Sparklette Magazine » high tea

Goodwood Park Durian Cake Fiesta 2012

Veron Ang — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 05:36:18 +0000

The popular Goodwood Park Durian Fiesta is back for 2012! Durian cake lovers can treat yourselves to meticulously-crafted D24 durian cakes and pastries at the Deli from 1 March to 31 July 2012.

Apart from the all-time favourites like the durian mousse cake and durian puffs, there are also a couple of new creations.

If you wanna sample all of these thorny treasures at once, perhaps the best deal you can get at the 2012 Durian Fiesta is the Durian Combo set.

Durian Combo
S$32.80 in March (usual price S$43.80)
Rating:

The Durian Combo is an attractive box set containing:

Durian banana chocolate mousse cake
Durian macadamia nut crumble tartlet
Durian cappuccino cake
Durian mousse cake
Durian puff x2

What a way to get started on a durian cake feast! This will make a great gift to any friend or business associate who’s a durian fan.

Durian banana chocolate mousse cake
S$10.80 per slice
S$58 for 1.3kg
Rating:

One of the new durian cakes for 2012 is the durian banana chocolate mousse cake. This chocolate-dusted cake boasts layers of D24 durian mousse and pulp, chocolate sponge and caramelised banana chunks nestled within rich chocolate mousse. Talk about indulgence!

Durian macadamia nut crumble tartlet
S$10.80 for 2 pieces
S$28.80 for 6 pieces
Rating:

The other new creation is the dainty durian macadamia nut crumble tartlet. This crunchy treat packs a whole lot of nutty flavour — a delight to munch on.

Durian cappuccino cake
S$10.80 per slice
S$55 for 1kg.
Rating:

The durian cappuccino cake that was introduced in 2011 has made a return this year. Coffee addicts will dig this one for its cappuccino mousse layer.

Durian mousse cake
S$10.80 per slice
S$58 per 1.3kg cake
S$112 per 2.5kg cake
S$155 per 3.5kg cake

The durian mousse cake needs no introduction. This is probably one of the most popular durian cakes at the hotel, and is the cake that kicked off the hotel’s first durian promotion in 1983! Amongst all the durian cakes, I think the durian mousse cake has the most durian mousse and pulp in it.

Durian puff
S$6 for 2 pieces
S$17 for 6 pieces
S$45 for 20 pieces
Rating:

Another crowd pleaser is the petite durian puff, with a generous amount of rich durian mousse sandwiched between light choux pastry cases.

You have 5 months to indulge in all the durian cakes you want at the Goodwood Park Durian Fiesta. Grab a friend and head down to the Deli for a nice afternoon tea, or get some to take away to share with the family.

Have Your Say!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

What are your favourite durian pastries and desserts? Where else can you get a good durian fix? Share all your thoughts via Facebook or Twitter or by leaving a comment!

Goodwood Park Hotel
22 Scotts Road
Singapore 228221
Tel: +65 6730 1786 | Website

Operating hours: 9am – 9pm daily

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Goodwood Park Hotel – Creative & Memorable Chinese New Year Treats

Melissa Koh — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 03:00:27 +0000

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!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

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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1-Caramel at One Rochester – Delightful World of Delicate Desserts

Melissa Koh — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 03:00:12 +0000

Hidden away from the bustling city, 1-Caramel is a dessert boutique located on the second level of One Rochester.

Amidst the lush greenery of Rochester Park, you would totally feel like you’re on a mini getaway with the resort-like façade.

Upon entering 1 Caramel, you may get the impression that you are stepping into a pastry workshop rather than a bistro.

The open concept of the clean and organised pastry kitchen allows us curious diners to watch how our desserts are being meticulously prepared.

Be mesmerised by the array of exquisite cakes on display, showcasing different pastry techniques, skills and artistic creativity.

The wide range includes signature whole cakes (8 to 9 inches; S$45-85) and cupcakes (S$3-3.50). You can also opt for your cakes to be customised, whose prices would then be dependent on the complexity of design.

Other than desserts, set lunches (S$12-18++) and an all-day brunch menu (S$8-22++) are available. The drinks selection includes coffees and teas (S$5-8++) and ice blended beverages (S$8-8.90++).

To add to the classy and modern contemporary interior, the excellent view of nature allows you to escape from the busy urban life while indulging your senses in the cosy ambience.

Despite the limited seating capacity of 16 diners, there is still ample room for comfort. One side benefit is that you will receive undivided attention from the staff. A reservation should be made in advance to secure a seat during peak hours.

Brunch

From the brunch menu, you can go for the tastefully presented traditional eggs Benedict with smoked salmon.

Traditional eggs Benedict
S$14++

Doused in a wonderful lemony hollandaise sauce, the poached eggs boast a runny yolk. As you cut into the eggs, they bleed beautifully to lightly coat the salmon and muffin beneath. All the elements combine to make a wholesome and well-balanced dish that you will enjoy thoroughly.

For sharing, the posh platter (S$22++) consists of three items.

Truffled brie and cherry tomatoes

The truffled brie and cherry tomatoes on a toasted brioche make a healthful finger food. Fresh tomatoes and the light pastry crumbs are bound perfectly with the great-tasting truffled brie.

Asparagus wrapped in basil and prosciutto

Even though I am one who discards any greens I see on a plate, the asparagus is an exception. I love the teaming of salted prosciutto with the al denté asparagus.

Smoked salmon tart with crème fraiche and ocean trout caviar

My favourite component of the platter would be the smoked salmon tart with crème fraiche and ocean trout caviar. The tart is freshly baked, with smoked salmon mixed in a creamy centre, and finally sprinkled with caviar for a touch of luxury.

Desserts

Raspberry rum chocolate lollipop
Not available on menu

These tiny raspberry rum chocolate lollipops are certainly worthy of your attention. Dusted with raspberry powder, the rich dark chocolate melts in the mouth. The raspberry and chocolate form a sexy pairing that leaves you craving for more.

Then comes the crowd pleaser. The 1-Caramel Assiette is an assembly of elegant petite-sized desserts that look too pretty to be eaten. If you fancy any of the desserts, you can order the regular portion at S$14++ each.

1-Caramel Assiette
S$16 / 20 / 24++ for 3 / 4 / 5 desserts

Death by chocolate (bottom right) consists of a Valrhona soffiato molten cake followed by dark chocolate sorbet and a trail of chocolaty goodness. Mysteriously, the supposedly molten chocolate centre is missing, although the very rich dark chocolate sorbet that melts into a thick chocolate sauce makes up for it.

