Smokey Seafood Special | A Lavish Hands On Seafood Adventure @ Amari SPICE Penang, Bayan Baru, Bayan Lepas, Penang

By : Chha

Seafood lovers, get ready to roll up your sleeves because this one is going to get deliciously messy in the best way possible ! The Smokey Seafood Special at Amaya Food Gallery, Amari SPICE Penang is here to turn your Friday and Saturday nights into a flavour packed adventure, this is not just a dinner. This is an experience where the most exciting part is you are not just picking seafood from a display but you are catching it yourself !

Yes, you read that right. Here, you get to “fish” your own live mud crabs and prawns straight from the tanks. The fun starts when you roll up your sleeves, point out your pick and watch it scooped fresh all by yourself. Once you have secured your catch, simply hand it over to the chefs and that is when the magic begins.

Whether you want it grilled till smoky perfection, steamed to keep it juicy or tossed in a fiery sambal, the choice is all yours. It is a personalised dining at its best with nothing frozen, nothing generic, just seafood as fresh as it gets.

Customise Your own Flavour at the D.I.Y. Sauce Station. Here is where things get even more fun. Instead of just settling for standard sauces, you are invited to take charge at the D.I.Y. Sauce Station. Want it super garlicky ? Go for the garlic butter. Feeling adventurous ? Mix some Thai lime and chilli with a dash of sambal for that sweet, spicy and tangy kick. The possibilities are endless where you can go classic, fusion or totally offbeat. And honestly, watching other diners create their own combinations is half the entertainment.

Buffet Beyond Seafood ! While the spotlight is definitely on the seafood, the buffet spread offers more than just ocean treasures. Think appetisers, soups, hearty mains and tempting dessert so that even your non seafood loving friends will have plenty to enjoy. But let’s be real, when you have got live crabs and prawns, it is hard to look at anything else !

From the wok the Char Kuey Teow was smoky the kind you would happily queue for at a hawker stall. The Pineapple Fried Rice brought a tropical sweetness that paired beautifully with its savoury base while the Kimchi Fried Rice was a nod to Korea with its punchy tangy heat. These fried rice goes really well with some of the main like their ‘Sinalau’ Smoked Stir-Fried Beef, the Stir Fried French Beans with XO Sauce packed a punch of umami and their ‘Wan Mamak’ Fish Head Curry was pure comfort of tangy, spicy and it all goes perfect with a plate of rice. Western comfort food also made its appearance like Mac and Cheese and Beef Penne Arrabiata with that bold tomato kick. The Indian corner was irresistible too like the Tandoori Chicken with its smoky charred edges, Potato Spinach Curry rich and hearty and Garlic Naan that was soft yet slightly crisp at the edges.

At the live action area you will see gleaming counters filled with fresh ingredients, sizzling grills giving off that irresistible smoky aroma and chefs moving with the confidence of people who really know their craft preparing your selected seafood fresh for you. It is a visual feast before you even take your first bite. The sound of spatulas hitting the grill, the gentle hiss when fresh seafood meets hot oil, the fragrant steam rising from a wok is all part of the sensory experience.

Since this is a seafood buffet, the entire Amaya Food Gallery is filled with seafood, apart from the live seafood section there are also seafood like Clams, Murex Snails, Escargot, Mussels, Oysters, Yabbies and Scallops. Each had its own personality, each worthy of attention. The oysters were fresh and briny, like taking a sip of the sea. The yabbies with their sweet, firm flesh, were such a treat. If you are a seafood fan this is the place to camp for a while.

A good buffet needs a good soup counter and here at Amari SPICE Penang, The Soup Stop is like a warm welcome hug in liquid form. This time, two very different personalities were simmering away in their pots. First up, the Mushroom Soup creamy, earthy and rich, with that deep aroma of sauteed mushrooms that just makes you slow down and savour. Then came its bold Sichuan Hot and Sour Soup. A fiery kick, a tangy twist and a whole lot of attitude in every spoonful.

After that seafood indulgence and needed something to cleanse the palate ? Amari SPICE Penang also prepared some freshly cut fruits like the Dragon Fruit and Sun Melon which is juicy, sweet and perfect as a mid buffet refresher. But right beside them was a little Malaysian gem the Kerabu Kacang Panjang. The long beans, tossed with chilli, lime and toasted coconut, brought a burst of tangy, spicy freshness. Other than that, to give more variety, Amari SPICE Penang got you covered with plenty of side dish to accompany the mains.

Food like Beef Salami and Smoked Duck sat proudly on wooden boards. A creamy Hummus bowl waited patiently, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with paprika, ready to be scooped up with fresh pita or crackers. Then came the Waldorf Salad, a refreshing bite with crunchy apples, celery and walnuts bound together in a light dressing. The Assorted Cheese Platter was an absolute dream. From mild brie to tangy blue cheese, paired with grapes and crackers, it was the perfect prelude to the heavier dishes that were about to follow.

Not forgetting their dessert wonderland ! Just when I thought I was done, the dessert section lured me in with its colours and aromas. Green Velvet and Red Velvet cakes stood tall and proud, while local favourites like Cucur Jawa and Apam Gula Hangus added a nostalgic touch. There were creamy Lime and Vanilla Mousses, elegant Classic Opera Cakes and playful Mix Flavour Jellies. The Assorted Mini Shooters were little bursts of flavour in tiny glasses and the Chocolate Brownies were dense, rich and just sweet enough. The Mixed Berries Tart brought a refreshing tang, while the Cinnamon Apple Crumble Tart was comforting like a hug in dessert form.