Break fast with a soupy treat

Soft and tender rendang is a must on the Ramadan menu.

ONE of the things many diners look forward to during Ramadan is hearty gearbox soup that is often found on buffets.

As you enter the Coffee House at Sunway Putra Hotel Kuala Lumpur, the first thing that catches the eye is the gearbox soup corner with its enticing aroma.

The hotel’s signature and flavourful soup, kept in a large stainless steel pot over slow fire, is prepared using an in-house recipe.

Guests can add on condiments like blanched beef stomach or beef bone marrow to top off the meat portion served when the soup is scooped up.

Ayam Madu Berempah is sweet and spicy.

A squeeze of lime adds a tangy flavour to the soup with soft buns available for those who want them.

The hotel will be offering more than 100 dishes featuring some signature items.

Executive chef Madhavan Valauthan said the gearbox soup was not too oily.

Breaded chicken chop for a Western flavour during the break of fast.

“We use fresh spices to make the spice paste and our soup is slightly thicker compared to others,” said Madhavan, who has over 27 years in the culinary field.

Not to be missed is the Mongolian barbecue lamb, which earned the hotel an award during a culinary competition in Thailand.

Australian lamb is marinated in 12 types of herbs for over six hours prior to cooking.

Salmon Fish Head Curry.

Most Malaysians enjoy their barbecue and to cater to the demand, the buffet will offer various types of meat and seafood barbecue.

Twelve action stalls including a grill corner will leave guests spoilt for choice.

There is also Salmon Fish Head Curry and local kampung flavours such as Masak Lemak Cili Api, laksa utara, Daging Masak Lemak Cili Padi and Ikan Patin Masak Tempoyak.

Appetisers consist of various kerabu (local salad) such as Kerabu Jantung Pisang, Kerabu Lala Pedas as well as ulam, pickles and snow peas salads.

Madhavan (left) and chef Mohd Saharuddin Nasran with some of the dishes prepared for the upcoming Ramadan buffet.

If you love kuih talam, there are 10 types such as talam keladi, talam seri muka, talam lapis, talam lapis pelangi, talam pandan, talam gula Melaka and talam jagung, including other Malay kuih.

It took the kitchen team a month to finalise the menu.

“Guests complimented our barbecued lamb and gearbox soup in previous years.

Gearbox soup with assorted meat and condiments.

“We included them for this year’s spread and we hope our repeat customers and new guests enjoy our buffet,” said executive chef Rossham Rusli, who had a hand in the Ramadan menu.

The buffet, priced at RM108 nett per person, is available from May 15 to June 4 from 6pm onwards. The hotel’s function rooms can cater to corporate companies or large groups.

COFFEE HOUSE, Ramadan Sunway Putra Hotel Kuala Lumpur, 100 Jalan Putra, Kuala Lumpur. (Tel: [phone]). Business hours: 6am to 10.30pm, daily.

This is the writer’s personal observation and not an endorsement by StarMetro.