http://sparklette.net/food/goodwood-park-chinese-new-year/ http://sparklette.net/food/goodwood-park-chinese-new-year/#comments Mon, 16 Jan 2012 03:00:27 +0000 Melissa Koh http://sparklette.net/?p=1279

This Chinese New Year, the culinary team at Goodwood Park Hotel has put together a whole range of festive delights. For reunion meals, dine-in ala carte and set menus are available at the two Min Jiang restaurants located at the hotel and Rochester Park.

Meticulously crafted cakes and goodies are available at the Deli. If you are looking for a western experience, the festive afternoon tea at L’Espresso is one buffet you must not miss.

Min Jiang

Hamachi yusheng (available for dine-in only)
S$118++ (large)

The signature hamachi (yellowtail) yusheng (raw fish salad) possesses traditional flavours with a touch of unconventional ingredients. To name some, they include flying fish roe, wasabi ebiko (prawn roe), seaweed and French chives, amidst mesclun greens, shredded red and white carrots, Buddha’s hand citron, jellyfish, onions and pomelo.

The pine nuts and sesame seeds provide delightful coarse textures while the house-made taro and sweet potato crisps add an enjoyable crunch.

For additional flavour, drizzle on the chef’s secret sweet sauce with a squeeze of lime. Now you’re all set to toss to a prosperous new year!

Golden Fortune chicken (available for dine-in and takeaway)
S$198 for 6 persons

The visually appealing Golden Fortune chicken makes a memorable show-stopper of a dish. It symbolises an abundance of wealth, and is accompanied by 8 gold-wrapped hard-boiled eggs. Get into some hammering action and watch the chicken-shaped salt crust slowly crack to reveal the lotus leaves-wrapped filling.

The delectable ingredients include chicken, whole Australian abalone, dried scallops, black moss, flower mushrooms and dang gui. These are oven-baked for 4 hours, sealing in the rich flavours. The result is chicken meat that is flavoursome and moist throughout; even the leanest parts are melt-in-your-mouth tender!

Stewed pork belly roll with Sichuan pickle sauce (available for dine-in and takeaway)
S$218 for 6 persons

With a minimum of 6 hours’ cooking required, the stewed pork belly roll is clearly a labour of love. An ample slice of pork belly is hand-rolled and braised with garlic and chilli for 5 hours. The ensuing rich stock and pork belly roll are then removed and stewed with Sichuan pickled vegetables and chillies for an additional hour, forming a remarkably robust and intensely flavourful pickle sauce base.

Notable co-stars in this pot of deliciousness are premium Australian abalones, dried oysters, black moss and Tientsin cabbage.

If you prefer to dine in the comfort of your own home, a 6-course Festive Treasures takeaway set menu that includes ikan parang yusheng, Prosperity Sea Treasures in Wooden Pot (poon choy) and dessert is available for take-out at both Min Jiang restaurants. (S$468 for 6 persons)

English Afternoon Tea Buffet

For rebels seeking an alternative to the traditional Chinese fares, try the English afternoon tea buffet at L’Espresso.

English afternoon tea buffet
S$58++ per adult / S$29++ per child

Available from 21-24 January 2012
12noon – 2:30pm, 3pm – 5:30pm

The usual Chinese New Year treats are done up with surprising western twists. We’re talking yusheng with smoked salmon, quail eggs coated with pork floss, nian gao beignet and bak kwa finger sandwiches.

Nian gao beignet
S$8.90++

The nian gao beignet in particular will leave you wanting more; these bite-sized pieces of the sticky cake are wrapped in savoury crispy spring roll skin and deep fried whilst maintaining a soft, sweet interior.

Chinese New Year Goodies at The Deli

Traditional New Year cookies and chips are available at The Deli, with all-time favourite snacks such as cashew nut cookies, almond cookies, chiku chips and yam chips. (S$18.80 to S$20.80 for a jar)

A Chinese New Year must-have, bak kwa is sold in small neat slices. (S$48 for 600g, S$72 for 1kg)

Macadamia and kumquat tart (available for takeaway at the Deli)
S$$48 for 1kg

The macadamia and kumquat tart is one unique creation you will remember. It is filled with crunchy nuts and refreshing kumquat, and adorned with almond flakes, whole macadamia nuts and marzipan firecrackers. The centrepiece is the auspicious Chinese character for prosperity that will add much colour to your festive celebration.

