I DON’T know about the average spa-goer but I tend to get hungry after lengthy massage sessions.
And when hunger pangs strike after a spa session, there are usually very few options a spa-goer has to whet his or her appetite.
Although most spas offer a range of rejuvenating juices and teas before and after treatments, not many offer food as well.
In an effort to complement their treatments’s Avi Spa recently launched a spa “food” menu featuring a selection of refreshing juices and nutritious nibbles.
Hotel assistant general manager Gared Mario Cubinar said introducing food to the spa provided additional value to customers.
“Our spa has been operating for five years and during this time, all we offered guests besides treatments were just drinks.
“We’re taking it a step further now by adding healthy food options as well,” he said.
Cubinar said the food was prepared by the hotel’s main kitchen and served at the spa – a stand-alone building on the property that also offers a panoramic view of the sea.
“The new menu is not just for spa guests, we are also introducing these healthier food choices to our regular guests, including participants of meetings and conventions held at the resort.
“Our aim is to educate guests on the importance of a nutritious and balanced diet,” he said.
Since launching its spa food menu, the hotel has also opened the spa for walk-in lunch guests.
“Though we still serve snacks and juices in the evening, the main emphasis is lunch and we’re open for business from 11.30am to 2.30pm daily for lunch,” added Cubinar.
The cozy upstairs dining space, dubbed Avi Spa Lounge, is a great place to relax and unwind, and seats 30 guests per sitting.
Guilt-free salad: Fresh young spinach and asparagus salad with tahini dressing served with grilled pumpkin is among the healthy option soffered at Avi Spa Lounge.
Guests can also choose to take their food and drink outside and enjoy it at the spa’s Sunset Infinity Deck, an open-air deck adjacent to the spa and dining space.
Executive chef Chan Seng Hock, who was responsible for coming up with the healthy dishes, said it took six months of experimentation to devise the menu.
The emphasis of the fusion menu is on fresh flavours, and food that is good to eat and good for you.
“I pored over recipe books and food magazines for ideas and inspiration and worked together with my team until we got it right.
“Only the freshest ingredients go into our fare as we want customers to have the best,” he said.
The spa wellness menu includes a variety of hot and chilled soups and salads for starters, a selection of mains served with brown rice and lots of vegetarian options, all priced between RM22++ and RM28++.
Portions are big and enough for two to share.
Highlights include the chilled organic tofu with spicy minced prawn, pan seared sesame crusted ahi tuna with glace baby shallot, stir fried free-range chicken fillet with tempe, asparagus and capsicums, garden salad with fresh mushrooms and ricotta cheese and braised pumpkin soup.
I was lucky enough to sample all of the above and I must say it was definitely food for the soul.
And the best part – because the menu items are so healthy, it is possible to have a guilt-free meal with no cares about ruined diets.
Dessert is a platter of fresh fruit and to quench their thirst, guests have a range of smoothies, healthy juices and fruit spritzers to choose from.
Beverages are priced between RM15++ to RM18++.
I had the tropical madness smoothie – a delicious combination of pineapple, papaya, orange and yoghurt.
For the ultra health conscious, the green detox juice with green apple, celery and bittergourd is recommended.
Spa guests, however, can opt for a treatment package that already includes the wellness lunch and beverages.
The newly launched SPA-RTY package includes four hours of spa bliss, lunch and health drinks to detoxify and heal pre- and post-treatment.
For reservations for lunch or for a spa session, contact 06-647 6688 ext 8051.