Raspberry lychee rose panna cotta

A charming light dessert, the raspberry lychee rose panna cotta with lychee-lemon compote is a natural choice for the health-conscious. The cold pudding has a comforting smooth texture that isn’t too sweet. The acidity will not satisfy any sweet tooth but it definitely will galvanise your taste buds for more desserts!

Earl Grey crème brulee

The Earl Grey crème brulee is an infusion of Earl Grey tea leaves in smooth custard. Less sweet than the classic crème brulee, it also lacks the contrasting layer of bruleed caramel on top; cracking into the dessert would have upped the excitement factor! The quaint grissini cheese straws, dusted with tea and icing powder are a delight to nibble and go very well with the crème brulee.

Baked Alaska

The Baked Alaska comprises of home-made strawberry and vanilla ice cream capped with rum-flavoured Italian meringue, resting on nutty chocolate brownie.

Cutting into the dessert is such a joy. Beautifully layered, the contrasting textures — ice cream, cake and baked meringue — are absolutely heavenly. I devour it in minutes!

Hazelnut soufflé
S$14++

The hazelnut soufflé is coupled with a scoop of chocolate ice cream. The soufflé arrives as a puffed up pillow with a golden crown over a soft yielding centre, which spells the perfect comfort food. It is full of hazelnut richness and has a nostalgic flavour that reminds me of my favourite childhood candy bar — Kinder Bueno.

I end up eating the two separately as I feel each one tastes better on its own.

Miso soufflé
S$14++

The miso soufflé slants toward the savoury side, and I enjoy the salty-sweet combination immensely. The yuzu (a citrus fruit) ice cream that comes with it is a tad sour, and complements the soufflé. This luscious dessert is a must-try for soufflé fans.

Midori macaron

Cutting into the eggshell-like crust of the midori macaron gives way to varying textures and flavours. Tiny as it is, it would leave you wanting more.

1-Caramel displays creativity and technique in fabricating these delicate desserts. No matter what your gastronomic preferences are, you will be spoilt for choice here.

Have Your Say!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Aside from Rochester Park, are there any other unique dining enclaves in Singapore? What is your most memorable dining experience? Share with us in the comments!

1-Caramel
1 Rochester Park, Level 2
Singapore 139212
Tel: +65 6774 1302 | Website | Facebook | Twitter

Opening hours:
Mon – Fri: 11:30am – 10:30pm (all-day brunch)
Sat & Sun: 10am – 10:30pm (brunch is available till 4pm)

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/1-caramel/ | 1 comment

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Fosters, an English Rose Cafe – Possibly the Cheapest High Tea in Singapore

Veron Ang — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 05:44:54 +0000

If you are looking for a laid-back place to chill on a nice afternoon without putting a dent on your wallet, look no further than Fosters, an English Rose Cafe at the charming Holland Village. The homely café has a wonderful afternoon tea set that should keep your tummy happy and satisfied for hours.

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.

Have Your Say!

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:

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/fosters-english-rose-cafe/ | Leave a comment

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Yum Cha Restaurant – Traditional Dim Sum

Veron Ang — Tue, 24 May 2011 03:00:10 +0000

Even as Singapore is constantly transforming, it is heartening to know that some things do not get swept away in the sea of change. Yum Cha Restaurant is one of them. When dining in at the all-day dim sum restaurant in Chinatown (second branch at Serangoon Gardens Country Club), you still enjoy a very traditional dining experience.

Yum Cha Chinatown occupies the second floor of a three-storey shophouse building. The design of the current premises remains conservative with the standard-issue Chinese restaurant look, including marble table tops and old-style wooden chairs. The staff even serve dim sum in bamboo steamers from the traditional trolley.

Xiao long bao
S$4.20++

For dim sum, you can choose from the classics like pork dumplings, siew mai and xiao long bao.

Xiao long bao is the acid test of dim sum and the ones here are benchmark, boasting thin skin, hot soup and savoury minced pork filling.

Prawn dumplings
S$4.50++

The prawn dumplings are slightly lacking in flavour and you really have to dip into the soy and vinegar dipping sauces. They will also fare better with a thinner skin.

Lotus leaf glutinous rice
S$4++

Stuffed with chicken, mushroom, egg and small slivers of crab stick, the lotus leaf glutinous rice is vividly flavourful and satisfying.

Seafood fried rice
S$12/18/24++

For something more filling, you can’t go wrong with the seafood fried rice, a pyramid of savoury rice with a tiara of egg, scallions, scallop medallions and shrimp.

Deep fried custard rolls
S$2.80++

I can’t decide whether the deep fried custard rolls are dim sum or dessert. Dessert or not, I really love the taste of these rolls, the bright yellow sweet egg custard encased in a wafer-thin deep fried skin. These spring roll lookalikes will absolutely delight egg tart fans.

And speaking of egg tarts, Yum Cha does have a mini egg tart item on the menu that I have yet to try. The egg custard filling is perhaps similar.

Apart from the food, you’ll also appreciate the little device they place on each table for “quick service”. It has various buttons that allow you to request for water or the bill. Once you press a button, the LED counter on the wall would light up with your table number, alerting staff to your needs.

Credit

Here’s a tip: Like in many Chinese restaurants, the staff would hand you wet tissues and peanuts without your asking. You can return these if you don’t want to be charged for them in your bill.

In addition to dim sum, Yum Cha Restaurant also has an a la carte menu. The prices are a bit high for Chinatown standards. If you want to dine in a laid-back place out of town, you’d be happy here.

Have Your Say!

What are your favourite dim sum restaurants in Singapore? Share with us in the comments!

Yum Cha Restaurant
Website | Facebook

Yum Cha Chinatown

Chinatown
20 Trengganu Street #02-01
Singapore 058479
Tel: +65 6372 1717
Service:

Opening hours:
Mon to Fri: 11am – 11pm
Sat, Sun & Public Holidays: 9am – 11pm

Yum Cha Serangoon Gardens

Serangoon Gardens Country Club
22 Kensington Park Road
Singapore 557271
Tel: +65 6343 1717

Opening hours:
Mon to Fri: 11am – 3pm; 6pm – 11pm
Sat, Sun & Public Holidays: 9am – 3pm; 6pm – 11pm

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/yum-cha-restaurant/ | 10 comments

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Mother’s Day 2011 – Restaurant Promotions & Deals in Singapore

Veron Ang — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 03:00:22 +0000

Mother’s Day is happening on Sunday, May 8, 2011. Restaurants and cafés in Singapore are pulling out all the stops for Mom’s special day — and we show you where to find a few of them just in case you need ideas.

Here is a compilation of Mother’s Day restaurant promotions, specials and deals in Singapore including brunch, afternoon tea, dinners, set menus and buffets. Whether your Mom prefers casual home-cooked flavours or a luxurious seafood dinner, we’ve got it covered. Also included are a few of my family’s favourites.

Baked scallop in egg white at Putien

Bon appétit!

Mother’s Day Brunch

COCOTTE French restaurant

Hormone-free roast chicken at COCOTTE

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.

Cocotte
2 Dickson Road
Singapore 209494
Tel: +65 6298 1188 | Website

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.

Oriole Cafe & Bar
Pan Pacific Suites (next to 313@Somerset)
96 Somerset Road #01-01
Singapore 238163
Tel: +65 6238 8348 | Website

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.

Aerin’s
Raffles City Shopping Centre
252 North Bridge Road #B1-11/12
Singapore 179103
Tel: +65 6337 2231 | Website

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.

Hotel Re!
175A Chin Swee Road
Singapore 169879
Tel: +65 6827 8228 | Website

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++).

Kinki Restaurant + Bar
Customs House
70 Collyer Quay #02-02
Singapore 049323
Tel: +65 6533 3471 | Website

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.

Dian Xiao Er
- Marina Square
- VivoCity
- Ang Mo Kio Hub
- Causeway Point
- Changi Airport Terminal 3
- Lot One Shoppers’ Mall
- Jurong Point
- West Coast Plaza
- NEX Mall
- Tampines One
Website

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.

Putien Restaurant
- City Square Mall #02-51/54
- Jurong Point #02-34
- 127 Kitchener Road
- Marina Square #02-205
- nex Mall #02-19
- Parkway Parade #02-13/13A
- Tampines Mall #B1-K19/27
- VivoCity Food Republic #03-01B
Website

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.

Red House Seafood Restaurant
- East Coast Seafood Centre, 1204 East Coast Parkway #01-05, Tel: +65 6442 3112
- The Quayside, 60 Robertson Quay #01-13/14, Tel: +65 6735 7666
Website

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)

Shahi Maharani North Indian Restaurant
Raffles City Shopping Centre (Level 3, Fairmont Singapore)
252 North Bridge Road #03-21B
Singapore 179103
Tel: +65 6235 8840
Website

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.

Zhou’s Kitchen
- Anchorpoint
- Far East Square
- Jurong Point
- Square 2
Website

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.

Bedrock Bar & Grill
Pan Pacific Suites (next to 313@Somerset)
96 Somerset Road #01-05
Singapore 238163
Tel: +65 6238 0054 | Website

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.

Heart Bistro
Palais Renaissance
390 Orchard Road #B1-08/09/10C
Singapore 238871
Tel: +65 6737 2148 | Website

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.

Goodwood Park Hotel
22 Scotts Road
Singapore 228221
Tel: +65 6730 1786 | Website

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.

Novus Café
National Museum of Singapore
93 Stamford Road #01-02
Singapore 178897
Tel: +65 6337 1397 | Website

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.

Spices Cafe
Concorde Hotel
100 Orchard Road
Singapore 238840
Tel: +65 6739 8370 | Website

Have Your Say!

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!

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/mothers-day-singapore-restaurant-promotions/ | 4 comments

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Chiang Mai, Thailand – Vieng Joom On Teahouse, Possibly the World’s Pinkest Café

Veron Ang — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 03:00:36 +0000

Ladies and gentlemen, today you are going to see the pinkest eatery in Chiang Mai, and quite possibly the world. The Vieng Joom On Teahouse, or simply VJO, occupies a striking pink building on the eastern bank of Ping River. Under this gorgeous setting you can enjoy a wide assortment of western teas and cakes. What a wonderful way of spending an idyllic afternoon.

VJO Teahouse is located within a five-minute walk of The Riverside Bar & Restaurant. I would give you proper directions, but you probably won’t need that when the building stands out like a beacon.

Whilst doing research on my Lenovo laptop for places to go in Chiang Mai, I learn that this is one of those eateries that locals would bring their foreigner friends. After all, it’s not everyday that you get to hang out in an all-pink tea house, is it?

Upon entering the building, you pass through the shopping section that sells tea blends, teapots and other accessories that are beautifully wrapped in specially designed paper bags and tins.

Then, you arrive at the spacious dining area and finally see what everyone has been raving about. This place looks like a dream!

Under a fuchsia canopy, the lounge area is attractively decked out in floral décor and water features on the dark wood floor. Obviously much attention to detail has been paid to the interior design.

Soothing English songs play in the background as you settle into the cushioned seats of varying hues of pink. A well-stocked magazine rack is available for your reading pleasure. For those of you with your wireless devices, there is free wi-fi, too.

The breezy outdoor area with umbrellas overlooks Ping River.

We pick a cosy spot and go about our orders. Even the menus featuring the cursive logo are pretty.

VJO high tea for two
495baht + 10% service charge
Rating:

The VJO high tea for two is presented in a three-layered cake stand filled with cakes, sandwiches and fruits. All the pastries here are made in-house.

For the cakes, you get a range of petit fours that taste as good as they look.

The mini sandwiches come in two varieties — cucumber and some form of egg custard. Notice the cute little beaded picks that are stuck in each one.

As for fruits, they arrive as a colourful salad of dragonfruit, green apple, pineapple and strawberry.

Rose tea
Rating:

To wash down the delicious treats, the high tea set includes a large pot of tea, for which we choose the rose tea.

How very quaint, and so very girly! We see mostly locals, a few tourists, and even an all-male group at one point. The tea, desserts, soothing music and laid-back garden setting all make for an incredible way to chill out. By the time we have to leave the place reluctantly, it feels as though we have enjoyed a lengthy spa treatment!

Have Your Say!

How do you find the all-pink concept at VJO Teahouse? Guys, would you come here? Are there any other similar establishments out there? Share with us in the comments!