Fortune mandarin orange pound cake
S$72 for 1kg

Just as eye-catching is the Fortune mandarin orange pound cake, shaped like a giant mahjong tile with the Chinese word for fortune. Lightly perfumed with citrus scents and encased in icing that isn’t cloyingly sweet, this eye-catching dessert will make a perfect gift for mahjong players!

Duo of Prosperity Fish (available for takeaway at the Deli)
S$98 for 10 persons

Another highlight would be the Duo of Prosperity Fish, consisting of a mango with pomelo and sago pudding and durian pudding. Durian fans can opt for both fish-shaped puddings to be of durian flavour for the price of S$108.

Available from 9 January to 6 February 2012. All takeaway items require an advance order of one working day.

Have Your Say!

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Where would you be dining this festive season? Share with us in the comments!

Goodwood Park Hotel

Goodwood Park Hotel
22 Scotts Road
Singapore 228221
Tel: +65 6730 1867 / +65 6730 1868 | Website

Min Jiang at One-North

Min Jiang at One-North
5 Rochester Park
Singapore 139216
Tel: +65 6774 0122

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Word has it that Fosters serves the cheapest high tea in Singapore! That being said, this isn’t the traditional high tea with mini cakes served on three-tiered racks, but a much simpler affair of baked pastries.

The Devonshire cream tea set provides you with a couple of scones, finger sandwiches and fruit cake.

Devonshire cream tea set
S$10.50++

3 – 6pm daily

Seen here are two sets combined on one plate. The best of the lot are the scones, freshly baked and served warm from the oven.

If you like, you can slather on butter, cream or the home-made strawberry jam that is most delicious.

Other than the scones, the fruit cake and finger sandwiches are not much to shout about. But at that price, who can complain?

To wash down the pastries, the afternoon tea set also includes a choice of tea or coffee.

While the alfresco area boasts an idyllic garden feel, you can choose to stay in in the air-conditioned dining area. The setting puts diners at ease with its relaxed, casual air, with armchairs, teddy bears and even Christmas lights as décor. This is a great place to enjoy a cosy meal with loved ones.

Know of any good places for afternoon tea in Singapore? Share with us in the comments!

Fosters, an English Rose Cafe
Holland Village
277 Holland Avenue
Singapore 278994
Tel: +65 6466 8939 | Website
Service:

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Located on the ground level of Wanderlust boutique hotel, COCOTTE serves up unpretentious, rustic French cuisine in an eclectic setting. Just for Mother’s Day, the French restaurant would be open for brunch, dishing up items like egg cocotte with foie gras, escargot gougeres and hormone-free roast chicken.

Available from 11am – 3pm on May 8.

Oriole Cafe & Bar

Full English breakfast at Oriole Cafe & Bar

Wake up and smell the coffee at Oriole Cafe — a not-so-secret brunch option. The “lazy Sunday brunch” promotion offers choices like the full English breakfast (S$17++), featuring pork sausage, bacon, mushroom, fried sunny egg and toast, Moroccan lamb merguez sausages (S$17++), served with braised chickpeas, spinach, feta and sunny egg, and a classic Brioche French toast (S$12++) paired with crispy bacon and pure maple syrup.

• Check out our review of Oriole Cafe.

Available from 10:30am – 3pm on May 8.

Aerin’s

Open-face omelette at Aerin’s

Aerin’s at Raffles City Shopping Centre has a buy 3 get 1 free promotion for Mother’s Day, i.e., mothers get a free main course with every three accompanying main courses ordered. You can pick from Sunday brunch options such as full English breakfast and open-face omelette, or the lunch menu such as fish and chips, Aerin’s burger and seafood casserole.

• Check out our review of Aerin’s.

Available from 11:30am – 3pm on May 8.

Hotel Re!

Muslim friends need not feel left out. Partake in the halal international buffet at Hotel Re! during the Mother’s Day weekend. The hearty spread includes favourites like laksa and roti prata (made live), grilled lamb chop, roast chicken, salmon sashimi, Caesar salad and more. If you like, go for the dinner buffet on Saturday, or alternatively the brunch buffet on Sunday. (S$32.80++ per adult, S$19.80++ per child aged 4-12)

Tip: Hotel Re! Facebook fans are rewarded with attractive discounts!

