Special thanks to The Wembley for extending this food review invitation.
This evening, The Wembley offers a preview of its Ramadan buffet dinner. Held at Wembley Cafe, the buffet runs from 31 May 2018 to 14 June 2018. In the spirit of the upcoming festive season, the restaurant is decorated with Malay ornaments like colorful tablecloths with floral motif.
Kurma (palm dates) is customarily the first item to be eaten when breaking fast. Meanwhile, ulam choices include daun selom (selom leaves), daun pegaga (Asiatic pennywort leaves), kacang botol (winged beans), jantung pisang (banana flower) and kacang panjang (yardlong beans). The raw vegetables are typically eaten with condiments like sambal belacan (spicy shrimp paste), sambal kicap (spicy soy sauce) and budu (fermented anchovies).
Bubur Lambuk is an essential rice porridge during iftar meals. The congee is seasoned with herbs and spices, and then topped with fried shallots and chopped scallions. Meanwhile, Gearbox Soup is enjoyed for its rich taste. On the other hand, I feel that the Mushroom Soup is on the saltier side of my preference.
As for finger food, satay is the obvious crowd favorite. Marinated with turmeric, the skewered chicken and beef are barbecued, and then served with sweet-spicy peanut sauce. Other appetizers are fried fish fritters, papadom and fish crackers.
Lamb Kuzi is presented at the carvery section. The lamb shank, roasted to perfection, is served with flavorful Arabic spices. I love the multi-layered taste that lamb as to offer. The Lamb Kuzi also comes with grilled vegetables and nasi briyani (Indian mixed rice).
Chicken Percik is a traditional recipe from Kelantan. The roasted chicken is dressed in gravy which contains coconut milk and spices. The dish is succulent indeed.
Ayam Masak Lemak Cili Api is another interesting poultry dish. The chicken is served with creamy gravy which contains coconut milk and spices. Its yellowish color comes from kunyit (turmeric).
I am quite impressed by the Baked Scallops. Gratinéed with spicy mayonnaise, the large scallops are satisfying to my palate. I cannot recommend this dish highly enough.
Next, Wok-Fried Prawns are cooked with aromatic curry paste. The curry’s fiery taste lingers on the tongue for quite a while. This dish is cooked with tomatoes and bell peppers.
Still on the topic of seafood, Sotong Masak Kunyit is stir-fried in turmeric-based sauce. I love the springy texture of squid; it is neither too tough nor too rubbery.
Diners who appreciate Peranakan recipes should try the Fish With Nyonya Curry. Today’s choice of fish is sea bass. The fish’s tenderness and the gravy’s creaminess complement each other harmoniously.
Japanese food is a regular element of Wembley Cafe’s menu. Sushi (寿司) comes in various forms including nigiri (握り), maki (巻き) and gunkan (軍艦). As for sashimi (刺身), there are salmon (サーモン), tuna (マグロ) and octopus (タコ). There are also seasoned jellyfish (中華クラゲ), seasoned baby octopus (中華イイダコ) and seasoned seaweed (中華ワカメ).
Moving to the dairy section, several types of cheese are prepared today: cheddar, blue cheese, camembert and gouda. Crackers, grapes and pickled fruits are provided to go with cheese.
Wembley Cafe is introducing Puteri Bersiram for this Ramadan season. Puteri Bersiram literally translates to “bathing princess”. The marble-size balls, made from glutinous rice flour, are similar in appearance and texture to tangyuan (汤圆). There are 3 types of filling: gula melaka (palm sugar), grated coconut and durian paste. The sweet snack is served in sweet, creamy soup based on coconut milk.
Malaysians’ infatuation with durians should not be understated. The Wembley’s pastry team has prepared a number of durian delicacies to satisfy everyone’s durian cravings. The durian cheesecake has an extremely rich taste and creamy mouthfeel, making it one of the major highlights this evening. Also prepared are durian cream puffs and durian tartlets.
Éclair is an oblong pastry that is filled with cream. This French treat means “flash of lightning” because it is meant to be eaten quickly. Other Western cakes this evening are Red Velvet Cake and Poppy Seed Cheese Cake. Of course, a Ramadan dinner must also include traditional delicacies like ketupat, lemang and kuih Melayu.
Passion fruit, nangka (jackfruit), pitaya (dragon fruit) and watermelon are some of the assorted fruits at the buffet counter. Penang rojak is also available. As for drinks, there are sirap bandung (rose-flavored milk), air limau kasturi (calamansi juice) and sirap ros (rose syrup).
Diners who wish to end the meal on a sweet note can try some ice cream. Chocolate, vanilla and strawberry flavors are available. Aiskrim potong (popsicle) is also quite popular especially among youngsters. Last but not least, the chocolate fondue allows guests to satiate their sugar cravings.
The Wembley’s Ramadan buffet dinner is priced at RM120.00 net for adults. Children and senior citizens only pay RM60.00 and RM84.00 respectively. For a limited time, the hotel is offering early bird vouchers for RM96.00 only. This promotion is available until 15 May 2018.
Name: Wembley Cafe
Address: 183, Jalan Magazine, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-259-8123
Business hours: 24 hours
Website: https://www.stgileshotels.com/hotels/malaysia/penang/stgiles-wembley/wembley-cafe
Coordinates: 5.41311 N, 100.32989 E
Directions: The Wembley is located at Magazine Road (Jalan Magazine), just opposite of Hotel Jen and 1st Avenue Mall. Wembley Cafe is located at Level 2 of the hotel. There is a multilevel parking garage at the hotel. Patrons to Wembley Cafe can get their parking tickets validated for a flat rate of RM6.00 per entry.