ROASTED MAY SIZZLES AT SUBSTANCE

‘Buy 1 Free 1’. Isn’t this music to your ears? Especially when the irresistible deal is for the All-You-Can-Eat Roasted Buffet this May at Substance all-day dining restaurant, Courtyard by Marriott KL South.

Expect a well-balanced, expansive buffet spread highlighting splendid roasts, meat and vegetables alike, to feed you well and succeed at it too. Headliners of Roast Lamb and Chicken are amply supported by roasted pumpkin, sweet potatoes, eggplant and capsicums, alongside crispy fried potato wedges.

We enjoyed savouring the rosemary-scented roast lamb and juicy chicken, made memorable by the house Peri-Peri sauce – it’s unapologetically fiery and perfect for those who like sauces with bite.

Get the dining party started with King Neptune’s ransom of Seafood Appetisers: freshly shucked oysters and a trio of sashimi along with poached prawns, flower crabs and mussels.

Salad days never look better than fresh options like Smoked Duck Salad with Orange (smoky, subtly briny duck breast slices mellowed by wedges of orangey brightness atop mixed greens), tuna-flecked Salad Nicoise, Pasta Salad, and DIY Gado-gado (blanched long beans, beansprouts, cabbage and diced fried beancurd dressed with peanut sauce) among others.

Smoked Salmon, Assorted Nigiri and Maki Sushi, and little bowls of Soba Noodles with hot and cold broth jazz up the spread with vibrant colours and textural variety.

 

Also flexing some serious muscle are notable hot dishes such as the deeply flavourful Asam Pedas Oxtail (think lip-smacking chunks of oxtail falling apart at the bone), Balitong Masak Lemak (little horn shells in tantalising chilli and turmeric-based gravy), Sweet & Spicy Prawns and a not-too-shabby Beef Rendang.

Don’t pass up on the Curry Mee either. Lemak-rich santan broth nuanced with aromatic, rounded rempah (spices) make this noodle dish sing.

Fluffy Green Peas Rice serves as the ideal canvas to embrace all those delicate, comforting flavours of Braised Lamb with Radish and Carrots, restorative Steamed Herbal Chicken with Minced Ginger and homey Braised Chicken in Sesame Oil.

Other gems worth the calories: Baked Oysters with Spinach and Cheese and Chinese Fried Rice with tiny silverfish for that subtle crunch. Over at the Indian corner, creamy-rich and well-spiced Chicken Makhani coupled with Idli and Samosa ensure a strong showing.

 

Sweet endings range from assorted Nyonya Kuih, Sweet Wheat Porridge, Fresh Fruits, dainty slices of Carrot, Red Velvet and Cheese Cake, Chocolate Eclairs and two types of Fruit Jelly.

Verdict? The Roasted May promotion is varied enough, locally grounded, and boldly cranks up the flavour when it counts whether it's a power lunch or a laid-back dinner.

Available for Saturday & Sunday Lunch from 12.30pm - 3pm at RM138 nett per Adult, RM98 nett per Senior Citizen and RM69 nett per Child and Thursday to Sunday Dinner from 6.30pm - 11pm at RM158 nett per Adult, RM108 nett per Senior Citizen and RM79 nett per Child.

For more information and reservations at Susbtance (Level 3), Courtyard by Marriott Kuala Lumpur South, please WhatsApp: +603 8682 8898.

Cheers to 137 Bar

Hidden gem of a bar is a compelling pitstop post-dinner. Tucked away up a flight of stairs just beyond the cosy setting of Courtyard Lounge, 137 Bar should be your port of call, for drinks and chill-out session.

 

Fronted by a contemporary bar with backlit drinks display, 137 Bar is tastefully furnished with mellow lighting, cushy armchairs and a secluded nook for small parties who desire some privacy. The décor is sleek bordering on minimalist.

Cocktails abound, imaginative with local twists cleverly included. The friendly mixologist rustles up a curated selection for our sampling, starting with KL South Sling.

It’s house-infused lemongrass syrup with Absolut Vodka, pineapple juice, lime juice, fresh pineapple slice, lychee fruit, grenadine, and a dash of Angostura bitters – a pleasantly bright and vibrant notes on the palate.

My fave has to be Assam-boi Mojito – an invigorating blend of Bacardi Rum with salted prune infused syrup, lime, mint leaves, and soda. Superbly refreshing and cleansing.