Available from 6 – 10pm on May 7; 11am – 3pm on May 8.

Kinki Restaurant + Bar

Enjoy brunch with an impressive view at Kinki Restaurant + Bar. Located on the second floor of Customs House at Collyer Quay, the restaurant boasts a breathtaking view of the Marina Bay waterfront and skyline that Mom will absolutely love.

The très chic restaurant is introducing a special Mother’s Day brunch promotion. Kick off the meal with appetisers such as pan-seared tuna salad with Gobo and wasabi cream dressing (S$18++). Tantalising mains comprise pulled Kurobuta pork belly sandwich (S$25++) and slow roasted US prime short rib with wasabi potatoes (S$28++). As for desserts, take your pick from crepe with green tea Ice Cream, candied red bean, chocolate and whipped cream (S$10++), and vanilla ice cream cake (S$13++).

Mother’s Day Lunch/Dinner

Dian Xiao Er

Duck roasted with Ten Wonder herbs at Dian Xiao Er

With restaurants decked out like ancient Chinese inns, it’s almost as though you have gone back in time at Dian Xiao Er. Apart from the unique décor, the dishes are also consistently good. My Mom personally approves! The Mother’s Day sets include the popular herbal roast duck, stewed Ee-Fu noodles and braised shark’s fin broth with crab meat. Our favourite dish? Definitely the roast duck with Ten Wonder herbs.

• Check out our review of Dian Xiao Er.

Putien

Steamed lobster with minced garlic at Putien

Putien is celebrating Mother’s Day and Father’s Day with seven specially prepared dishes dedicated to moms and dads. With ingredients such as cordyceps, red date and bird’s nest, these dishes are mostly braised, baked or steamed. Not only do they taste good, they’re good for you — just like home-cooked food. Prices range from S$9.90++ for an individual portion of baked scallop in egg white to S$93.90++ for a large serving of braised shark’s fin with crab meat and cordyceps.

Available throughout May and June.

Red House Seafood Restaurant

Chilli crab with man tou (steamed bun) at Red House Seafood Restaurant

For a scenic waterfront view, pamper Mom with a luxurious feast of seafood treats at Red House Seafood Restaurant. Some highlights are the seafood platter, steamed fresh razor clam, pan-fried Canadian cod fish, braised Boston lobster and the must-have signature chilli crab or black pepper crab. I am not sure if the delicious chrysanthemum tea jelly from their Chinese New Year specials has been retained, but if it’s still available, I recommend it for your dessert. (S$398 – 888++ for 10 persons)

Available from May 6-8.

Shahi Maharani North Indian Restaurant

Hungry for more exotic flavours? Take Mom to Shahi Maharani North Indian Restaurant. The exquisite lunch buffet features an assortment of Indian delicacies complete with freshly prepared chaats (Indian street food), sizzling kebabs, mouthwatering curries and spiced desserts. Mothers get a free door gift, and also dine for free when they are accompanied by a paying adult son or daughter. (S$42++ per adult, S$32++ per child aged 4-10)

Zhou’s Kitchen

Braised pork shank at Zhou’s Kitchen

One of my family’s favourites is the Tung Lok-run Zhou’s Kitchen. Some dishes are a marriage between tradition and innovation, such as the creative coffee pork ribs with almond flakes. Other house specialties include the braised pork shank, dumplings and steamed crab with glutinous rice.

• Check out our review of Zhou’s Kitchen.

Bedrock Bar & Grill

Bedrock Bar & Grill celebrates Mother’s Day a day earlier on Saturday, May 7, which all Singaporeans now know as Polling Day. With every purchase of the S$32++ set lunch, Mom gets the set free!

The three-course set comes with a soup, followed by a choice of enticing main courses such as US rib-eye fillet with Diane sauce, or smoked aged cheddar chopped steak with Gorgonzola sauce. Sides feature a choice of creamed spinach, mac and cheese, sautéed mushrooms or rocket and parmesan salad. Dessert is the Bedrock signature apple crumble.

Available on May 7.