Vieng Joom On Teahouse
53 Charoenraj Road
T.Watgate A.Muang
Chiang Mai 50000
Thailand
Tel: +66 5330 3113 | Website

Operating hours: 10am – 7pm daily

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/travel/thailand/chiang-mai-vjo-teahouse/ | 6 comments

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tcc – High Tea Set for March 2011

Veron Ang — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 03:00:05 +0000

Every month, tcc the connoisseur concerto lays out a special high tea set at its boutique cafés. What makes this set so popular is that you can enjoy a variety of high-quality bite-sized delights at a very reasonable price. On special occasions such as Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year, the pretty platters are given festive touches like heart-shaped macaron tarts and bak kwa mini sandwiches.

tcc High Tea

The tcc high tea for March 2011 is a treat for both eyes and palate.

High tea set
S$12.90++

Available from 2-6pm daily until March 31, 2011

The new high tea set includes items that range from the bruschetta with chopped tomatoes, scones accompanied by jam and cream, to the mini oreo cheesecake topped with whipped cream.

Also included in the price is a drink, which you can choose between the tcc premium blend or the tea of the day.

Have Your Say!

What is your favourite tcc high tea set? Share with us in the comments!

tcc
- ION Orchard
- PoMo
- Wisma Atria
- International Building
- Suntec City
- Anchorpoint
- Central
- Changi Airport T3 Arrival Hall
- Marina at Keppel Bay
- Changi Airport T3 Departure
- No. 4 Robinson Road
- Samsung Hub
- German Centre
- Novena Square
- Centrepoint
- Bugis Junction (Atrium)
- The Pier @ Robertson
- Funan DigitaLife Mall
- The Atrium @ Orchard
- Isetan Scotts
- Singapore Management University
- Citylink Mall
- Raffles Xchange
- Great World City
- Peranakan Place
- Bugis Junction (Main Boutique)
- NTUC Building @ One Marina Boulevard
- Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA)
- Millenia Walk
- Clarke Quay
- Circular Road
- Beach Centre
Website

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/tcc-high-tea-march-2011/ | 2 comments

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Goodwood Park Durian Cake Fiesta

Veron Ang — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 07:52:43 +0000

Hello March. Durian lovers, you know what that means.

The annual Goodwood Park Durian Fiesta is back!

From March to July, you can enjoy a smorgasbord of durian creations at the hotel that recently celebrated its 110th anniversary. We’re talkin’ puffs and crepes and strudels and cakes.

Making its début this year is the durian cappuccino cake, comprising three layers of cappuccino mousse, D24 durian pulp and chocolate sponge coated by yellow vanilla sponge crumbs.

Durian cappuccino cake
S$9 per piece
S$52 for whole cake
Rating:

With both the durian and coffee flavours vying for your attention at the same time, enjoy this cake for the sake of having something rather unusual. Personally, I prefer sinking my teeth into coffee cake or durian cake individually, rather than having two very strong flavours in one bite.

Durian mousse cake
S$9 per slice
S$55 per 1.3kg cake
S$102 per 2.5kg cake
S$135 per 3.5kg cake

For that reason the classic durian mousse cake is still my choice. This long-standing crowd pleaser kicked off the Goodwood Park Durian Fiesta in 1983. Crowned with cubes of sponge cake, every bite of the rich durian mousse tastes as good as the actual fruit and certainly satiates any big durian craving!

Mini durian ice cream cake
S$12.80 per piece
S$22 for 2
Rating:

Another new addition is the mini durian ice cream cake. Each dome-shaped cake is made of luscious durian ice cream, finished with a coating of white chocolate and a ring of crushed almonds at its base. The ice cream is also separately available by the scoop (S$6.50) or tub (S$16.80 for 16oz).

Durian puff
S$5.20 for 2
S$14.80 for 6
S$42.80 for 20
Rating:

The dainty durian puff really hits the spot. Tucked within the fluffy sugar-dusted choux pastry case is creamy durian filling, which boasts an even thicker and richer consistency than the mousse cake.

Durian eclair
S$6 each
S$42.80 for 8
Rating:

And the durian eclair is no slouch either. This has a generous amount of durian pulp sandwiched between choux pastry and drizzled with either chocolate or fondant (sugar icing).

During the Durian Fiesta, these baked goodies are available for take-out at the Deli. Alternatively, you can dine in at L’Espresso, the spacious café located at the hotel lobby that has an alfresco poolside dining area.

Have Your Say!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

What are your favourite durian pastries and desserts? Where else can you get a good durian fix? Tell us in the comments!

Goodwood Park Hotel
22 Scotts Road
Singapore 228221
Tel: +65 6730 1786 | Website

Operating hours: 9am – 9pm daily

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/goodwood-park-durian-fiesta/ | 4 comments

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tcc – High Tea Set for a Sweet Valentine

Veron Ang — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 03:00:17 +0000

For those romantically — and gastronomically (hey, that’s why you’re here right?) — inclined, the February specials at café chain, tcc the connoisseur concerto may be just the thing to satiate your wants.

Shareable for two, the popular tcc high tea made its début this time last year with a galore of sweet treats such as chocolate-dipped strawberries and rose-scented macarons. Since then, the set of snacks and pastries would be changed every few months — and they are always a joy to look at.

tcc High Tea

For the month of February 2011, the high tea set includes a variety of goodies with a running theme to celebrate both Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day.

High tea set
S$18.80++

Available from 2-6pm daily until February 28, 2011 at all outlets except Marina at Keppel Bay

Presented on a long white platter are pink heart-shaped raspberry macaron tarts, tiramisu topped with a heart-shaped chocolate crisp, chopped abalone on toasted bread, heart-shaped chicken sandwich, and a duo of scones with strawberry jam and cream. You may notice that the price is higher than that of tea sets from other months, likely due to the inclusion of abalone that brings a touch of luxury.

To wash down these bite-sized delights, the set also comes with a choice of tcc premium blend or tea of the day.

Drink of the Month

Sweet Sensation
S$7.20++

Available until February 28, 2011 at all outlets

Looking for a little romance? Sweet Sensation may just do the trick. This cold beverage is a lovely blend of rose syrup and chocolate, topped with a crown of milk froth. Do these spell romance? I think they do!

Have Your Say!

What is your favourite food and drink at Valentine’s Day? Share with us in the comments!

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/tcc-high-tea-valentine/ | 2 comments

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The Regent Singapore – High Tea Buffet at the Tea Lounge

Jasper Aston Lim — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 07:52:10 +0000

With many establishments offering high tea these days, it is no surprise that Singaporeans are getting the hang of relaxing and watching the world go by while feasting on delectable teatime snacks.

The Regent Hotel is one of the few five-star hotels in Singapore that has an entire restaurant dedicated to serving just high tea. The elegantly decorated Tea Lounge located at the hotel lobby is a hot favourite for diners seeking a delicious selection of tea delights and a great place to relax on a sunny afternoon.

