Lexis Suites

Special thanks to Lexis Suites Penang for extending this event invitation.

Lexis Suites Penang is a hotel under Lexis Hotel Group, which also operates 3 more resorts in Port Dickson: Lexis Hibiscus, Grand Lexis and Lexis. This evening, Lexis Suites Penang hosts its first Media & Bloggers Appreciation Night at the Hibiscus Grand Ballroom. With 554 square meters of space, the ballroom can accommodate over 40 tables in a banquet configuration.

Lexis Suites takes this opportunity to showcase its new Japanese wedding concept, an idea which is still in the stage of infancy in Malaysia. As an alternative to the mainstream Chinese wedding banquet, this new theme introduces Japanese elements into the arrangement of dining tables, serving counters and decorations.

Should marriage couple prefer, the hotel can also set the wedding event outdoors - on the lawn with scenic views of the sea.

Japanese cuisine usually revolves around seafood. Therefore, it is customary to serve chilled seafood such as snow crabs, mussels, scallops and shrimps.

There are also makizushi (巻きずし) and nigirizushi (握り寿司) with seafood toppings such as salmon (サーモン), yellowtail (はまち), shrimp (海老), squid (イカ) and tuna (マグロ). The sushi chef can also prepare sashimi (刺身) upon request.

Yakitori (焼き鳥) is skewered chicken breast and scallion (ねぎ). The chicken is basted with teriyaki sauce and then grilled over fire. Sweet and savory, yakitori is well-received by Malaysians in general.

In Japan, shioyaki (塩焼き) or salt-grilling is generally more popular as Japanese people have milder palate. Prawn Shioyaki (海老の塩焼き) is served today. In a typical Japanese izakaya (居酒屋), shioyaki is often paired with alcohol.

Oden (おでん) is traditionally a winter dish of fishcakes cooked in light dashi (出汁) broth. Other popular Japanese delicacies are Tori Katsu (とりカツ), Garlic Fried Rice (ニンニクチャーハン) and Teppanyaki (鉄板焼き).

Today's event also features Japanese desserts such as Sakura Jelly With Green Tea Mousse (桜ゼリーと抹茶ムース) and Omochi Cone (お餅コーン).

Japanese pastries include Red Bean Cheese Cake (小豆のチーズケーキ) and Matcha Macaron (抹茶のマカロン).

Today's coffee is brewed from beans roasted by Arabica Estate. Coffee is extracted using an espresso machine, but I think it would be nice to have drip-brewed coffee as well. After all, the Japanese are renowned for their expertise in brewing coffee.

Roselle is named after the hotel's titular restaurant at the Mezzanine Floor. This cold beverage is blended from roselle syrup, milk and ice. The drink still has chunky pieces of ice - not homogeneously slushy as I would prefer. Instead of a blender, I think an ice shaver or snow flake machine should work better.

As for cocktails, Umi Bubble is concocted from Japanese dry sake (酒), Monin liqueur, cherry blossom and soda water. If you prefer non-alcoholic mocktails, the Umi Breeze is available too. These two drinks are currently served at Umi Japanese Restaurant, after which they are named.

Lexis Suites provides comprehensive wedding packages (not limited to Japanese theme) that can include the marriage ceremony, wedding reception, banquet, photography, entertainment, hotel stay and spa treatment.

Name: Lexis Suites Penang
Address: 28, Jalan Teluk Kumbar, 11920 Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang
Contact: 04-628-2888
Business hours: 24 hours
Website: http://www.lexissuitespenang.com
Coordinates: 5.28698 N, 100.23265 E
Directions: From Bayan Lepas, drive along Jalan Teluk Kumbar towards the intersection with Jalan Gertak Sanggul. Lexis Suites Penang is the tall building on the left just before the intersection. As the only building more than 3 floors in Teluk Kumbar, it is impossible to overlook this hotel. There are parking spaces inside the hotel.