
There is also a variety of fresh ulam that comes served with a selection of exceptionally delicious and piquant sambals.
If the carnivore in you must be satisfied, do drop by the grill station where the spiced lamb is remarkably tender and flavourful. Fair warning: one serving will likely not suffice.
And if you’re hankering for something heartier, pair the meat with some piping hot and fragrant Nasi Kuning, an Indonesian rice cooked with turmeric.
A sweet and spicy stewed chicken called Ayam Masak Habang may remind you of the popular Ayam Masak Merah that Malaysians love.
Although the former is less spicy, the tender pieces of chicken coated lightly in a thick gravy made with aromatics like ginger and lemongrass, is a delight to eat.
The Kambing Masala Rogan Josh is essentially a spicy mutton masala that looks “fiery”, but thankfully strikes the perfect balance of spice and heat. Every morsel of meat is juicy and bursting with flavour, making this dish truly memorable.
Other highlights include Braised Brisket in Rendang; Ikan Patin Masak Tempoyak, a stewed catfish with fermented durian paste); and Cumi Masak Hitam which is essentially stewed squid with spices.
The Pajeri Terung, a delightful dish of brinjals, is the perfect complement to the meat dishes. The brinjals are cooked just right, keeping a slight crunch while its flavours, with a hint of sweetness, are beautifully enhanced by the thick dried shrimp and coconut sauce it comes drenched in.
Besides the Javanese fare, there is also a selection of western and Chinese dishes – Vegetable Lasagna, Butter Popcorn Chicken with Curry Leaves and Bird Eye Chillies as well as Deep Fried Fish with Sweet and Sour Sauce.
And what’s a buffet without indulging in some decadent desserts? Here, one would be spoilt for choice!
From a variety of kuih-muih, cakes, banana bread and butter pudding with vanilla sauce, crème caramel to ABC, it can be quite tough deciding where to start or even when to stop.
Ready to feast? The Santapan Nusantara buffet is available from March 23 to April 21, from 6.30pm to 10.30pm.
5 Wells Restaurant
Level 2, Courtyard by Marriott Setia Alam
No 6, Jalan Setia Dagang AH U13/AH
Seksyen U13 Setia Alam
40170 Shah Alam
Selangor
Prices:
• RM118 nett (adults) and RM59 (children aged six to 12 years old)
• Early bird promotion until March 22: RM98 (adults only).
For reservations, call 03-5021 9899 or email [email protected]. Follow 5 Wells Restaurant on Facebook.