Having had their afternoon tea sets before, I decide to celebrate a friend’s birthday with their weekend international high tea buffet.

High tea buffet
S$45++
Available on Sat & Sun 1:30 – 5:30pm
Rating:

Even before we are seated, we have been visually treated to the spread of savoury delicacies and desserts. Everything is neatly categorized and laid out in clear view, which is perfect if you would like to first check out the dishes before committing to the buffet.

There are both sofa and regular seats available on both sides of the lounge area surrounding the buffet line, as well as outdoor seating.

All things Japanese such as sushi, sashimi and miniature servings of cold soba noodles are available at this counter.

Next up, the cold dishes include chilled petite-sized sandwiches and burgers, vegetable skewers, a variety of salads that you can mix yourself.

The hot dishes are separated into two sections, — international and local delights.

Do try the bite-sized chicken puffs. The flaky pastry paired with a thick, creamy chicken mix inside sure makes one salivate!

At a nearby small counter, a designated chef will serve you slices of grilled salmon or roast beef. Both are full of flavour and done to perfection.

The local section carries popular Singapore dishes such as satay (meat skewers) and spring rolls as well as a selection of dim sum.

I enjoy the fried chicken and laksa flan very much. The latter is an extremely interesting concoction, with a taste like mildly spicy chawanmushi (Japanese egg custard) infused with laksa flavours. This is a must-try!

No high tea would be complete without desserts, and the Tea Lounge certainly does not cut back in the sweet treats area. A whole section is catered to assorted cakes, sinful pastries and other goodies.

What I find most interesting in the desserts corner is this huge bowl of fresh fruits and berries. You can help yourself to the fruits; add it to a salad to spruce it up, or scoop some hot chocolate from the fondue and create your own berry mudpie. No prizes for guessing what I did!

Right beside the desserts section is a mini kitchen where chefs prepare lava cakes and whip up crepes based on your preference. There may be some waiting time as they do each order a la minute, but the wait is all worth it. The warm lava cake paired with homemade vanilla ice cream is overflowing with chocolate even before I sink my fork into it.

The strawberry crepe, with my choice of raspberry sorbet and maple syrup, is so light and delicate, I’ll admit to having more than one serving.

Also not to be missed when visiting the Tea Lounge is their renowned scones! These are firm and crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside. When paired with sweet jams or clotted cream, it seems to just melt your troubles away as you bite into it.

Knowing that it is my friend’s birthday, the ever prompt and polite waitresses decide to surprise us by specially preparing a slice of cake and a birthday song – complete with accompaniment from the lobby pianist! Their standard of service and thoughtfulness certainly delight us and make it a very memorable dining experience.

With a selection that changes periodically, repeat visits to the Tea Lounge would not get boring. I can’t wait to see what new additions they will cook up next!

Have Your Say!

Where do you go for high tea in Singapore? If you have any recommendations, don’t forget to share with us in the comments!

Tea Lounge
The Regent Singapore
1 Cuscaden Road
Singapore 249715
Tel: +65 6725 3246 | Website

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/regent-singapore-high-tea/ | 6 comments

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The Cookie Museum – Most Beautiful ‘Museum’ [Video]

Veron Ang — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:42:39 +0000

At this museum, an entry pass is not required. All you need is a love for tea and cookies.

(Note: If the photographs below look somewhat ‘different’, that’s because I was playing around with the vintage lomo effect.)

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…

Have Your Say!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

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

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/the-cookie-museum/ | 15 comments

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Resorts World at Sentosa – Boulangerie Dessert Café

Veron Ang — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 09:35:30 +0000

Have you been to the Resorts World at Sentosa yet? The integrated resort has soft-opened its hotels, casino and the Universal Studios theme park to much fanfare. This week, we show you another dining option at the resort.

Boulangerie at Festive Hotel is a patisserie located at the lobby. It is instantly recognisable by the distinct colourful lanterns hanging from the tall ceiling.

Over here, you can get quick bites and small desserts including French pastries such as macarons, sandwiches and gelati. The range is small, but fortunately we have already had a bellyful of food and desserts (with bird’s nest!) from The Dining Room at Crockfords Tower Hotel.

Satin
S$6.40++
Rating:

We sample the pretty pastry with an equally pretty name, Satin. This is some sort of a coconut crumble, heaped with freshly shredded pineapple and flavoured with lime. The sour tang from the fruit complements the coconuty sweetness nicely.

Choco-Nut-Tarte
S$4.80++
Rating:

Chocolate fans can indulge in the Choco-Nut-Tarte, a simple milk chocolate tart with a crunchy hazelnut base. The chocolate is rich, creamy and smooth. Although, our favourite when it comes to chocolate is still Nama chocolate.

Gelato
S$2.20++
Rating:

The scoop of gelato comes in a small bowl. Not much to the presentation here. We try the tiramisu flavour which is nice but not particularly memorable.

When it comes to paying the bill, something bizarre happens here…

Bizarre Incident #1: Instead of the waitress bringing us the check, everyone has to queue at the counter to make payment. That’s despite the fact that there’s a 10% service charge here.

Bizarre Incident #2: The waitress at the counter amusingly gets us to recite to her what we have ordered, while she keys it into the cash register at the same time. Suppose someone were to “accidentally” miss an item, he basically gets it for free!

Bizarre Incident #3: Their one-price-for-all-beverages policy. Our regular black coffee costs $6++. The guy before us in the line pays $6++ for his tall glass of chocolate cookie iced latte and cappucino, too. Needless to say, we feel kinda ripped off, especially since there isn’t any kind of menu with prices that we can peruse before ordering.

This is also a good example of when the 10% service charge should not be mandatory. What do you think?

Have Your Say!

Now, the Resorts World at Sentosa is still new and I’m pretty sure all the Bizarre Incidents won’t be here to stay. If you have visited Boulangerie, please drop a note below. We’re curious to know if things have changed!

Boulangerie
Resorts World Sentosa
Festive Hotel, Level 2
Service:
Website

Opening hours:
10:00am – 6:00pm (Mon – Fri)
8:30am – 6:00pm (Sat, Sun, PH)
8:30am – 10:00am (Continental Breakfast – Sat, Sun, PH)

Resorts World at Sentosa

Check out what you can expect at the rest of Resorts World at Sentosa. Plus, a review of The Dining Room at Crockfords Tower Hotel.