Heart Bistro

Steamed chicken in Chinese wine and chicken essence at Heart Bistro

Heart Bistro at Palais Renaissance has created an extravagant multi-course meal promotion for Mother’s Day. The menu includes the all-time favourite steamed chicken in Chinese wine and chicken essence, braised beef cheeks and strawberry trifle. Every party of at least two would receive complimentary home-made cookies. (S$98 / 188 / 288 / 388 / 488++ for 2 / 4 / 6 / 8 / 10 persons)

Available on May 8.

Mother’s Day High Tea

Goodwood Park Hotel

Durian mousse cake at Goodwood Park Hotel

If Mom is a durian fan, why not use this opportunity to pamper her with an array of durian pastries at the Goodwood Park Durian Fiesta? The perennial favourite durian mousse cake is available at the Deli (S$9 per slice) along with other sweet treats like durian puffs, ice cream cakes and éclairs. For a more intimate celebration at home, these items are available for take-out.

• Check out our review of Goodwood Park Durian Fiesta.

Novus Café

Mother’s Day high tea at Novus Café

Housed at the charming National Museum of Singapore, Novus Café is offering a high tea set (S$40++) this Mother’s Day. Arranged on an elegant tiered tray is a smorgasbord of tasty canapés such as crab meat toast and salmon and white radish, and delicious nibbles like pink macaron, chocolate and Baileys truffles, and mini strawberry and cream scones. The set serves two, and can be washed down with the free flowing coffee and tea. If it’s nice out, you can even choose to dine out in the courtyard.

That’s not all; every order of the high tea set gets you a complimentary pair of museum tickets. There are 50 tickets up for grabs, so hurry!

Available from 3-6pm on May 8.

• Check out our review of Novus Restaurant & Bar.

Concorde Hotel

Afternoon tea at Concorde Hotel

For an indulgent afternoon tea session, bring your family to Spices Cafe at Concorde Hotel. The afternoon tea buffet features a diverse selection including mango prawn rolls, Thai salad, cream of asparagus with scallops, mee siam, Manzo Brasato beef, octopus fritters, chocolate fountain, mango purée, crème brûlée, and more. Book a table for 3 or more paying adults, and Mom dines for free! (S$42++ per adult, S$20++ per child aged 3-12)

Available from 12-5pm on May 7 & 8.

The hotel is also offering an international buffet dinner where you can indulge in avocado and crab meat cocktail, lobster bisque, marinated crocodile ribs with Chinese herbs, drunken prawns, soft shell crab with chicken floss, durian puff, and much more. (S$55++ per adult, S$25++ per child aged 3-12)

Available from 6:30 – 10pm on May 7 & 8.

Where do you plan to take your Mom this Mother’s Day? Do you follow any special family traditions? If you decided to follow our suggestions, let us know in the comments!

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The interiors here are just as charming. Seating is a choice between the indoor dining area, and an alfresco area by the sea with a view of the Resorts World Sentosa.

Photo by The Queen & Mangosteen

Apart from Queen, the other bars and restaurants along the same stretch, such as Brotzeit the German bar and Serenity the Spanish bar next door, also offer the same waterfront view.

Queen’s snapper fish & chips
S$24++
Rating:

Our main reason for coming here is to try out the much hyped Queen’s snapper fish and chips. The beer-battered fish is served with mesclun salad, a lemon wedge and tartar sauce. The twist lies in the sauce itself, which is yellow and curry-flavoured! It is very tasty, and goes delightfully well with the fish and chips.

Without the unique curry tartar sauce, the dish is otherwise quite ordinary. At that price, it would be nice if they offer a bigger portion than just two rather skimpy pieces of fish. So for now, I still prefer Fish & Co‘s cheese-stuffed fish and chips.

Photo by The Queen & Mangosteen

Still, I wouldn’t mind going back to The Queen. The drinks are priced more reasonably than the food. With the lovely ambience and sea view, it is a wonderful place for chilling out.

What is your favourite place for fish and chips? Share with us in the comments!

The Queen & Mangosteen
VivoCity
1 Habourfront Walk #01-106/107
Singapore 098585
Tel: +65 6376 9380 | Website
Service:

Opening hours:
Sun – Thu: 11am – 11pm
Fri, Sat & PH Eve: 11am – 1am

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I am referring to The Cookie Museum, of course. This place was formerly known as The V Tea Room, where V probably stood for Victorian. Each time I walk past this tea lounge at the Esplanade, I can’t help but slow down for a better look. The quaint Victorian theme is so beautiful it really takes your breath away! Throw in the motif wallpaper, gold-rimmed mirrors and largely pink decor, this is one place that is perfect for an afternoon tea session with the girlfriends.