Tea fans will love Teh Tarik Twist – a grown-up version of brewed local black tea laced with spice-infused rum, condensed milk, cardamom, and cinnamon stick. Irresistibly potent so go easy on this.

Blending classic cocktail with local coffee gives rise to Kopi O – White Russian; mixing Absolut Vodka and Kahlúa with condensed milk, strong local black coffee, and coffee beans.

It’s only befitting local fresh coconut takes centrestage, to create a beach-worthy Coco-Mojito. Here, fresh coconut is married with Nusa Caña Rum, lime syrup, mint leaves, and fresh coconut water. Panacea for our sweltering weather yo.

Ginger loving drinkers will enjoy Twice As Nice at 137: an ingenious concoction of ginger-infused rum, sliced ginger, lemongrass, calamansi lime and orange curaçao, with a dash of Angostura bitters.

Bar 137 should be your port of call when visiting Courtyard by Marriott KL South, be it for personal or corporate entertaining purpose. The cool laidback vibes is perfect for date nights, convivial gatherings and casual way to welcome the weekend. 

 

MERENTASI TRADISI@PENTAS CITARASA MARRIOTT PUTRAJAYA

Local, global and fusion fare will take centerstage throughout the Ramadan month at Zest Lifestyle Restaurant’s Merentasi Tradisi di Pentas Citarasa, from 2 – 30 March.

Welcoming and festive vibes abound as you step into the spacious, warmly lit interior. crafting memorable meals while embracing the spirit of the holy month. Executive Chef Zulkifli Asyul wants to ensure guests enjoy the best possible iftar meals hence his team will pull out the stops in serving up an expansive feast come buka puasa time.

BoomGrow, an innovative AgriTech startup dedicated to sustainable food production, has also partnered with Putrajaya Marriott Hotel; bringing a health-conscious twist to the dining experience. Give BoomGrow’s healthy shot — an energizing blend of electrolytes, Vitamin C, and protein, enhanced with sustainably sourced wheatgrass a go. The specially crafted shot is designed to support hydration, ideal for Iftar.

 

A tantalising array of Malay and Thai Kerabu (think Som Tam, Pomelo Salad) beckon invitingly alongside Continental salads and appetisers such as Smoked Salmon, Chicken and Duck, Cold Roast Beef, Beef Pastrami, and Poached Salmon.

More exotic offerings spanning Middle Eastern Mezze and Breads, Japanese Kushiyaki and Tempura, Thai Steamed Fish with Coconut Cream and Fried Fish Cake, to Italian Pizza and Pasta options add international allure to the line-up.

 

Definite crowd-pullers featuring deliciously rich, well-spiced dishes in large woks billed as Nostalgia 7 Kawah should be worth savouring. You’d find chunks of chicken, duck, beef ribs, and oxtail painstakingly cooked until tender and flavourful; superb with rice and vegetables.

 

Equally compelling will be familiar dishes of Ikan Bakar, Seafood with Spicy Sauce, Ayam Panggang, Kambing Masak Hitam, Pucuk Ubi Masak Lemak Ikan Masin, Siput Sedut Lemak Cili Api, Kambing Semur Kicap, Ayam Masak Merah, Mee Rebus with Mutton Shin Bones, Ayam Penyet, Fish Asam Pedas and Nasi Biryani.

 

True to Malaysia’s multi-racial spirit, a multitude of Indian curries, and snacks as well as Chinese wok specialities: Fried Dim Sum and Radish Cake have been included.

The sweet parade is unrivalled too: take your pick from freshly opened durians (look out for the stall by the open patio area) to stalls dispensing freshly made Apam Balik and Ais Kacang should leave sweet-toothed guests on a sublime sugary high.

 

If fruits and cakes are your preference, make a beeline for the jaw-dropping dessert section laden with sweet Bubur Kacang, Serawa Durian, Date Flan, Red Velvet Cake, Fruity Puddings, French Pastries and Fresh Tropical Fruits among lots of other luscious creations. A sweet ending is inevitable.

 

Early bird booking between now and 28 February will enjoy a special rate of RM168 nett per adult and RM84 nett per child. The normal price will be RM218 nett per adult and RM109 nett per child respectively.

For reservations at Putrajaya Marriott Hotel, call tel: 03-8949 8888 x 1888 or WhatsApp: +6011 5685 5608 or email
dining.putrajaya@marriotthotels.com