The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, set in a hidden bay on the south west coast of Malaysia’s Jewel of Kedah, is to welcome Abby Lee, Chef Patron of London’s award-winning Mambow in a two-day takeover this Autumn. From the 2nd-3rd October, Lee will unveil two menus inviting guests to explore her trademark modern Peranakan cuisine and with a celebration of regional influences from the island of Langkawi.
From the urban pace of East London’s food scene, and Michelin Bib Gourmand Mambow, straight to the Andaman shore, Lee will be taking over the hotel’s magical Langkawi Kitchen. Stood atop 30-foot stilts flanked by ancient rainforest, the venue, inspired by the longhouses of Bornean tribes, sets the stage for Abby’s culinary theatre. Diners can expect a selection of Mambow signatures hot from the London favourite, but with a flavoursome ode to the region of Langkawi, including local ingredients and botanicals fresh from the hotel’s Nibong Garden.
Expect smouldering sambals and Nyonya favourites in the evening menu, bringing heat and surprise to the table on 2 October 2025. Highlights will span; Otak Otak prawn toast with pickled birds’ eye chilli to fire up the taste buds, Umai Sarawak with Andaman Sea Bass ceviche chilled with starfruit granita bringing the zing, and a Kari Kepala Ikan fish head curry showstopper. The Mambow sambal with a twist is inspired by a regional Langkawi variation – the sweet protein-rich Sambal Kerisik Ikan Rebus where toasted grated coconut is paired with boiled mackerel caught by local fisherman. With a sweet finale and Mambow favourite, the Kuih Bingka brings the indulgence with its fudgy cassava cake and toasted rice ice cream.
Guests will also have the opportunity to enjoy an afternoon tea created by Lee, with a colourful tapestry of delicate, sweet and savoury kuih inspired by the local ingredients, folklore and legends of Malaysia’s Langkawi island. At the hotel’s Beach Grill, with its iconic design inspired by Malay ‘Bubu’ fish traps, guests will be treated to a sensory culinary trail of kuih with Malay and Peranakan influences, from; Pulut Panggang with dried shrimp sambal, savoury Chicken Lor Bak and moreish Sardine Karipap to sweet pops of banana and coconut in Kuih Dadar and Kuih Bakar Pisang baked banana cake – available only on 3 October 2025.
Leaving her mark and a little Mambow culinary magic, the Mambow Sando is re-imagined by Lee to give the club sandwich, and hotel stalwart, a run for its money. Available until the end of the year the Hainanese Chicken Sando presents tender chicken tossed in ginger and spring onion with chicken fat chilli, kewpie mayo and vegetables served between pandan loaf – the perfect poolside pairing.
Born to Malaysian parents that hail from the culinary hotspots of Penang and Sarawak, while growing up in Singapore and London, the acclaimed chef celebrated for her regional approach to Malaysian cooking, takes inspiration spanning the diverse flavours and cuisine from her childhood. The preservation of family recipes combined with her interpretation of how traditional dishes sit in the realm of modern dining is key to Lee, and this year she brings it back to Malaysia but in a region she has yet to explore.
Peranakan cuisine, known as ‘Nyonya’, traces its roots to the descendants of Chinese traders who settled in Southeast Asia as early as the 15th century and intermarried with local Malay and Indonesian communities. A new ethnic group called the Baba-Nyonyas, mainly based in Malacca and Penang, was formed, bringing a culinary culture combining Chinese cooking techniques with the fragrant herbs, spices, and coconut-rich flavours of Malaysia. Over generations, Peranakan families refined their recipes, with complex spice pastes (rempah), resulting in a style celebrated for its depth and balance of sweet, sour, spicy, and savoury elements.
Not only one of the island’s most perfectly situated retreats, The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi is home to a vibrant culinary scene, celebrating the region’s Nyonya routes. Nestled in Malaysia’s 10-million-year-old rainforest on the beaches of the Andaman Sea and flanked by unbroken forest in the shadow of Mount Machinchang, the Langkawi gem provides a magical setting to explore the hyper-regional influences of Malaysia’s beautiful and complex cuisine.
For more information and reservation enquiries, visit ritzcarlton.com/Langkawi
