SICC TAKES RAMADAN DINING TO NEW HEIGHTS WITH 850-DISH GASTRONOMIC BUFFET

By Syed Iylia Hariz Al-Qadri Syed Izman

KOTA KINABALU, March 6 (Bernama) -- A staggering 850 dishes at a single Ramadan buffet may sound almost impossible, but the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) has turned the bold concept into reality, attracting crowds of diners each night throughout the fasting month.

The scale of the spread demands equally large-scale preparation, with about a tonne of prawns needed over the three-week period of Ramadan, while around six whole lambs are prepared each night to serve diners.

Despite the seemingly overwhelming figures, the inspiration for the buffet began from a personal experience.

SICC chief executive officer Datuk Dr Rosmawati Lasuki said the idea emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, when travel restrictions prevented her from leaving Sabah, inspiring her to introduce a new dining experience closer to home.

She recalled that before the pandemic, she would typically spend about 10 days in Kuala Lumpur each Ramadan, sampling the variety of buffet dishes offered at renowned hotels.

“During the COVID period, I realised there might be others like me, who longed for a variety of dishes to break their fast.

“It all began in 2021, when we offered only 250 dishes. By 2024, the strong response each year inspired us to expand the buffet to 850 dishes,” she told Bernama recently.

According to Rosmawati, the large-scale buffet was carefully prepared to showcase Sabah’s rich culinary diversity, featuring dishes from more than 40 local ethnic groups, alongside offerings from Peninsular Malaysia and around the world.

She said the effort also drew global recognition, with SICC earning a place in the Asia Book of Records 2023 for serving the widest selection of international dishes under one roof.

Rosmawati added that beyond its impressive scale, the buffet provided economic opportunities for local entrepreneurs through a ‘farm-to-table’ concept, with ingredients sourced directly from local farmers and small businesses.

According to her, the programme was also carried out in collaboration with several government agencies, including the Department of Agriculture Malaysia, the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority, the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia, the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, the Farmers' Organisations Authority, and Sabah Fish Marketing Sdn Bhd.

She said the partnership allowed local agricultural and seafood products to be used in preparing the buffet dishes, helping to open new market opportunities and boost income for farmers, fishermen, and entrepreneurs.

Rosmawati added that the initiative not only ensured the freshness of the dishes served, but also strengthened the local supply chain and supported small enterprises in the hospitality sector.

She said that as of the 15th day of Ramadan, the buffet was drawing more than 1,000 visitors each night from a total capacity of about 1,700 people.

The buffet is offered at RM158 for adults, with senior citizens aged 60 and above enjoying a discounted rate of RM108, and children aged seven to 12 charged RM70.

Rosmawati said the large-scale buffet concept was not only about serving meals for breaking the fast, but also about creating a welcoming gathering space for Sabah’s multi-racial community.

According to her, the buffet concept has the potential to evolve into a gastronomic tourism attraction, promoting Sabah’s diverse food culture to foreign visitors.

--BERNAMA