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/resorts-world-sentosa-boulangerie-cafe/ | 14 comments

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tcc – Perfect Ten High Tea Set

Veron Ang — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:18:24 +0000

Local café chain, tcc the connoisseur concerto, has rolled out a special Perfect Ten high tea set to celebrate Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day. This comes with 10 bite-sized desserts and treats that are guaranteed to please, plus a tea or coffee to warm the heart.

Perfect Ten high tea set
S$13.80++
Rating:

What really impresses is how beautifully everything is presented. From the sandwich with bak kwa (chicken instead of pork jerky) to the chocolate-dipped strawberries (sprinkled with chocolate rice), every morsel simply looks so dainty! As a chocolate fan, my favourite is easily the little chocolate mousse cake. Rich and velvety smooth chocolate. Yum!

Have you seen the flyer for this promotion? What you see is really what you’ll get. Heck, even the placement of the individual items is accurate to the T!

The canapé comprises a plump juicy prawn, a slice of sweet mango, tomato and lettuce. Very colourful and totally yummy!

The prettiest of them all has to be pink rose-scented macaron, with strawberry slices doused in whipped cream. Ooh la la!

If you love desserts, you definitely want to check this out. Better still, bring along a friend or a partner. Everything in the set, except for the drink, comes in twos. Perfect for sharing!

Valid from 2-6pm daily. Promotion ends February 28, 2010.

tcc
- ION Orchard
- PoMo
- Wisma Atria
- International Building
- Suntec City
- Anchorpoint
- Central
- Changi Airport T3 Arrival Hall
- Changi Airport T3 Departure
- No. 4 Robinson Road
- Samsung Hub
- German Centre
- Novena Square
- Centrepoint
- Bugis Junction (Atrium)
- The Pier @ Robertson
- Funan DigitaLife Mall
- The Atrium @ Orchard
- Isetan Scotts
- Singapore Management University
- Citylink Mall
- Raffles Xchange
- Great World City
- Peranakan Place
- Bugis Junction (Main Boutique)
- NTUC Building @ One Marina Boulevard
- Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA)
- Millenia Walk
- Clarke Quay
- Circular Road
- Beach Centre
Website

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/tcc-high-tea/ | 18 comments

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Chihuly Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton – High Tea Buffet

Veron Ang — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 05:00:35 +0000

Colour me impressed: The Chihuly Lounge at the luxurious Ritz-Carlton Hotel has Christmasified their popular weekend tea buffet, and it’s made up of all things sweet and good!

The moment you walk into the tea lounge you are greeted by the sight of the dessert station. And what a fabulous spread! In place of the usual macarons and bite-sized sandwiches, you get a whole new array of Christmas goodies!

Weekend Afternoon Tea Buffet (Christmas edition)
S$46++
Buffet rating:
Buffet hours: 2:30 – 5pm

The first thing that catches the eyes are these tiramisu desserts in shot glasses. They have little gingerbread man biscuits (and they were SMILING!) that would totally win your heart!

Once we have settled down comfortably into our plush seats at a low coffee table, the waitress hands us the drinks menu. There are different types of tea (Earl Grey, English Breakfast, etc) and coffee (regular, mocha, cappuccino, etc). These are all part of the buffet unless you’re going for pricier stuff like the Blue Mountain coffee.

The tea and coffee are served with an elaborate spread of gold-tinged porcelain ware and silverware. There’s both white and brown sugar (in perfect semi-spherical shapes), milk, lemon and a little tub of honey.

At one end of the buffet line is the dessert station while at the other you’ll find the appetisers and finger food. We start from the appetisers before slowly working our way to the desserts. Gotta save the best for last, right?

The appetisers come in neat petite sizes, so there’s room in the tummy to sample everything!

Seared scallop, cauliflower mousse, salmon caviar, coriander dressing

The seared scallop is extremely satisfying, with a full-sized scallop topped with salmon caviar.

You would also find offerings that range from the more ostentatious foie gras mousse…

Foie gras mousse, fresh figs, port sauce, brioche crisp

… to the more down-to-earth roast duck.

Roast duckling, celeriac, chemes, walnut orange syrup

Dining here is certainly a feast for the eyes. Even something like roast duck can look so visually appealing!

There are also the bread items, all in miniature sizes. Go easy on these, because they can really fill you up quickly.

Mini burger

Cute mini burgers!

Mini brioche, roast beef, caramelised onions and horseradish cream

Even something as basic as toothpicks look great with that colourful weaving!

Crab claw and spiced smoked roasted prawns on the skewer

The deep-fried crab claws and roasted prawns come with their own individual spicy dips which are delicious and go very well with the food.

Even though the appetisers are good, my mind is really on the desserts!

Raspberry log cake

If you find the usual chocolate log cake to be too rich or sore throat-inducing, there are various fruity alternatives such as the raspberry log cake. It looks pretty grand!

Lychee log cake with strawberry mousse

This baby pink log cake not only looks gorgeous, it tastes divine too! There’s lychee in it, and the layer of strawberry cream is actually mousse! If you can’t get enough of it at the buffet, you can also buy the whole cake home for $55.

Chocolates

Chocolates! No Christmas should go without them. And these are the richest!

Star-shaped cookie and snowflake cupcake

A star-shaped cookie for Santa? I love the Christmasy touch given to the cupcake in the form of a gold snowflake white chocolate crisp. The icing is extremely sugary and diabetes-inducing though.

Strawberry dessert shots

Strawberry dessert shots for the girls. How pretty!

There’s also a chocolate fondue fountain somewhere in the room but I really don’t have room in my bellyful of goodies for more.

During the buffet, a waiter would move from table to table to make vodka shots for diners. Our lychee vodka comes in coloured glasses. Clink!

Despite being in a 5 (or is it 6) star hotel, the mood is comfortable and relaxed. To further enhance the festive atmosphere, a live jazz band plays Christmas songs in the background. With the music, the quaint little delights and the soothing ambience, it sure is a great way to chill out on a weekend afternoon.

Chihuly Lounge
The Ritz-Carlton Millenia
7 Raffles Avenue
Singapore 039799
Tel: +65 6434 5283 | Website
Service:

Bus services: 36, 56, 75, 77, 97, 106, 111, 133, 171, 195, 857, 960, 70X, 107X, 162X, 961C
Nearest MRT: City Hall

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Zhou’s Kitchen – Posh Zi Char

Veron Ang — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:55:51 +0000

When you’re dining under the Tung Lok group of restaurants, you are assured of decent food and service. Zhou’s Kitchen is the group’s newest addition, named after the owner himself.

