HOTELS in the northern region have their hands full as they now host their first major breaking of fast promotions after two years of lockdowns and crowd control.
Although the seating capacity continued to be reduced owing to the physical distancing requirements of the Health Ministry, the head chefs and chefs de partie are kept busy as Ramadan entered its third week of observations, abstinence as well as sacrifices.
The Vibes northern bureau has compiled a short list of hotels offering special promotions based on their pricing.
The Adya Hotel in Langkawi offers among the cheapest buka puasa spreads around – at RM49 per person – with its signature dish of the bubuk lembuk (broth) and an all-time diners' favourite of roasted chicken and lamb delicacies.
A close second is The Star City Hotel in the Kedah capital of Alor Setar. Their buffet is priced at RM50 with a signature dish of grilled lamb followed by a yummy favourite of golem lamb among the diners there.
The Bayview Georgetown property, which ranks as among the oldest hotels in Penang, is offering its buka puasa at RM88, driven by its signature dish of the Malay speciality of ayam masak merah and surprisingly, it has diners raving over its Thai tom yam soup.
Over at Bukit Mertajam, the Iconic Hotel is offering its buffet at RM98 with the signature dishes of ayam bakar pasu and ketam masak lemak cili padi nenas with a favourite among the diners devoted to its spread of western and local desserts.
The G Hotel Kelawei off Gurney Drive is promoting its breaking of fast buffet at RM99 with a perennial signature dish of its nasi kandar spread while their customers' taste buds go for the favourite Malay dessert dish of pumpkin pengat.
There is a tie in prices between the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel with The Light Hotel in Seberang Jaya with both pricing their sumptuous spread at RM118. At Double Tree, the signature is the Malay dish of kerabu udang while its pasembur is slowly building up a following during Ramadan. Whereas at The Light, it is their lamb shank as its signature offering with a favourite among the mainlanders in Penang, nasi briyani – an all-time Malaysian craving.
The Lexis Suites Hotel in Teluk Kumbar is selling their spread at RM120 with its signature Malay dish of mee kari ketam and a rave among the diners of sup gearbox – a concoction of various meats lumped and boiled together. The special promotion is until the end of Ramadan, or May 2.
The Malaysian Association of Hotels Kedah/Perlis chapter chairman Eugene Alan Dass encourages people to patronise the hotels for their various promotions and special menu, which is more challenging to cook up this year due to the ill effects of Covid-19.
"While we eat to our heart's content, let us also be mindful of the need for a balanced diet and to build our immunity in this age of the pandemic," said Dass, as hotels here lend their voice to the need to curb food wastage. – The Vibes, April 17, 2022
