Special thanks to The Light Hotel for extending this food review invitation.
The Light Hotel is a 5-star hotel near Sunway Carnival Mall. This evening, the hotel is hosting a preview of the upcoming Ramadan buffet dinner. Held at Spice Brasserie, the dinner is themed “Khazanah Sajian Nusantara”.
The Light Hotel is highlighting Minangkabau dishes this year. Served in kawah (Malay woks) are Gulai Ikan Talang, Sotong Sumbat, Telur Masak Lemak, Lala Goreng Kunyit and Asam Pedas Ikan Pari. To hit the point harder, the hotel has also erected a miniature rumah gadang (traditional Minangkabau house) at the lobby.
Daging Rendang Minang is another Minangkabau delicacy. To prepare this savory dish, beef is cooked with coconut milk and spices for several hours until most liquid has evaporated. Today, rendang is so popular that the recipe appears in every Malay cookbook.
Kari Kepala Ikan is one of the hotel’s signature dishes. The fish of choice is red snapper. Fish head is cooked in a rich curry that tantalizes the taste buds. Okra (lady’s fingers) are used too. I love the elegant presentation of this dish.
Kari Kepala Ikan goes very well with rice. To this end, two savory rice dishes are prepared: Briyani Kambing and Chicken Bukhari. The former is cooked with succulent chunks of mutton. The dish is also garnished with sultanas, raisins, cashew nuts, cherry tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs and coriander.
Chili Crab is another specialty dish at The Light Hotel. Flower crabs are cooked with thick sauce made from tomato sauce and chili sauce. Although the crabs do not provide much meat, the main appeal comes from the tangy sauce. This dish is mildly spicy by Malaysian standards.
Kambing Keema is prepared from finely chopped mutton seasoned with spices. Thanks to the lovely marinade, the mutton is extremely savory. In addition, I love the chewy texture of pita bread that comes with Kambing Keema.
As for something gentler, Nyonya Fish is a recommended choice. Steamed sea bass is dressed with Nyonya-style gravy that does not overwhelm the palate. I also appreciate the fish’s firm texture.
Kambing Percik Minang is among the popular delicacies this evening. The whole goat is marinated for a day, and then baked in an oven until it turns golden brown. The rotisserie mutton is best enjoyed with black pepper sauce.
Speaking of rotisserie meats, the buffet spread includes a tandoori section too. Tandoori comes in various colors depending on seasoning. For instance red color comes from red chili, while green color is derived from mint and coriander. Also available are shish kebab, Kashmiri naan, garlic naan and mint chutney.
Sri Lankan Spring Rolls are flatbreads that are wound in a spiral. The dough contains chocolate sauce or peanut sauce. I am also delighted by Chicken Bonda which is filled with minced chicken and onions.
Moving on, the chicken rice stall serves roast chicken, roast duck, char siew chicken and soy egg. The rice is aromatic because it is cooked with chicken stock. Popular condiments for chicken rice are chili sauce, sweet sauce and spicy soy sauce.
Last but not least, the desserts section presents a plethora of pastries to delight one’s sweet tooth. The pastry menu strikes a balance between Western cakes and Malay kuih. My personal favorite is bubur durian, a sweet porridge prepared from actual durians.
The Light Hotel’s buffet price is RM110.00 net for adults, and RM90.00 net for children and senior citizens. Throughout the evening, the restaurant’s ambience is lifted by live music performance by the Rayyan Band. Alternative dining choices during this festive season are A La Santai Buffet Dinner and Biryani Dome Set.
Name: Spice Brasserie
Address: The Light Hotel, Lebuh Tenggiri 2, Pusat Bandar Seberang Jaya, 13700 Seberang Jaya, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-382-1111
Business hours: 6:00am-11:00pm (Sunday-Thursday), 6:00am-1:00am (Friday-Saturday)
Website: http://thelighthotelpg.com/dining
Coordinates: 5.39434 N, 100.39868 E
Directions: From Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan (North-South Expressway), take the Seberang Jaya exit and head west. Turn left just before the pedestrian bridge and drive all the way to the end. When the road splits, keep right. The Light Hotel is the first building on the left. Spice Brasserie is located next to the lobby. There are parking spaces within the hotel’s compound. The parking fee is RM4.00 per entry.