This mid-range restaurant offers a high-class version of Chinese zi char (home-cooked fares). While it is marketed as a place for casual dining, the food and decor are by no means casual. You would find slightly “posh” dishes such as wasabi-mayo prawns and crab glutinous rice (with a whole crab!) here. The atmosphere is unintimidating and friendly, and would appeal to families of all generations. My Mom totally enjoyed the Chinese oldies playing in the background. We sat by the large glass windows overlooking the posh car showrooms across the road. These, I feel, are the best seats in the restaurant.

Sautéed Egg White with Dried Scallops and Crab Meat
S$12++
Rating:

Starting out light, we had ourselves the sautéed egg white with dried scallops and crab meat. The egg white is steamed to perfection, intermixed with bits of vegetable and chunks of tasty scallop and crab meat.

The result is a unique blend that tastes not only light and delicious, but is healthy at the same time. The health-conscious bunch would love this (or is there high cholesterol level in this?). But if you’re someone that fancies a lot of flavour in your food, this may be a tad mild.

Coffee Pork Ribs with Almond Flakes
S$14++
Rating:

The coffee pork ribs with almond flakes is one of the most unique dishes I have ever come across. I never imagined coffee would be used as an ingredient in dishes! Being a coffee fanatic, I was looking forward to sampling this dish for the sole fact that it’s coffee-flavoured. Even as I worried that it might end up tasting weird, I felt it’s one of those dishes that’s worth trying just for the heck of it!

Boy, were my worries unfounded! This was easily the best dish of the night! The dark coffee sauce tastes bittersweet and fragrant and goes remarkably well with the meat. Strong coffee aroma filled the air throughout the entire meal. Along with the fact that the chunks of pork ribs are so very tender, it suffices to say that I love this dish, even if I don’t normally take pork.

Ever come across any other coffee-flavoured dish? Let me know and I would love to give it a go!

Deep-fried Prawns with Wasabi-Mayo Sauce
S$18++
Rating:

The deep-fried prawn dish is a house recommendation. Huge prawns dipped in wasabi-flavoured mayonnaise sauce. That’s bound to be good right? At least that’s what I thought.

Seriously, the dish was only average. For starters, other than the light minty green shade, I couldn’t tell there’s wasabi. I have had better renditions at japanese restaurant, Sho-U and was pretty disappointed with this. Plus, 18 bucks for 5 or 6 prawns is a bit much, don’t you think?

Claypot Braised Diced Chicken with Garlic Cloves, Ginger and Basil Leaves
S$10++
Rating:

The braised diced chicken fares much better. Besides the coffee pork ribs, this is another dish that won me over. It arrived in a claypot full of chicken chunks which were packed with intense flavours, due to the use of garlic, ginger and basil leaves. At just ten bucks, this is a robust-tasting dish that goes easy on the wallet too.

On weekends and public holidays, the restaurant also offers a high tea buffet with a different set of dishes.

Zhou’s Kitchen
- Far East Square
- Square 2
Website

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Ah Yat Seafood Restaurant – Half-Priced Dim Sum Delights

Veron Ang — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 12:37:56 +0000

Following that highly expensive dim sum meal at Tung Lok Teahouse, my family and I went hunting around town for a much cheaper alternative. We believe we have found our answer in Ah Yat Seafood Restaurant!

To make up for its relatively inaccessible location at Turf City, the dim sum here is dirt cheap! All prices have been slashed 50 percent from Mondays to Saturdays, and 30 percent on Sundays and public holidays! It appears to be a permanent promotion too! They also have a similar promotion for their live seafood.

Of course, low prices alone would be useless if the food sucks. Fortunately, the dim sum here is pretty decent, and certainly comparable to any reputable dim sum restaurant!

Steamed Fish Roe Siew Mai
S$3.80++ (before discount)
Rating:

We ordered a huge spread of dim sum dishes, including a few of the most common dim sum such as siew mai and steamed shrimp dumpling.

Ah Yat Steamed Shrimp Dumpling
S$3.80++ (before discount)
Rating:

While not particularly memorable, these dim sum were at least decent.

Steamed Shanghai Dumpling with Crab Meat
S$3.20++ (before discount)
Rating:

One of my favourite dishes was the crab meat xiao long bao (steamed Shanghai dumpling). Surprisingly, it was the cheapest item on the menu! Can you tell how succulent the dumplings were? With each bite, delicious soup sweetened with the taste of crab meat oozes out! Yum!

Deep-fried Beancurd Roll with Shrimp
S$3.80++ (before discount)
Rating:

I didn’t like the deep-fried beancurd rolls filled with shrimp however. For one, there wasn’t much shrimp to speak of. The beancurd skin was too thick and kind of soggy too. It ruined the taste for me. I simply do not like beancurd, except when it’s tau huay (beancurd custard with syrup).

Steamed Glutinous Rice with Abalone
S$5++ (before discount)
Rating:

You can also find some rarely seen dim sum dishes here, such as the steamed glutinous rice with abalone that comes wrapped in leaves. It reminds me of the lembas in Lord of the Rings! Okay, lembas is some kind of bread or cake that the elves and hobbits eat in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth legendarium. It is also wrapped in leaves. In the movies we frequently see Frodo and Sam eating it as they go on their quest to destroy the One Ring!

Before my mind starts running wild and back to Middle Earth, I should say that I didn’t like this abalone dim sum. As posh-sounding as it may be, it didn’t go down very well. For one, the small bit of abalone that came in each of the three leaf bundles was so tiny, I almost missed it! It was way too chewy too.

Deep-fried Seafood Roll
S$3.80++ (before discount)
Rating:

Another very unusual dish was this one — deep-fried seafood rolls. It also happens to be my most favourite dish of the entire meal! Those rolls looked cute, like shaggy-haired puppies!

Here’s a closer look. The strands of “hair” form a thick coat around each deep-fried roll, holding a blended mixture of seafood at the centre. It was very, very crispy and a delight to eat, especially with that “crunch, crunch” sound that comes with each chew!

I have to say that we really got much bang for our buck. With the 50% or 30% discount, most of the dishes cost only $1.60 or $1.90 each! Tell me, where else can you find such cheap dim sum in a nice restaurant in Singapore?

Also, the fact that the dim sum is so cheap would lead to people ordering more of it. This high turnover rate results in the kitchen constantly churning out fresh dim sum! Everybody wins!