Another place that boasts similarly gorgeous decor is Tea Cosy by Eclectic Attic.

Here, you sit on plush chairs with ornate carvings and feel like royalty.

Obviously, the namesake cookies are a huge draw. Have you ever come across unconventional flavours like Laksa, Nasi Lemak, Hainanese chicken rice, masala and tom yam crab?

Photo by lion kim ball

Laksa cookies
S$38-45 for a 500-gram tin
Rating:

We sample the Laksa-flavoured cookies, and my, they taste just like the real thing! This is the first time we have tried cookies that are actually spicy. It may seem a little weird at first, but I can get used to the taste.

Has anyone attempted baking these unique Singapore-flavoured cookies? Would adding coconut milk, shrimp paste and a dash of sambal chilli conjure up Laksa-flavoured cookies? If you have done this, please share your recipe with us!

Aside from the cookies, there is a large menu just for the tea alone. The staff would roll the tea cart right to your table and delicately serve the teapot, sugar, etc.

You can see how the tea is being served here. It’s a rather long process so the video cuts off before the tea has been poured! But you get the picture.

I just love, love, LOVE that dainty floral teacup! I wonder where we can buy something similar for our homes?

Darjeeling Margaret’s Hope
S$14.90++
Rating:

In the past, they would refill the teapot with hot water, so you could practically drink the tea forever! But nowadays they have stopped doing it. Each teapot fills about 2 cups of tea.

If this isn’t your cup of tea, Max Brenner next door serves up wonderful hot chocolate, too! Speaking of which…

Is the Cookie Museum the best place to enjoy tea and cookies, or do you know of any other place? Share with us in the comments!

The Cookie Museum (formerly V Tea Room)
Esplanade Mall
8 Raffles Avenue #01-02/04
Singapore 039802
Tel: +65 6333 1965 | Website
Service:

Opening hours:
Mon – Thur: 12noon – 10:30pm
Fri & Sat: 12noon- 11:30pm
Sun: 12noon – 9pm

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]]> 15 http://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/offshore-sukhumvit-bangkok/ http://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/offshore-sukhumvit-bangkok/#comments Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:16:03 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=897 On a recent trip to Bangkok, I stayed in the Sukhumvit area and visited what is perhaps the best-known chippy in Bangkok — The Offshore. It is situated in Soi Cowboy, the red-light district in Sukhumvit that is notorious for its strip bars and risque sex shows.

The Offshore first started out as a bar, and expanded into the fish-and-chips business with a unit next door. I may be wrong, but I think the owner is a Brit, if he’s the same elderly male who is seen supervising his female Thai staff.

Most customers buy their fish and chips as take-outs, waiting at the stainless steel front counter while the staff deep-fry their orders. You can dine here as well, in the rather dingy-looking backroom, and order a drink or two from the bar. The place is run-down, yes, and lacking in any decor whatsoever. But the food speaks for itself.

Red snapper & cod
100baht & 150baht
Rating:

We order both the red snapper and cod. These arrive as chunky, square-shaped fillets, lightly coated in batter. Both are moist and tender, and thankfully devoid of that unwelcome fishy stench. Of the two I actually prefer the cheaper red snapper; it has somewhat of a more delicate taste.

The fish certainly do not sport a heavy jacket of batter. Rather, the texture is light, crispy and tasty. None of that cheese-stuffed glitz, too. Just simple, wholesome English food.

The accompanying tartar sauce, home-made perhaps, and a whole jar of it, is served cold straight from the fridge. Hmm.

If you’re wondering, where are the chips? They come only as a separate order. But in this case we opt for the rings of gold instead:

Onion rings
35baht
Rating:

Jumbo-sized onion rings! You see, I have an unconditional love for onions, however pungent or breath-polluting they may be. Sure enough, this is one appetiser that we find extremely enjoyable. Once again, they get the batter right. The dish is light and crispy and bursting with sweet onion flavour.

For a complete experience, wash down all the deep-fried calorific goodness with imported beers like Tetley’s (170baht) and John Smith’s (150baht) from the bar.

To avoid all the naughty action of the area, visit Soi Cowboy in the day. It is a short walk from the Sukhumvit MRT and Asoke BTS stations.

The Offshore
7/8 Sukhumvit Soi 23
Bangkok, Thailand
Nearest BTS/MRT: BTS Asoke / MRT Sukhumvit
Tel: +66 02 661 7830

11am-2am daily

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These days, my visits to Sentosa are limited to annual events like Sentosa Flowers and the occasional drink at the beach bars. But after a sumptuous brunch at Club Islander this past weekend, I reckon I would be going there a lot more.

The sun, the sand, the sea… And brunch! What a way to unwind — Hawaiian style! You like?

Coffee (free-flowing)
S$2.50++
Rating:

Brunch has just been introduced to the Palawan Beach Bar on weekends from 10:30am to 2:30pm. You can check out the brunch menu before heading down for an idyllic weekend. As with the other Sentosa F&B outlets, the menu is the creation of executive chef, Kenny Yeo.

Club islander directly opens out to the beach. The sea is literally just footsteps away! In fact, many people would simply laze on the sand while the waitstaff serve them their favourite food and drinks.

If you don’t like the feel of sand between your toes (wait, why are you at the beach again?), the sheltered boardwalk also provides ample seating. I think the shelter would be retracted at night, so people can have a romantic dinner under the stars! Wow-weee!

I tried to photoshop away that man in the photo but it’s too much work. He does illustrate a good point though; you can swim in the sea and then walk right up to the bar, dripping wet and all, wearing nothing more than your swimming trunks or speedos. No one would toss you a second glance. Unless you’re a hot bikini babe, that is.

Okay, enough about that. Let’s talk about the food!

Eggs Benedict on toasted English muffin
S$12.50++
Rating:

When it comes to brunch, the Eggs Benedict always has to make an appearance. So popular it is, McDonald’s decided to create a “poor man’s” version of it, substituting the hollandaise sauce with a slice of cheese. Do you know what it is?

Why, the McMuffin, of course!

Anyways, the Eggs Benedict here is done with a little twist. Instead of the usual ham, the poached eggs come with chicken patty. Perfect with the dollop of hollandaise sauce and the toasted English muffin!

And that is just one way of having your eggs done.

Sunnyside up on prawn bolognaise served in a toast box
S$17.90++
Rating:

Sunny side up works for me too. It comes with a box of prawn bologanise toast, which I can only describe as pure love. Let me tell you, this is no ordinary toast.

The toast is gently fried on the sides. The result? A super light, crispy, golden brown exterior that contrasts wonderfully with the soft interior of the toast. It’s the kind of toast that makes you wanna stay away from all the fancy Hong Kong toast, and heck, even our very own Singapura toast, and just French it up with this toast forever! I dare say this is the best toast I’ve ever had.

The prawn bolognaise is interesting, too. It’s basically minced prawns in a delicious home-made tomato sauce that adds a flavourful punch to the toast.

Have I mentioned this is no ordinary toast?

Brunch platter
S$19.50++
Rating:

For more variety, there’s the brunch platter that gives you a taste of wild mushrooms, scrambled eggs, chicken sausages, chicken patties and…

Waffles! With honey for pouring into the holes! What a wholesome dish this is.

And for the children, they can tuck in to the Chicky Muffin meal or Wacky Waffles meal. Both sets cost $6.90++ and come with a watermelon slice and orange juice! There’s even a designated play area where they can enjoy themselves.

Club Islander
Sentosa
72 Palawan Beach Walk
Singapore 099344
Tel: +65 6279 3267
Service:
www.sentosadining.com.sg

Brunch hours: 10:30am – 2:30pm on weekends
Brunch menu

Did you think I was done? It gets even more exciting!

Midway through brunch, we saw a crowd gather near the water. Someone had found a baby monitor lizard on the beach!

That’s the lifeguard holding him. He’s kind of cute, isn’t he?

Occasionally one of the island’s many resident peacocks may even strut along while you’re having brunch or sunbathing.

Well, that’s Sentosa for you; it never gets boring!

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]]> 21 http://sparklette.net/food/pret-a-manger/ http://sparklette.net/food/pret-a-manger/#comments Thu, 04 Jan 2007 14:15:56 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/archives/pret-a-manger-chickens-involved-pigs-committed/ Pret a Manger is a chain of trendy sandwich bars from Britain that make fresh sandwiches in-house daily. The name is in French, which means “ready to eat”. Some time last year, pret opened its first outlet in Singapore.

Strategically based along Robinson Road, Pret is a hot spot for office workers that are too busy to sit down for a meal. People in a hurry can simply pop by and grab a sandwich to go. All sandwiches are pre-made early in the day. Customers can then choose from the assortment of sandwiches that are placed neatly in racks of chillers. Besides being fuss-free, Pret also prides itself in using all-natural ingredients with absolutely no preservatives added.

But more importantly, are they any good?

I was there with a friend recently. We found that they had some very interesting fillings for their sandwiches, baguettes and wraps. I was especially keen to try out their crayfish & roquette sandwich. Anything with crayfish is an instant favourite with me!

Crayfish & Roquette Sandwich
S$3.90
Rating:

$3.90 for a two-inch-thick crayfish sandwich is a steal isn’t it? I had expected the price to be much steeper than this. The sandwich was good. Wheat bread, nice. Crayfish, yum. I didn’t even mind the roquette despite not being a fan of vegetables.

All sandwiches come in these cute triangular “pretboxes” with clear windows. Pret really took pain to guarantee that all their food is fresh. At the end of each day, all unsold food is donated to the Singapore council of women’s organisation’s star shelter, a home for abused women.

Coronation Chicken Sandwich
S$3.80
Rating:

Even though the pretboxes are labelled “Pret Petit” and the sandwiches are really half-size sandwiches, the portions are certainly not “petit”. I had trouble finishing mine!

Tandoori Chicken Wrap
S$7.50
Rating:

My favourite was the tandoori chicken wrap. It had obviously been created to suit Asian taste buds. The wrap was huge and came in two smaller separate portions. I guess a person would have trouble finishing the whole thing alone. More people should get to enjoy this anyway. It’s very flavourful and very tasty! I loved it!

Hot Mocha
S$5
Rating:

The drinks are the cutest of all. Note how they had decorated our hot mocha with chocolate powdered stars. How very adorable!

Then, my friend whipped out the new Kenny G album (I am a huge fan) out of nowhere. The Pret folks gamely played it for us as their background music! Now, that’s good service for you! Pret has definitely won me over.

One last interesting titbit: Pret works with well-known jewellers Tiffany & Co. To make solid silver stars. Each star is used to reward a particular staff member whenever a customer writes or calls to commend him or her for good service. Wow!

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]]> 16 http://sparklette.net/food/eclectic-attic/ http://sparklette.net/food/eclectic-attic/#comments Mon, 04 Dec 2006 12:44:16 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/archives/tea-cosy-eclectic-attic-vintage-experience/ Many people that pass by Tea Cosy may not notice the café inside this vintage store. As always, there’s more than meets the eye! Tea Cosy holds many precious European antiques and collectibles. A walk through the store takes you back to the dreamy Victorian ages. If you need a cup of tea to complement your experience, you may do so at the in-store bistro, tea cosy.

At tea cosy, diners sit at antique tables and eat off vintage Royal Copenhagen plates. Quite an experience indeed! You need to be extra careful though. The store policy states that broken utensils must be paid for. After all, these are all vintage stuff. Just look at that beautiful porcelain plate. With the exquisite rose painting and gold trimming, it’s easily the prettiest plate I have ever seen! Gorgeous!

Minty Chocolate Coffee
S$5.90++
Rating:

High tea is served in the traditional English style. Bite-sized cakes of different flavours are served alongside tea or coffee. Being a coffee person, I went for a minty chocolate coffee. I don’t really fancy the minty taste but there’s always room for trying out something new. Gotta say that I still love my coffee the way it is, without any extra flavouring unless it’s chocolate!

Strawberry Mousse Cake, Chocolate Brownie & Chocolate Marble Cake
S$6.90++
Rating:

The cake sampler set comes in different quantities, with a choice from seven different flavours. Chocolate is a definite safe bet. My chocolate brownie and chocolate marble cake were delicious. The good thing about the sampler set was that I didn’t even have to feel too guilty eating due to the bite-sized quantities! I didn’t really fancy the strawberry mousse cake though. Felix, the manager even took extra care to warm up the cakes before serving. It was a nice touch.

