ID :
292276
Tue, 07/09/2013 - 06:26
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/292276
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Star Cruise Opens Halal Restaurant For Muslim Cruise Vacationers
From Ali Imran Mohd Noordin
GEORGETOWN (Penang, Malaysia), July 9 (Bernama) -- Holidays aboard a cruise
ship are hardly new in the tourism industry, but somehow, it has yet to attract
much attention from Muslim tourists, particularly from Malaysia.
Many factors are taken into account during the planning of a holiday, and
for Muslims, the issue of halal food is a major factor and the lack of interest
in cruise vacations stems from the uncertainty surrounding halal food served
aboard cruise ships.
Doubts about the food are not completely baseless as there has been no
certification so far by any authority on halal food served on cruise ships
although cruise operators do give their assurance.
Muslims in Malaysia are also attuned to ensuring that their food and
beverages are certified halal by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia,
also known as Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM).
Recently, a group of 71 media members were given the opportunity to join the
luxury ship SuperStar Libra on a cruise that not only covered the Pulau Pinang
(Penang)-Phuket-Krabi route but also established a halal restaurant onboard
the ship.
The event was jointly organised by tour agencies, namely Malaysian Harmony
Tour and Travel (MHTT), Star Cruises Travel Service (M) Sdn Bhd (Star Cruise)
and Santai Travel, to introduce and inform Muslim tourists in the country about
the certified halal food available on board the luxury liner.
The four-day, three-night cruise was filled with excitement and
entertainment led by Aznil Nawawi or Pak Nil, a popular local celebrity and
television personality.
KEEPING THE FOOD HALAL
Consuming only halal food is a strict practice among Muslims, and the
credibility of the chef or cook who is preparing the food is also taken into
account.
Muslims also need the assurance of adherence to halal principles on raw
foods that are being used in the cooking of chicken and meat.
Apart from that, patrons of Muslim restaurant also want to ensure that food
enhancers or flavours and even the pots, pans and plates are in line with halal
requirements. In fact, the utensils should not be mixed with those used in the
preparation of non-halal food.
SPICE RESTAURANT
It is in view of such requirements by Muslim tourists that Star Cruise, a
cruise ship operator, took steps to refurbish its SuperStar Libra ship to house
a halal restaurant.
Named Spice, the restaurant is located on the 10th deck of the ship and can
accommodate up to 70 customers at a given time.
The restaurant, which offers both set and buffet style meals, also has a
lounge area for guests to relax and unwind with their family and friends.
Cynthia Lee, Deputy President of Star Cruise Sales Division, said the
company is hoping to attract more Muslim tourists to take up cruise vacation
packages, especially after the launch of the restaurant.
"For a start, we want to attract Muslim tourists from this country and then
from other countries and regions such as Indonesia and the Middle East," she
said.
At the restaurant, more than 30 different dishes are displayed on the menu,
including rice dishes such as nasi kandar, nasi beryani, honeyed chicken, mutton
curry, mixed vegetables and local salads as well as deserts such as sago
pudding, ice cream and fresh fruits.
This writer's personal favourites were redfish curry, spicy prawns and the
special sambal belacan made by Chef Saifol Iskandar Ikhsan, who also manages the
restaurant.
ENDORSED BY JAKIM
The opening of Spice Restaurant, meanwhile, marks a new milestone for the
cruise operator in the global tourism industry, having acquired the halal status
for its restaurant from Jakim.
The idea of opening a restaurant came about when the Star Cruise management
realised that Muslims were not fond of taking up cruise vacation packages
because of the food served on cruise ships.
The Spice Restaurant was then set up in sync with all the halal regulations
set by Jakim.
Chef Saifol himself was responsible for all matters related to the
application of halal status to the restaurant.
The chef, who has been with Star Cruise for 15 years, admitted that while
the certification process was highly challenging, he was determined to continue
with efforts to ensure that the plan to open up a halal restaurant came to
fruition.
"It is not easy to get Jakim's endorsement. There are many rules to be
followed. The entire kitchen had to be revamped. We had to change the pots and
pans, plates, cutlery and dining sets to remove any lingering doubts.
"It was only after Jakim officials visited the ship several times that the
restaurant was certified of having met all the regulations," he said.
Meanwhile, raw food supplies for the restaurant are only sourced from
suppliers that have been endorsed by Jakim. Food supplies that are brought in
from Thailand during the stopover are also ensured of halal certification.
The halal certification in Thailand is provided by the Central Islamic
Committee of Thailand (CICOT), which is also endorsed by Jakim and is in the
list of overseas halal bodies that one can refer to at Jakim's official website
at http://www.halal.gov.my/v3/index.php/ms/senarai-badan-islam-yang-diiktiraf.
A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE
Our cruise began at Pulau Pinang, after which the ship called at Phuket
harbour. Here, tourists were allowed to tour the place and shop for nine hours.