Ah Yat Seafood Restaurant
Turf City
200 Turf Club Road
#03-01/02 Main Grandstand
Singapore 287994
Tel: +65 6883 2112 | Website
Service:

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Tung Lok Teahouse – Old-fashioned Charm [Closed]

Veron Ang — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 18:56:22 +0000

I’m not exactly a fan of Chinese food. After compiling the list of best and worst restaurants in Singapore for 2006, I realised that not one Chinese restaurant won or was even nominated for any of the “best” awards, while they scooped up the winner and runner-up positions for the “worst” award! Some commentators cried foul and pointed out that there’s a bias towards Western establishments.

So, I decided to give Chinese restaurants a go.

The local Chinese restaurant scene is largely duopolised by two heavyweights — Crystal Jade and Tung Lok. While I dine at the Crystal Jade restaurants often enough, I have not been to any of those in the Tung Lok Group. The latter is slightly more upmarket and famous for its fine dining restaurants.

The Tung Lok restaurant we picked was Teahouse that spans the entire third level of China Square Food Centre (not to be confused with China Square Central). As its name suggests, the menu here consists mainly of Chinese tea and dim sum. Kind of nice for a light family lunch together.

There is a very old-fashioned and quaint feel to this eatery. The décor is done in generic Chinese style, with bright red lanterns adorning the entrance, simple wooden furniture and ornamental ceiling fans hanging from the ceiling.

In an authentic dim sum eatery, I would expect to see wheeled carts being pushed around from table to table, serving dim sum from bamboo steamers. But strangely, we got none of that over here for a place that’s oozing such tradition.

Steamed Mushroom and Pork Dumplings
S$5+++
Rating:

One dim sum classic is siew mai, which is possibly the commonest and most popular variety of dim sum. For the dim sum newbies, siew mai is a mixture of usually shrimp and meat that is then steamed to perfection. It tends to come with a bright orange dot on top. I thought the siew mai here was decent and certainly wasn’t anything out of the ordinary.

Steamed Juicy Prawn Dumplings
S$5+++
Rating:

Most of the dim sum we ordered had prawn filling, such as these steamed juicy prawn dumplings. Encased in a translucent rice-flour skin, the prawn dumplings tasted sort of bland, like the siew mai. All right, maybe I’m just not a fan of Chinese food. They all taste bland to me! Or maybe I just have higher expectations for an illustrious restaurant group like Tung Lok.

I do like these ones though.

Steamed Dumplings with Scallop Filling
S$5+++
Rating:

These colourful dumplings had scallop and actually tasted rather delightful! Plus, I like the effort that had been put into making each one look pretty.

Here’s a close-up on one. Does anyone know what’s that orange stuff?

Deep-fried Bean Curd Skin Rolls with Prawn
S$5+++
Rating:

My mom loved these bean curd skin prawn rolls. The bean curd skin had a sweet taste to it that reminded me of the ones used in inari sushi. We ordered a few plates of these.

Steamed Flour Rolls with Barbecued Pork Filling
S$5+++
Rating:

The steamed flour rolls (a.k.a. chee cheong fun) had barbecued pork filling (a.k.a. char siew). Again, it tasted monotonous and would have made for a better dish had the skin been thinner.

Deep-fried Prawn Dumplings Served with Mayonnaise
S$5+++
Rating:

The only highlight of this whole meal (for me) was the deep-fried prawn dumplings served with mayonnaise. Fried stuff always tastes good! This one had a very light and crispy skin wrapped around some very juicy and crunchy prawn. Yum! In fact, it tasted so good we had nine!

Teochew Yam Paste with Ginko Nut and Mashed Pumpkin
S$6+++
Rating:

And finally, the dessert that reminds me of an egg served sunny-side up — yam paste with ginko nut and mashed pumpkin. According to my Mom, it’s really good.

So that’s it for my first meal at a Tung Lok restaurant! I find that when you visit a nice Chinese restaurant at either Crystal Jade or Tung Lok, the food never sucks. But it is never fantastic either. The food is so safe and consistent that it gets sort of boring. Certainly not the kind of food that would make me get a craving for. I wasn’t wowed or impressed.

But that’s just me.

Tung Lok Teahouse
51 Telok Ayer Street
#03-01/03 China Square Food Centre
Singapore 048441
Tel: +65 6533 0660 | Website
Service:

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Royal Copenhagen Tea Lounge & Restaurant – They Shoot for the Stars

Veron Ang — Sat, 18 Feb 2006 10:04:09 +0000

From the junction between takashimaya, Paragon and mandarin hotel, a level-two café that can be seen through its glass windows always catches my attention. I had been curious about this place for a long time! It is none other than the Royal Copenhagen tea lounge & restaurant.

I liked the place and was impressed with the fancy porcelain tableware they used. Everything, from the teacups and saucers, and the bowls and plates, right down to the sugar and creamer holders, were from the Royal Copenhagen blue flower series.

The house specialty tea came in teacups that had been painted with the year they were issued. One had the year 2002 painted on its bottom while the other was painted the year 1987. More amazingly, there were cups issued as early as the 19th century!

I was even more impressed with the food. It was practically art on a plate!

The main course I ordered was called “shooting star”. It consisted of two slabs of dory fillet — one fried and one steamed — served with shrimp and toast. Everything about it tasted good and really filled my stomach. I have to admit I ordered the dish mainly because of its attractive name, but the food turned out great!

My friend ordered a foie gras salad. I didn’t try it because I didn’t have the appetite for duck liver, but the dish looked good!

The sirloin steak looked awesome, but too bad I’m not a steak person! Wow, it seems like I’m missing out on a lot of good food because the only meat I eat is chicken and seafood. But you guys don’t have to miss out, do you?

The total bill came up to over 80 dollars, which is a decent price to pay for a good meal for two. Overall, the place kinda reminded me a little of The Cookie Museum with the good food and European theme. The service we received was not too friendly though, as the middle-aged waitresses seemed quite distant and perhaps even a little snobbish at times.

Royal Copenhagen Tea Lounge & Restaurant
Ngee Ann City Tower A
391A Orchard Road
Singapore 238873
Tel: +65 6735 5298 | Website
Service:

News updates

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

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The Cookie Museum (formerly V Tea Room) – Back to Victorian Times

Veron Ang — Sun, 27 Mar 2005 17:01:15 +0000

Update: The V Tea Room is now known as The Cookie Museum.

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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