Treasures from the sea

Array of seafood on ice at The Atrium, Petaling Jaya Marriott Hotel.

PJ hotel’s weekend buffet highlights bounties from Straits of Malacca, Kuala Selangor, Sabah

Malaysian diners are always keen to enjoy a spread that celebrates our maritime bounty.

Set within The Atrium, Petaling Jaya Marriott Hotel has stepped up with premium weekend buffet that pays tributes to the Straits of Malacca, the fishing villages of Kuala Selangor and the pristine waters of Sabah.

Whole Siakap Pulau Ketam Coulibiac.

Executive chef Dennie Yudie Darmawan Samsuardi said local seafood was the main drive behind the buffet.

What makes the buffet stand out is the hotel’s commitment to local sourcing, blended with premium international imports.

Dennie at the live cooking station with premium crustaceans.

The journey begins at the chilled station, where sashimi-­grade fish flown in from Japan sits alongside freshly shucked oysters and mussels.

However, the showstopper is the Mud Crab Duet.

Sambal Udang Berlado.

A Malaysian seafood feast cannot be without the classic Chili Crab. At The Atrium, it’s served with a tomato-chili sauce and golden mantau to soak up every drop. Its counterpart, the Creamy Salted Duck Egg Crab, offers a velvety, rich alternative.

For those seeking something unique, the Steamed Mussels with Ginger, Saffron and Chili Broth, and Roast Salmon with Orange and Radicchio offers an aromatic, elevated take on shellfish that feels light and luxurious.

Italian seafood salad with fresh basil and rustic buffalo mozzarella.

One of the buffet’s most inventive dishes is the Lumpia Basah seafood. This isn’t your average spring roll; it is a trea­sure chest of prawn, crab, mussels, oysters, squid, smoked salmon, cockles, lobster, yabbies and tuna, all wrapped in a delicate skin, drizzled with a zingy sweet chili sauce.

The carving station also holds a surprise: Whole Siakap Pulau Ketam Coulibiac. For local flavour, the seabass is encased in a rock salt crust with herb butter, served with a bright, creamy lime sauce that cuts through the richness beautifully.

Roast Salmon with Orange and Radicchio.

For those who crave spice and rice, the Crab Briyani is a revelation. Fluffy, fragrant and studded with crabmeat, it is best enjoyed with a dollop of mint raita and a sprinkle of fried onions.

The live cooking station has a premium crustacean counter, where you can hand-pick succulent prawns, crabs or stingray and decide their presentation: Creamy Butter, Five Spice, Salted Egg, or Spicy Chili.

Prawn mango cocktail with baby spinach and bell peppers.

The Malaysia Heritage Corner provides comforting bowls of Laksa Kedah and Prawn Mee, alongside a lively Skewer Station with eight signature dipping sauces that reflect our multicultural cuisine.

For dessert, the Durian Crepe Suzette provides a decadent end to the night, while the freshly torched Creme Brulee and traditional Malaysian kuih deliver a familiar, nostalgic sweetness.

Priced at RM188nett (adult), RM128nett (senior citizens) and RM65nett (child), the buffet is available every Saturday from 6.30pm to 10pm.

Lumpia Basah seafood.

For reservations, call or WhatsApp [phone].

THE ATRIUM, Petaling Jaya Marriott Hotel, Jalan 16/11, Section 16, Petaling Jaya. Tel: [phone]. Business hours: 6.30pm-11pm.

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