Besides high tea, Tea Cosy also serves lunch and dinner. Foie gras is the house speciality. I wouldn’t say that the food and drinks are the main draw of Tea Cosy. It is the vintage treasures and all things pretty that makes this a very unique and cosy experience.

Tea Cosy (formerly Eclectic Attic)
Plaza Singapura
68 Orchard Road #05-10
Singapore 238839
Tel: +65 6341 9318 | Website | Facebook
Service:

February 3, 2007: My list of Best (& Worst) Restaurants in Singapore for 2006
- Runner-up for “Best Design”
- Runner-up for “Best Hidden Gem”
- Nominated for “Best Tea Lounge”

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]]> 7 http://sparklette.net/food/chippy-british-take-away/ http://sparklette.net/food/chippy-british-take-away/#comments Sun, 16 Jul 2006 14:40:46 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=423 Okay okay, I know I’m a little late in this. This was only my first time eating from Chippy British Take Away. I was window shopping at Raffles City, got hungry, and wanted to sit down at a nice restaurant for some sumptuous dinner. But this brightly lit red little booth caught my eye.

It’s Chippy British Take Away! With that striking union jack, the cheery name, and so many sinful treats such as fried Mars Bars and beer-battered fish, tell me, how could I resist?

The food is seriously dirt cheap. I did a double take when I found that the yummy-sounding cheesy curry chicken cost just $3.45! Was the portion small? Not at all! Chippy promised 35 (or was it 45) pieces of chicken and definitely did not scringe on the portion.

So I asked for “extra spicy chicken”, paid my $3.45, watched the crew deep-fry my chicken pieces right in front of me and waited eagerly for the chicken to be ready. I got real worried when I saw how oily it was. This was definitely not meant for everyday consumption!

Cheesy Curry Chicken (Extra Spicy)
S$3.45
Rating:

But boy was it good. It was lip-smacking good! The food was cooked only upon each order placed, which explains why the chicken was still hot and crispy and packed with spices. As if that wasn’t enough, the little tub of cheese dip that came along was perfect for the chicken. It had a sweet and sour now-you-taste-it-now-you-don’t quality to it. Rather intriguing! Man, just thinking about the chicken makes me salivate already.

Even though this place is meant for take-aways, they do have some standing and sitting space reserved for customers. I like the colourful photo montage mural that decorated one side of the wall. I like the fact that the prices are cheap and the food is so yummilicious. Basically I like everything about the place! Chippy has totally won me over!

Gonna try out a couple of those fried Mars Bars next time!

Raffles City outlet

Raffles City Shopping Centre
252 North Bridge Road #B1-58
Singapore 179103

Plaza Singapura outlet

Plaza Singapura
68 Orchard Road #B2-38
Singapore 238839

News updates

February 3, 2007: My list of Best (& Worst) Restaurants in Singapore for 2006
- Winner of “Best Take-out”

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A pretty tea boutique opened recently at the Esplanade, known as the V Tea Room. Boasting a Victorian theme in a cozy setting, everything about the V Tea Room looks beautiful! There is so much detail in its decor. Thick volumes of Victorian books decorate the counter. Masquerade masks hang on the walls. Dainty little cups are used to serve tea. Even the menus are very exquisitely designed!

I am most impressed with how beautiful the menu looks. First of all, it’s large. Every menu has its own unique cover with gold pop-up patterns. I have never seen a better-looking menu! At first glance, they don’t even look like menus, but more like the covers of thick, valuable antique books.

True to its name, the V Tea Room has a large selection of tea. I’m no tea connoisseur as I am more of a coffee fanatic, but the queen’s tea we had was good. And the best thing? With the tea leaves in the pot, we could simply keep refilling it with hot water. In the words of my friend, we could practically drink the tea forever!

They had a large variety of teacakes too, including ones filled with liqueur. My belly was still full from an earlier meal so I couldn’t really eat much. But I would be sure to visit the V Tea Room again for its affordable tea and cakes, beautiful decor and excellent service.

The Cookie Museum (formerly V Tea Room)
Esplanade Mall
8 Raffles Avenue #01-02/04
Singapore 039802
Tel: +65 6333 1965 | Website
Service:

Opening hours:
Mon – Thur: 12noon – 10:30pm
Fri & Sat: 12noon- 11:30pm
Sun: 12noon – 9pm

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