MALAY FLAVOURS LEND SHINE AT MADAM LEE

Chef de Cuisine Rizal Sobry has joined hands with Executive Chef Irwan Sutan Chairul to extend the Peranakan palette at Madam Lee Nyonya Private Dining — incorporating timeless Malay recipes with depth, fire and fragrance intact.

The introduction of Malay culinary classics feels more like a homecoming, bringing quiet comfort to the menu. Nestled amidst the grounds of Palm Garden Hotel Putrajaya, the restaurant's recessed shelves decked with Peranakan ceramics segue to a soaring high ceiling space and a grand staircase leading to an airy dining space.

Warm and welcoming, we dip and sip on Singgang Seafood Soup (RM30), a coconut milk-based broth cradling prawns, squid, clams, fish and tender vegetables. Modest in appearance but rich in spirit, the creamy and subtly tangy soup leans in with whispers of lemongrass and sweet brine of the sea.

 

Pie Tie (RM28), those crisp little top hats of jicama, mushroom, egg and prawn; Loh Bak (RM25), deep-fried beancurd sheet rolls of meat, vegetables and spices; and Otak-otak (RM25), spiced fish mousse served chilled are ubiquitous mainstays to tickle the tastebuds.

Soft and yielding smoked beef in a golden pool of turmeric and coconut milk—thick, perfumed and almost pastoral in its richness makes the Daging Salai Masak Lemak (RM48) notable. You taste the smokiness first, then the heat of chilli and spices followed by the grassy-citrusy scent of turmeric leaf. It clings to the beef, then lingers long after you’ve set your spoon down.

If that was a murmur, the Paru Sambal Cili Api (RM45) was a roar. Slightly chewy beef lung slices, swimming in a biting-hot bird’s eye chilli sambal, is not a dish for the faint-hearted. But die-hard fans will love it for its fierce honesty.

Take the edge off with Ikan Masak Kicap (RM58), trad fried red snapper doused in a bewitchingly dark sweet-savoury soy glaze. You’d delight in the mellow, gently spiced sauce; sweet at the edges—perfect to go with plain white rice.

 
More amicable options, easy on the tastebuds include golden-skinned Ayam Goreng Berempah (RM32), its spice coating adding appeal to the chook; Chap Chye (RM28), the homey mixed vegetable milieu that tastes like something your Nyonya grandmother might dish up; and a robust, deeply comforting Nyonya Fried Rice.

 
Dessert is whimsical and tropical—Sago Cha Cha with Taro Ice Cream (RM18), creamy and cool on the tongue; and rich yet sticky Pineapple Pulut Hitam Crème Brûlée (RM26), with just the right crackle of burnt sugar on top.

 

At Madam Lee, the spices may flare, the sauces may cling, but there’s always grace in the telling and old flavours bloom anew.
 
For reservations, call Madam Lee Nyonya Private Dining, tel:03-8943 2233 or visit https://www.madamleenyonya.com/
Address: Palm Garden Hotel, Putrajaya, IOI Resort City, Putrajaya

ATLANTIS DIVES INTO FEASTS FOR GENERATIONS

Designed to serve a familial clan of up to 20 persons, the Generation of Jubilation set menu (RM4,388++) by Atlantis Seafood Restaurant & Bar is more than a lavish banquet — it’s a celebration of legacy, family bonds and specialities that balances between tradition and indulgence.

 

The opening salvo of Forever Grateful Platter featuring a quartet of starters: Deep Fried Lychee Shrimp Balls, Salt & Pepper Abalone, Crispy Scallops with Wasabi and Mayonnaise, and Braised Fish Roe Prosperity Bag, is richly infused with symbolism.  

Coated in puffed rice crisps, the lychee-shaped shrimp balls deliver a satisfying crunch with subtle sweetness, playing on contrasts of texture and flavour. Ebikko and wasabi mayo lend the Crispy Scallop a lightly creamy touch with the fresh punchy spiciness of wasabi.

Translucent, eggy sauce enhances the Braised Fish Roe Prosperity Bag – a beancurd skin pouch stuffed with fish roe-accented fish paste shines the light on subtler tastes and delicate textures. Sheathed in deep-fried batter, the Salt and Pepper Abalone teases the tastebuds with its toothsome texture and mildly briny nuance.

A soulful clear broth packed with meaty chicken, chicken feet, cep mushroom and the ethically controversial shark’s fin in the Double Boiled Chicken Soup with Shark’s Fin underscores the menu’s adherence to classic banquet fare. A dish to evoke nostalgia and the weight of old-school tradition.

Choi poh or preserved radish adds comfortingly earthy depth to Steamed Soon Hock with Preserved Radish. 

Steamed to just right doneness, the dish is a masterclass in Cantonese technique. Dried shrimp and chopped bird’s eye chillies dial up the flavour dimension further.

Rich and decadent, the Baked Canadian Oyster with Black Truffle and Cheese should appeal to the young and young-at-heart.

The Double-Delight Crispy Chicken lives up to its name with chicken prepared two ways: deep-fried bite-size chicken coated with mayo, and well-rendered chicken skin stuffed with prawn-fish paste and almond flakes.

 

Whilst the former is underwhelming for me, the latter – a mainstay from yesteryear banquet – wins the day. Special mention must be made of the accompanying pickled cherry; the tangy-salty-sweetness is marvellous for alleviating any cloying richness.

More Cantonese influences appear in the Stir-Fried Australian Scallops with Truffle and Mixed Vegetables, highlighting a refreshing balance of clear, distinct accents to the overall meal.

 

For a hearty finale, the Longevity Egg Noodles with Three Shredded Meats offer is a perennial trans-generational favourite. Loaded with beansprouts, shredded chicken and mushroom, the saucy noodles will leave everyone replete.

 

Dessert to sweeten the occasion consists of cool, gelatinous, and subtly sweet Double-Boiled Hasma with Peach Gum and Red Dates, paired with fluffy soft Longevity Peach Buns—a nod to good health and long life. Perfect for rounding off the meal with such splendid treats.

Overall, the Generation of Jubilation is a well-crafted menu that is cohesive and celebratory—perfect for marking milestones with loved ones.

Guests who pre-book the two set menus: Generation of Jubilation (RM4,388++ for 20 persons) and Generation of Joy (RM1,788++ for 10 persons; RM1,248++ for 6 persons) will receive a complimentary family portrait to commemorate the occasion.

Exclusive for Jom Makan Life readers: Quote MD02 to enjoy 5% off the Parents' Day menus with your reservations at Atlantis.

For reservations at Atlantis Seafood Restaurant & Bar, please contact: 011-2888 1544. Address: Ground Floor, Life Centre, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur.