http://sparklette.net/food/buffet-town/ http://sparklette.net/food/buffet-town/#comments Fri, 14 Oct 2011 03:00:56 +0000 Jasper Aston Lim http://sparklette.net/?p=1228

Buffet Town is the new kid on the block of buffet restaurants. Located at Raffles City where Shokudo Japanese Food Bazaar used to sit, the restaurant aims to be the ultimate international buffet venue with an offering of over 300 food items.

Buffet
Lunch (Mon-Fri): Adult $23.80++; Child $16.80++
Lunch (Sat-Sun, Eve of and PH): Adult $28.80++; Child $16.80++
Dinner (Mon-Thu): Adult $33.80++; Child $19.80++
Dinner (Fri-Sun, Eve of and PH): Adult $38.80++; Child $19.80++
Buffet rating:

Priced very reasonably for a buffet conveniently located at the heart of Singapore, it’s no wonder that the 450-seat restaurant is bustling with activity even on a weekday evening!

Mussels

As with all buffets these days, the seafood counter is a big hit and always crowded. Many diners can be seen piling up their plates with seafood. Look out for the big and juicy freshly shucked oysters.

Chilled crayfish and prawns

Maki

At the Japanese counter, the food is replenished quickly, ensuring that the freshest quality is always made available to diners. Check out the large assortment of maki rolls, ranging from the usual California rolls to asparagus. Hand-rolls are also prepared à la minute by the chefs on duty.

Assorted maki and sashimi

Grilled chicken

The hot food section is one of the largest I’ve seen, stretching around almost the whole of the restaurant interior. You will not be disappointed with the variety of items, ranging from grilled to deep-fried, and even curries!

Western stews and curries

Forrest pizza

Boasting a thin crust and a generous serving of ingredients and mozzarella cheese, it’s no surprise that the pizzas are snatched up almost as quickly as they are replenished!

Fish and chips

One of the most important components to a good fish and chips is the breading. The fish and chips served here have just the right crispiness — a pleasant surprise for this commonly overlooked dish.

Pasta station

A highlight of Buffet Town is the pasta station where you get to create your very own pasta. Simply choose the ingredients you fancy from choices like seafood, mushrooms and even bacon, then select your preferred pasta and sauce.

Penne aglio olio

While my penne aglio olio is packed with yummy ingredients, too much black pepper has been used, hence overpowering the dish. I also try a bowl of creamy spaghetti, in which the cream sauce is lacking and prawns are undercooked.

Roast beef

The restaurant has a few main dishes that are refreshed on a regular basis, namely the carving of the day and Chinese herbal soup. I enjoy the roast beef, which is tender and nicely cooked to pink.

Old cucumber soup

Tempura

Go for the tempura, which is executed to a crisp delight. The sweet potato and ladyfingers are unanimous favourites.

Teppanyaki

Fill your plates with the meats and greens from the teppanyaki station. The chefs are friendly and ever ready to cook up a storm with your selected items. A pity that there is no alert system to inform you when your order is done, which sometimes results in collecting a plate of food that has already gone cold.

You would also find chefs hard at work grilling Japanese and local items.

Grilled pineapple

These skewers of grilled pineapple provide an interesting combination of textures and flavours, and complement the sweet satay meats.

Grilled skewers

The scallops and mussel mentai are highlights from the Japanese grilled section, cooked to perfection and still retaining the fresh seafood goodness. Best enjoyed when they are fresh off the grill!

Mussel mentai

And we’re still not done with this review yet! Buffet Town also has quite a few booths — like the adorable mini rojak stall — dedicated to serving Singapore local favourites.

Rojak station

Carrot cake

The carrot cake is just the way I like it — chunky, slightly sweet and savoury.

Laksa

While my dining companion enjoys the laksa, I feel it could have used more spices and chilli.

Hainanese chicken rice

The chicken rice may be a bit dry, while the meat is just the right oiliness and very flavourful.

Chilli crab

Sinful, but oh-so good, the scrumptious chilli crab gravy is finger-licking good and couples well with the deep-fried mantou.

Coffee and tea station

Having a ‘kopitiam’ right within the restaurant is a stroke of genius! After a heavy meal, there’s nothing better than to kick back and unwind with your favourite kopi-O or teh-si!

For those who prefer something else, there are also drinks machines, and even soy milk.

Soy milk

Mini cakes and éclairs

Not to be left out is the desserts selection. Aside from the usual cakes and tarts, you can also opt for green bean soup, cheng tng or even make your own ice kachang!

Ice cream

While the goreng pisang and waffles are nothing out of the ordinary, I find the ice cream flavours surprisingly tasty and appealing. Do try the rich chocolate as well as macadamia, which has a smooth, subtle sweetness.

Buffet Town has its share of hits and misses. While it is not on par with the high-end buffet establishments, it offers diners a very good range of items at an affordable price. As it is still relatively new, I expect improvements and better things to come.

Have Your Say!

Where can you enjoy the best value buffet in Singapore? Share with us in the comments!

Buffet Town
Raffles City Shopping Centre
252 North Bridge Road #B1-44E
Singapore 179103
Tel: +65 6837 3793 | Website

Opening hours:
Lunch: 11:30am to 3pm daily
Dinner: 6pm to 10:30pm daily

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For a truly relaxing stay, we opted for the S$320++ Re!Treat package that includes:

• Luxurious 1 night stay in Deluxe room
• Buffet breakfast for two
• Key to Your Heart candlelight dinner for two
• 45-minute full-body massage for two at Re!Fresh Wellness Centre
• Complimentary early check in and late check out (subject to availability)
• Complimentary wireless internet access
• Complimentary local calls
• Complimentary mini bar

Deluxe Room

One of the unique features of the Hotel Re! rooms is that each one is brightly coloured, featuring the silhouettes of iconic stars from the 60s and 70s, such as Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe and John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever.

The room is clean and modern, with a nice 42-inch LCD TV and decent cable channels. If you have a thing for nature and greenery, the hotel is perched on Pearl’s Hill and the room windows overlook the Pearl’s Hill City Park, which is a popular spot for joggers and trekkers.

The complimentary mini bar offers the usual bottled water, instant coffee and tea. Extra brownie points for including free snacks like Twisties, biscuits, assorted nuts and canned drinks. These are replenished, or should I say re!plenished, daily.

I like these little tubes of shampoo, conditioner, bath gel and body lotion. The other bathroom amenities you get are toothbrushes and toothpastes, cotton buds, shower cap, soap, cotton pad and even an emery board for your nails.

Massage

If your room package includes full-body massages, these will take place at the hotel’s wellness centre. It is a cosy little place that also provides services like manicures, pedicures, facials and oil massages.

Under the good hands of Hazel the masseuse, I enjoyed a very relaxing full-body pressure point massage. After the 45-minute long session, I’m seriously considering taking up a long term massage plan with the hotel! This coming from someone that has never been a fan of massages; my past massage experiences only caused me pain and hence more anxiety. But after this particular massage, I had a good night’s sleep and for days after that, felt like all tension had been relieved from my body. Is this what a really good massage feels like? Feel free to share your massage stories!

Candlelight Dinner

Apart from the massages, the other highlight of our stay is the candlelight dinner at Re!Fill, the hotel’s flagship restaurant.

This is an actual candlelight dinner, decked out in a very pretty table setting with multiple tealight candles, pink fabric and flowers. The best part is that you have an entire room to yourselves! Definitely a memorable experience where both the food and the ambience may be savoured to the fullest. If you would like to treat that special someone to a 4-course dinner, the Key to Your Heart candlelight dinner is available outside of the room package for S$88++.

Crab fellutin with mango avocado salsa

You start with the excellent crab fellutin with mango avocado salsa, presented in half an avocado. Oodles of sweet crabmeat enhanced with tangy mango cubes and embellished with sesame dressing, this is one of the most delicious things I have had in my mouth in a long while.

Essence chicken with ravioli and medallion of crayfish

The soup is less impressive, though still passable. The ravioli wrapping around a prawn reminds one of prawn wonton. The crayfish is a little tough from being cooked for too long — a pity. Having said that, the soup is rich and flavourful from the essence of chicken and shellfish.

Grilled US scallop, prawn with black pepper sauce

Next, you move on to the grilled scallops and prawns. These ample-sized offerings are drizzled in an invigorating black pepper sauce and served with chickpea mash and vegetables.

What a treat for seafood fans!

Chicken cordon bleu stuffed with turkey ham

The second part of the main course is the chicken cordon bleu that is stuffed with turkey ham. I like that the melted cheese on the side comes in a little shot-glass so you can have as much or as little of it as you wish.

Temptation Delight

Be sure to leave room for desserts. This is none other than the restaurant’s popular Temptation Delight, a quartet of petite-sized bites. On this day, we are treated to fruit pudding, éclair, cake and mint chocolate chip ice cream.

Buffet Breakfast

For breakfast, the buffet spread features fares like salad, fried rice, fried omelette, chicken sausages, meat buns, French fries, juices, coffee and tea.

Hotel Re! Staycations

Apart from the immensely relaxing Re!Treat package, there are four other themed stays that include various treats such as cable car rides, a fun-filled day at Sentosa and sightseeing river tours. So should you be planning to visit Singapore or pamper yourself with a weekend stay, you can take full advantage of these packages. All activities are already arranged for you, so all you really need to do is show up and have fun.

What is your most memorable hotel staycation? Share with us in the comments!

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]]> 4 http://sparklette.net/food/ellenborough-market-cafe-crab-buffet/ http://sparklette.net/food/ellenborough-market-cafe-crab-buffet/#comments Fri, 07 Oct 2011 03:00:05 +0000 Jasper Aston Lim http://sparklette.net/?p=1226 The highly anticipated crab buffet of Ellenborough Market Café at Swissôtel Merchant Court is finally made its return! Buffet fans will be spoilt for choice with the wide spread of crustacean delights such as Indian curry crab, Alaskan crab legs with ponzu and salt baked crab.

Up for Crabs Buffet
7 – 22 October 2011, 6:30 – 10:30pm daily
Adult S$64++/ Child S$32++

Crabs

Bakwan kepiting (crabmeat and pork ball soup)

For an extremely authentic and traditional experience, go for the bakwan kepiting (crabmeat and pork ball soup). The meatballs in the light, clear soup will stimulate the palate and prep your appetite for the meal ahead.

Sri Lankan chilli crab

Traditionalists will not be disappointed with the popular Sri Lankan chilli crab. The fiery sauce makes the crabs even more scrumptious, and pairs perfectly with the fluffy fried mantou buns.

Claypot crab bee hoon (rice vermicelli)

Served in a rich, crab-seafood broth, the claypot crab bee hoon (rice vermicelli) is divine with just the right balance of spices and flavour. Infused with soup, the crab meat is absolutely delectable!

Marmite crab

If you are up for a fusion fix, do try the marmite crab. Even for someone who’s not big on Marmite, this creamy dish can very well make me a convert.

Wasabi crab

As a wasabi fan, I immediately go for the wasabi crabs. I especially like that the crabs have been lightly fried, lending added texture that complements the fish roe topping and piquant taste of wasabi. A must-try!

Peranakan food

Apart from the crab highlights, you will be delighted by the local and international cuisines available, including the restaurant’s famed Peranakan section.

Ikan chilli garam

Ayam buah keluak

Not to be missed is the quintessential Peranakan dish, ayam buah keluak. A plus point is that the filling of the keluak nut has already been scraped out into a bowl, so you can pile on as much of the savoury paste as you like.

Kueh pie tee

Also available is a DIY kueh pie tee station where you can have some hands-on fun at making your own kueh pie tee.

Seafood

The oysters are extremely popular here — I only manage to grab two during my meal — so do make a beeline for the seafood section once the staff refills it.

Sashimi

While the choices for sashimi are quite limited, the fish is all really fresh and of good quality.

Crispy fried tilapia with soya sauce

Wok fried slipper lobster in black pepper sauce

A highlight of hot dish selection, I particularly enjoy the pairing of the fleshy slipper lobsters with black pepper sauce. It’s no surprise that this is another popular item alongside the fresh oysters.

Salad

Those who like their greens will be happy to know there is a wide variety to choose from at the salad corner. Can’t make up your mind? Go for the mushroom salad, which is my pick from the selection.

Chin Kiang spare ribs

The Chin Kiang spare ribs are really delicious! The marinated meat is tender and full of flavour.

Desserts

After the indulgence, kick back and relax with sweet treats from a variety of local and western desserts, including raisin pear tarts, almond cream, pulut hitam and many more.

Nonya kueh

These colourful Nonya kueh are not only a treat for your eyes, but fun to eat as well!

Bread and butter pudding

White chocolate mousse

The white chocolate mousse is light and not overly sweet.

Peanut roll

The peanut roll — a cross between a peanut waffle and a Swiss roll — makes a fragrant and interesting dessert.

Durian pengat

The signature durian pengat — a thick, luscious durian mix — is extremely smooth and yummy. I enjoyed it so much that I went back for thirds!

If your friends or family are looking for a great place to enjoy a tasty meal of crabs, then this buffet is the one to book right now.

Where can you enjoy the best seafood in Singapore? Share with us in the comments!

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As much as I love the daily themed set meals that were available at the restaurant from day one, the new menu boasts a far better variety in terms of cuisines and dishes. Whether you’re in the mood for a hearty steak, a healthful salad or a satisfying hor fun, you will have no problem finding a dish that suits your palate.

And boy, are the portions generous.

Nasi Goreng “Istimewa”
S$13.80++

The Nasi Goreng “Istimewa” would appeal to anyone that loves nasi lemak or satay — it gives you the best of both worlds! The impressive food galore of Indonesian spicy fried rice with a fried chicken wing, fried egg, roasted peanuts, prawn crackers, ikan bills and chicken satay is served with a shot-glass of peanut gravy.

Crispy tempura soft shell crab
S$11.80++

Another satisfying number is the crispy tempura soft shell crab. On paper, the mishmash combo of shredded mango, green papaya and carrot with two deep fried soft shell crabs seems like an unlikely pairing. Fusion may be a dirty word, but it all tastes pretty good together, especially with the Thai sweet chilli sauce.

Abalone seafood laksa
S$18.80++

One of the best-selling items here is the abalone seafood laksa, and it’s not hard to see why. The laksa arrives in a huge bowl, chock-full of abalone, prawns, scallops and rice noodles. The 1-for-1 laksa promotion with certain credit cards doesn’t hurt either. My only gripe is that the gravy isn’t as thick and fragrant as I would like, especially having grown accustomed to what I personally find is the best laksa in town.

Black glutinous rice dessert
S$4.80++

The Asian dessert of the day offers a touch of nostalgia. On this day, black glutinous rice dessert is served, prettily drizzled with coconut milk. The natural sweetness and pandan fragrance is heavenly.

Know any other hidden gems? Share with us in the comments!

Re!Fill
Hotel Re! @ Pearl’s Hill
175A Chin Swee Road
Singapore 169879
Tel: +65 6827 8226 | Website
Service:

Opening hours: 7am – 11pm daily

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The congee (porridge) is served with spring onions, grilled you tiao (fried dough sticks), soy sauce, ikan bilis (dried anchovies), peanuts and ginger.

Eggs baked in claypot & Shakshouka sauce

For more intense flavours, the eggs baked in claypot and Shakshouka sauce should hit the spot. The eggs are paired with oven-roasted vegetables and potatoes in a Shakshouka sauce, with a taste reminiscent of Japanese curry.

Waffle served with spicy duck sausage

The waffles can be served plain or “inspired”, the latter referring to a savoury version that is paired with bacon or spicy duck sausage patties. Don’t worry, you still get your maple syrup.

Chicken-fried steak & eggs

Nothing quite tops the chef’s incredible chicken-fried steak and eggs, consisting of a slab of sirloin steak fried in seasoned flour that gives it a taste like fried chicken.

Coco lychee smoothie

You can have your regular coffee and tea. But if you are game for something more tropical (you’re at a holiday destination remember?), then allow me to recommend the coco lychee smoothie. The mixture of lychee, yoghurt and beautifully sweet coconut milk will totally put you in a sunny mood.

The View

From the KU DÉ TA premises, this is the view you get of the Singapore skyline and waterfront.

The tall building in the distance is Swissôtel the Stamford, where you can indulge in the lovely pink champagne brunch from one of its top floors.

Apart from the stunning view, what I really like about KU DÉ TA is its all-in-one dining concept that makes repeat visits very likely. The experience you get here in the day is remarkably different from what you get by night. Be it a business lunch, after-work dinner, or a chill-out time with good friends over drinks, this is the place for that.

While the service can be friendlier and more personal to give guests a truly well-rounded resort-like experience, the prices are moderate and the experience is downright unforgettable. Even before leaving, I am already planning my next trip here.

Where can you dine with the best view in Singapore? Share with us in the comments!

KU DÉ TA
Marina Bay Sands SkyPark
1 Bayfront Avenue
Singapore 018971
Tel: +65 6688 7688 | Website
Service:

Opening hours:
Breakfast – 7am – 11am
Lunch – 12noon – 3pm
Dinner – 6pm – 11pm

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More than 70 readers entered the giveaway for the S$30 dining vouchers. You also indicated which dish you would like to try on the MOB menu. It seems like the most popular item is the Goodfellas mini burgers, as many of you love the fact that you can pick the type of burger and bun you want!

Read on to find out who the 5 lucky winners are.

The Goodfellas mini burgers from MOB Most Original Burgers

Winners

• Cincin
• Jess Soh
• Kyo
• Diana Sng
• Derek Yee

Congratulations to all 5 winners! You have been contacted at your email.

Results of SQL query that selected the comments randomly (duplicate and late submissions have been removed):

About MOB Most Original Burgers

MOB Most Original Burgers offers a diverse range of of western and fusion fares, ranging from burgers and pastas to meat and seafood dishes. The restaurant sports a mobster theme with a casual and fun vibe.

• Read the review of MOB Most Original Burgers.

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After whetting your appetite for the juicy mini burgers from MOB Most Original Burgers last week, I feel it’s only right that you get a taste too. So I asked the restaurant at VivoCity, Singapore if they could offer some vouchers to Sparklette readers. They obligingly agreed, and have kindly sponsored five S$30 dining vouchers for this giveaway!

• Read the review of MOB Most Original Burgers.

Read on to find out how you can win one of these vouchers to try out those savoury Goodfellas mini burgers, the humongous Muscle burgers and other delicious bites like the seafood platter and sweet potato fries.

Vouchers Giveaway!

The American Muscle burger from MOB Most Original Burgers

5 lucky Sparklette readers will each get to win a S$30 dining voucher from MOB Most Original Burgers.

1. This giveaway is only open to members of the Sparklette and MOB Most Original Burgers Facebook pages. So if you haven’t, “Like” both pages now. (Yes, just click the Like button!)

   
   

2. To participate, leave a comment here using your Facebook name along with the answer to this question:
   • Name the dish that you would love to try on the MOB menu and why.

The winners will be announced in a separate post. You are advised to subscribe to Sparklette (Email, RSS, Facebook, Twitter or iPhone) so that you can be quickly notified when the announcement post has been published.

Giveaway Details

• This giveaway ends on May 16, 2011 (2359 hours Singapore time).
• The 5 winners will be randomly selected by an SQL query.
• Please leave a valid email address when filling out the comment form so that we can contact you if you’ve won.
• Please only comment once.
• Comments that do not follow the instructions on how to participate (mentioned above) may not be published, or may be removed later on.

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© 2011 Sparklette.net

Burgers lead the way, which makes Most Original Burgers an ideal stopover for lunch or a casual dinner. Carnivores should feel right at home with the diverse range of grilled beef and chicken dishes. There are also fish, seafood, pastas and interestingly, a handful of Japanese and Korean inspired dishes. Vegetarians, on the other hand, need not feel left out as there are quite a number of vegetarian options on the menu.

Most Original Burgers

One must-try is definitely the mini burgers, available in a kaleidoscope of ingredients and seasonings. You pick from 13 types that range from classic beef and Philly cheese steak to Thai chicken and ebi fry (deep fried prawn).

The Goodfellas (includes a side dish)
S$16.90++
Beef Bulgogi
Teriyaki chicken
Portobello mushroom Rating:

I can’t get over how The Goodfellas look and taste. Yes, of course I am referring to the burgers. Served on a long plate, the trio of mini burgers are linked together with the unusually shaped buns. Seen here are the beef Bulgogi, teriyaki chicken and Portobello mushroom.

Oh my, these must be the juiciest burgers ever! Every bite feels incredibly satisfying as the delicious juices ooze out. Spiked with sesame oil, garlic and various condiments, the thinly sliced Bulgogi beef is tumultuously and invigoratingly savoury. If you’re in the mood for teriyaki, try the boneless grilled chicken which has a nice smoky flavour. The Portobello mushroom comes in whole and retains its natural juices.

The American Muscle (includes two side dishes)
S$21.90++
Rating:

For something meatier, go for one of the Muscle burgers. Each one is an intimidatingly huge sandwich that serves two, although some people finish it single-handedly. The American Muscle is a gargantuan portion of a 300gram rib-eye patty topped with cheese and egg, resting on a pillow of tomato slices and lettuce. I got a shock when it arrived at our table; it is like the Mount Everest of burgers! I guarantee you won’t need dinner after having this for lunch.

Comparing between the burgers from Most Original Burgers and close competitor The Handburger, for now my vote goes to the mobsters.

Sides

Sweet potato fries
S$6.50++
Rating:

Moving on to the side dishes. Some of these are teamed with the burgers, and are also available as à la carte options. The sweet potato fries are an interesting alternative to the regular French fries.

Chilli cheese fries
S$8.50++
Rating:

The chilli cheese fries don’t leave much of an impression as it is somewhat lacking in the taste department.

Goma (black sesame) spaghetti
S$6.50++
Rating:

The Goma (black sesame) spaghetti is amazing! Black and white sesame seeds are sprinkled on top for visual appeal. It tastes a little sweet and a little salty, though quite oily. I like that it comes in a petite serving so you can sample it without having to order the full portion.

Korean fried chicken
S$11.90++
Rating:

Crispy and seemingly non-greasy, the Korean fried chicken boasts a crackly skin that yields to the tender flesh. It is cut in manageable strips that can be dipped in the accompanying chilli and garlic soy sauces.

Seafood platter
S$23.90++
Rating:

Seafood selections include the seafood platter, a mighty impressive presentation of breaded prawns and calamari, battered dory, baked scallops and French fries. Served alongside are not one, not just two, but three sauces — spicy Mexican, tartar and wasabi mayonnaise. That’s customer satisfaction for ya!

While the calamari is quite tough and the rest are good but not exceptional, the scallops are fantastic. Firstly, they are huge, even bigger than the ones you usually see at hotel seafood buffets. Soft and fresh, the flavour is wonderfully complemented by the saltiness and richness of the cheese. If I ever order this dish again, it would solely be for the scallops.

Drinks

Mobster Sling
S$6.90++
Rating:

For sodas, I recommend the Mobster Sling mocktail. The name is no doubt inspired from the Singapore Sling cocktail (which is also on the menu). Topped with strawberry, this is a refreshing concoction of orange juice, lime juice and fresh mint.

While Most Original Burgers may not set off seismic waves on the culinary Richter scale, the generally good casual fares and generous portions are worth a try for a casual chow-down. Don’t be alarmed if you happen to catch the staff dressed completely in black, walking around wearing fedora hats and clutching (fake) guns. It’s simply part of the MOB theme!

Now, if you will excuse me, I’m gonna put on The Godfather DVD.

What is your favourite burger joint in Singapore? Tell us in the comments!

Most Original Burgers
VivoCity
1 Harbourfront Walk #01-52
Singapore 098585
Tel: +65 6376 9681 | Website | Menu | Facebook
Service:

Opening hours: 11:30am – 11pm daily

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The chic and retro-themed Hotel Re! on Pearl’s Hill has a fabulous dining deal going on. At its flagship restaurant Re!Fill, the four-course “Re!Cess” set meals are going at just S$20.80++ each. Every set comprises of an appetiser, a soup, a main course and a pretty dessert platter, with free-flowing bread, coffee and tea thrown in to boot.

Depending on which day of the week you pay the restaurant a visit, you can enjoy one of these 6 cuisines, namely oriental, Italian, Japanese, western, Thai and Nonya.

• Read the review of the Hotel Re! set meals.
• Here’s the set meal menu.

Set Meals Giveaway!

This week, I am partnering Hotel Re! to give away 3 pairs of the “Re!Cess” set lunch/dinner for dining in at Re!Fill restaurant. That’s right, the prize is for a pair worth S$41.60++. Here’s how you can win:

Temptation Delight dessert platter from set meal

1. This contest is only open to members of the Sparklette and Hotel Re! Facebook pages. So if you haven’t, “Like” both pages now. (Yes, just click the Like button!)

   
   

2. Leave a comment here using your Facebook name and a valid email address, along with the answer to this question:
   • Out of the 6 cuisines available for the Re!Cess set meal, what is your pick?

Giveaway Details

• This giveaway ends on March 21, 2011 (2359 hours Singapore time).
• The 3 winners will be randomly selected by an SQL query.
• Please leave a valid email address when filling out the comment form so that we can contact you if you’ve won.
• Please only comment once.
• Please note that all comments are moderated. Hence your comment may not show up right away.
• Please also note that comments that do not follow the instructions on how to participate (mentioned above) may not be published, or may be removed later on.
• The winners will be announced in a separate post and you are advised to subscribe to Sparklette (Email, RSS, Facebook, Twitter or iPhone) so that you can be quickly notified when the announcement post has been published.

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One huge draw is the four-course “Re!Cess” set meal (guess how the name came about) available daily through lunch and dinner. The price is a comparative bargain at $20.80++. Not bad considering it buys you an appetiser, a soup, a main and a dessert platter, plus free-flowing bread, coffee and tea.

The theme rotates daily. From Mondays to Fridays, the cuisines served are oriental, Italian, Japanese, western and Thai respectively; Nonya sets are served on weekends. All sets include two options for main courses. Here’s the menu.

Oriental Set

In the case of the oriental set, your journey commences with egg Foo Yong, taro fritter, seasoned baby octopus and sweet potato, arranged neatly on a rectangular plate.

Egg Foo Yong, taro fritter, seasoned baby octopus and sweet potato
Rating:

The egg Foo Yong in particular has a distinct home-cooked flavour that reminds me fondly of mom’s cooking. This is followed by the soup.

Braised shark’s fin soup with crab meat
Rating:

With swirls of crab meat and mushroom shreds in a golden broth, the braised shark’s fin soup is a surprise find, certainly not something I would expect in a $20.80 four-course meal. Since shark fin by itself is flavourless, I do wonder if there’s actual shark meat in it. While I would never order shark fin on my own and don’t want to encourage anyone to do so, I do enjoy the delicate flavour and texture of this one.

Wok-fried duck breast with olive vegetable
Rating:

For the main course, you may have either the salted egg prawn or the wok-fried duck breast as seen here. The duck breast is cut into thin, succulent slices. Both choices are embellished with sautéed asparagus and served with palate-pleasing garlic fried rice.

Temptation Delight
Rating:

Now comes the best part — desserts. Escorted to the table on a platter drizzled with chocolate syrup, the Temptation Delight comprises strawberry ice cream, a shot of tiramisu, a cream puff, and a delightfully decadent mini brownie.

Western Set

If you’d prefer to go the western route, you may try either the Italian set or the western set.

Smoked salmon Caesar salad
Rating:

The Caesar salad comes with lettuce, strips of smoked salmon, hard boiled egg, croutons and a smattering of bacon bits. It is salty, creamy and has a tangy bite to it. I wish there were more of those crunchy croutons instead of just the sprinkling amount.

Crab bisque scented with chervil
Rating:

Apart from the salad, the savoury pool of crab bisque would also perk up your appetite.

Crayfish and crab meat thermidor
Rating:

For the main course, you have a choice between poultry or seafood — barbecued spring chicken or crayfish and crab meat thermidor. Both are served with corn on the cob and potato wedges.

Nuzzling in creamy cheese are shreds of crab meat and generous chunks of crayfish. The plating would have looked better if the crayfish shell was included in the dish, like the way lobster thermidor or prawn thermidor is done. That being said, it is apparent that the chef has taken care to add a dash of colours using the tomato, corn and salad.

And finally, there’s the dessert platter and free-flowing coffee and tea to put a sweet ending to the meal.

Apart from the oriental and western sets, there are three other cuisines available such as Italian, Japanese and Muslim. If you fancy a satisfying meal inclusive of appetisers, soups, mains and desserts at a price that is super friendly on your wallet, then you definitely do not want to miss the Re!Cess set meals at Hotel Re!.

Sparklette Giveaway!

I am giving away 3 free pairs of the Re!Cess set meals. You can enter the contest here.

Aside from Hotel Re!, do you know of any other place where we can enjoy a four-course meal at an affordable price? Tell us in the comments!

Re!Fill
Hotel Re! @ Pearl’s Hill
175A Chin Swee Road
Singapore 169879
Tel: +65 6827 8226 | Website | Menu
Service:

Available daily from 11am – 10pm

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]]> 0 http://sparklette.net/food/regent-singapore-high-tea/ http://sparklette.net/food/regent-singapore-high-tea/#comments Sat, 01 Jan 2011 07:52:10 +0000 Jasper Aston Lim http://sparklette.net/?p=1052 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!

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

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]]> 6 http://sparklette.net/food/concorde-hotel-buffet/ http://sparklette.net/food/concorde-hotel-buffet/#comments Wed, 04 Aug 2010 09:17:03 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=994 It is no secret that Singaporeans love buffets. We are always on the lookout for buffets that offer great food at good prices. Seafood fans can now dive into the newly launched Harvest of the Sea buffet at the Concorde Hotel (former Le Meridien Hotel). The dinner buffet takes place at Spices Cafe, featuring a fabulous oceanic spread that includes prawns, scallops, oysters and crabs.

Best of all, the price is among the most decent of hotel buffets.

Harvest of the Sea buffet
S$42 45++ per adult, S$20++ per child aged 3-12
(one child dines for free with every paying adult)
6:30-10pm daily
Rating:

Apart from the good spread of seafood, a large variety of desserts is offered. As part of the deal, every diner also gets to enjoy a serving of half a lobster. Absolutely sumptuous!

The restaurant sports a spiffy decor and emanates an airy feel, with mirrors and floor to ceiling windows. You can sink into plush seats while tucking into delectable seafood delights.

It tastes so good that I literally lap up every last drop!

We commence the meal with the drunken prawns with Chinese herbs. Fresh prawns rather than live ones are used. The chef would cook the prawns only after you have placed your order at the cooking station, ensuring you get to enjoy a bowl of piping hot soup.

Chilled seafood such as freshly-shucked oysters, scallops, prawns and sashimi are available at the cold station.

While I am a big fan of mussels, I find these ones a tad bland and chewy.

The crabs are prepared a la minute and you can have them cooked in six ways, such as chilli crab (above), black pepper crab and soft shell crab. The chilli crab is delicious! Most people would find the mild spice level comfortable. It comes along with a crab cracker, so be prepared to get your hands dirty!

If you would like an easier time, go for the soft shell crab. Get some sauce to go along!

Is it just me or did that picture of the lobster make you salivate as well? Trust me, the real thing tastes even better! Every diner is entitled to a 200 gram portion of the precious shellfish. I hear that it is prepared in a different way everyday. Personally, as long as the flesh retains its heady sweetness, it would taste heavenly whether it is boiled, steamed, grilled or baked.

For those of you who prefer a well-rounded assortment of tastes, a range of hot dishes is available, too. These include mushroom strudels with leek sauce…

… grilled sea bass in Sabayon sauce…

… and local delights such as Mee Goreng, spicy La La (clams) and beef Rendang. While I am not so huge on the clams, I do like the Kungpow chicken that is cooked with crunchy cashew nuts.

In addition, the pasta station offers a few choices of pasta with salmon, squid, prawns, mussels and mushroom sauces.

The salad bar offers 4 types of dressings and a large mixing bowl to toss your salad.

We wrap up the evening with some sweet indulgence. The desserts available include fruity ones such as the colourful fruit cake, jelly and pudding.

Sink your teeth into these bite-sized French pastries.

I love chocolate mousse, and am especially thrilled to find a strawberry mousse here.

From the very first mouthful, I am hooked!

The creme brulee is not too rich or too light. Mmm… perfect creamy goodness!

For those of you that need a chocolate fix, you can indulge in the chocolate fondue fountain. Do remember to save some space for that!

Where is your favourite hotel buffet in Singapore? Share with us in the comments!

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

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]]> 26 http://sparklette.net/food/cafe-del-mar/ http://sparklette.net/food/cafe-del-mar/#comments Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:24:04 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=989 Things are getting interesting at Café del Mar, one of Singapore’s hottest beach bars.

The restobar at Siloso Beach, Sentosa, has unveiled a brand new food menu with an extensive range of Mediterranean and international cuisine. Apart from sunbathing and sipping on a Mojito at the swim-up bar, you can now enjoy a sumptuous seafood meal while admiring a panoramic view of the sea.

Photo by Café del Mar

The indoor dining area is decked out in blue, white and pink. A huge bar counter dominates the centre of the restaurant, with the tables spilling outdoors by the kidney-shaped swimming pool.

Photo by Café del Mar

The menu features a selection of starters and salads followed by pastas and main courses such as baked Pacific dory.

Starters

Bruschetta
S$6++
Rating:

We start with a half dozen bruschettas. These are rather filling, with mozzarella cheese, chopped tomatoes and olive oil served atop grilled French loaf. Great when you need a quick bite!

Classic Caesar salad
S$12++
Rating:

The classic Caesar salad is a mix of bacon bits, croutons and romaine lettuce. We dig the delicious dressing and the toasted cubed croutons!

Pastas

Linguine Pescatora
S$20++
Rating:

I love a perfectly cooked pasta in a tomato-based sauce, so I find the Linguine Pescatora very enjoyable. Pescatora is Italian for “fisherman’s style”, which means that it is done just the way the fishermen like it, with chock full of seafood and a succulent, flavoursome tomato sauce. How very satisfying!

Spaghetti Aglio e Olio with seafood
S$12++ (top up S$3 for ham, chicken or seafood)
Rating:

The spaghetti Aglio e Olio is cooked al dente, not too bland or overpoweringly garlicky. You can choose to add on ham, chicken or seafood. Check out the load of seafood that includes mussels, whole scallops, clams and prawns. Not bad at all!

Children aged 12 or below can order smaller portions of the pastas at half the price.

Mains

Baked Pacific dory
S$24++
Rating:

The chef’s specialty of baked Pacific dory is quite inventive. The fish arrives on a bed of mashed potato, drizzled with a garlic butter sauce and baked to perfection. The potato bears a slight hint of wasabi that lends some spice, yet is mild enough to not burn the nostrils. Coupled with the thick, tasty butter sauce, it is hard not to enjoy this dish. So it’s a good thing that it comes in a good-sized portion.

Marisco Paella
S$28++
Rating:

For something even more substantial, go for the Marisco Paella. In this Spanish rice dish, saffron rice is baked with seafood morsels and tomatoes. The rice is fragrant and savoury with herbs and spices.

Rib-eye steak
S$28++
Rating:

Meat lovers have the options of roast chicken, pork ribs, lamb chops or the rib-eye steak. A medium order of the steak turns out firm on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, and drenched in a sweetish red wine sauce. Perhaps it is the chorus of delicious seafood before, we find this dish rather forgettable.

Cocktails

Bailey’s Comet
Rating:

Don’t forget to wash down all the goodies with one of Café del Mar’s signature cocktails!

Photo by Café del Mar

If you are yearning for a meal away from the hustle and bustle of the city, you now have a wonderful dining option right by the beach. Coming here at night would be even more memorable and enchanting, with the cool sea breeze and a resort-like setting under the stars.

Have Your Say!

Does dining by the beach appeal to you? Are there any more of such seaside restaurants that we should know about? Share with us in the comments!

Café del Mar
Sentosa
40 Siloso Beach Walk, Siloso Beach
Singapore 098996
Tel: +65 6235 1296 | Website | Menu
Service:

Opening hours:
Mon – Thur, Sun: 11am – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 2am

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Ever since stumbling upon the Rendezvous buffet dinner quite by chance a few years ago, I have returned at least twice every year to feast on the goodies.

While the buffet is international style with both Western and Asian dishes tossed in the mix, what I love most is the seafood. If I could use one word to sum up the dinner buffet, it would be quite simply “crayfish” — loads and loads of it!

Over here, the staff always refill the trays once the food runs out. You can be sure to get a bellyful of the shellfish each time!

Of course, apart from that you can also indulge in other seafood such as baby octopus, crab legs and scallops. These go especially well with the Thai sweet chilli sauce provided, among other dips.

Look, the canapé is topped with a slice of bak kwa (sweet barbecued pork)! These days, bak kwa sure is showing up in many unconventional dishes, including mooncakes!

Spot a running theme here? Yes, the crayfish is omnipresent on every dinner plate. That is my single most favourite item in the buffet spread.

As for desserts, a few durian specialties are offered. The blended durian purée is melt-in-your-mouth goodness. If you love durian mochi, you would absolutely enjoy this!

Then there’s also the hotel’s well known durian fudge cake that is filled with layers of soft durian pulp, minus the durian stench. Yum!

Perhaps what is lacking in this buffet is a nice chocolate fountain and more ice cream flavours.

Love the colourful picks!

International buffet
Lunch 12noon – 2:30pm: S$37++ per adult
Dinner 6:30-10pm (Weekday/Weekend): S$44++ / S$47++ per adult
Rating:

Where is your favourite hotel buffet in Singapore? Share with us in the comments!

Straits Café
Rendezvous Hotel
9 Bras Basah Road Singapore 189559
Tel: +65 6335 1777 | Website
Service:

Bus services: 7, 14, 16, 36, 77, 106, 111, 124, 128, 131, 147, 14E, 162, 166, 167, 171, 174, 175, 190, 502, 518, 587, 590, 598, 700, NR7, 162M, 174E, 502A, 502B, 518A, 518B, 700A, 857
Nearest MRT: Dhoby Ghaut

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Update: Hotel Re! has updated the price along with these new additions to the buffet spread.

Over the weekend, we were invited to a “simulation brunch” for media partners. Having enjoyed their permanent themed set meals and that unforgettable wine pairing dinner, we are definitely eager to try this out! The spread pictured here is less than the actual thing, but should give you an idea of what type of food to expect.

Right off the bat, we spot a varied selection of cuisines ranging from the Japanese sushi…

… to Chinese dim sum that include the ever popular dumplings!

These “pouches” are glutinous rice wrapped in lotus leaf.

At this station, you can watch the chef whip up bowl after bowl of piping hot laksa.

Yum! Unfortunately the laksa does not come with hum (cockles), perhaps due to the recent shortage of the shellfish.

Of all the food I sampled, my favourite is the pasta which comes in a kickin’ bolognaise sauce. The meat skewers are too salty for my liking. The spring rolls and fried chicken, on the other hand, are delicious.

When it comes to pastries and desserts, the variety is much larger. These go extremely well with the coffee and tea provided, and fruit juices, too.

The mini sandwiches come with colourful picks!

Waffles are omnipresent at breakfasts and brunches! After all, it’s hard to say no to waffles.

These jello shots remind me of those colourful jellies from my childhood that come in conical plastic containers. Sweet stuff! Does any of you remember those?

More goodies abound in the form of swiss rolls, layered cakes and puddings.

The buffet brunch takes place at the new Re!Joice Ballroom, which is housed in a permanent outdoor marquee (fully air conditioned, of course!).

$2 Promotion

As the hotel is celebrating its second anniversary, it is also introducing an unbeatable promotion. The first 100 walk-in customers on 15 May, Saturday, get to enjoy this buffet brunch at just S$2! Take full advantage of this promotion!

Are you a brunch person? What is your favourite spot for brunch? Let us know in the comments!

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The lure of an attractively priced 3-course dinner packed with many goodies sure entices one to check out Hotel Re! This hotel is truly a hidden gem, with its location atop Pearl’s Hill. Drivers can take advantage of the hotel’s complimentary parking, whereas non-drivers can take the free shuttle bus service (or a leisurely trek up the hill). Whatever it is, you can’t say they didn’t try.

Take for example the set meals at Re!Fill, the hotel’s flagship restaurant. Everyday a different cuisine is served, such as exotic Thai Mondays and romantic Italian Thursdays (view menu). Not only are the meals reasonably priced at S$12.80++ S$18.80++, each set includes:

• Salad
• Soup
• Main course (choose from two)
• Dessert
• Free flow of bread
• Free flow of tea/coffee
• Bonus: Free parking

Our verdict after checking out this restaurant on a quiet Friday evening? We love the food and can’t wait to go back for more!

Free flow of coffee/tea
Rating:

Let’s start with the coffee. Many restaurants charge at least 4 or 5 bucks for a cup of machine-made coffee. Over at this hotel, you get free-flowing coffee or tea when you order the set meal! The waitresses even ask if you’d like it with or without milk.

Even for someone who generally steers clear of machine-made coffee, I’m surprised to find that I like the black coffee here! The flavour is aromatic and strong enough for me.

Free flow of bread
Rating:

Also provided freely is the bread, for which they have a toaster available at the bread counter. The untoasted bread is soft and fluffy, and has bits of chewy nuts in it, too.

Beef Shabu Shabu
Rating:

The theme for the day is Japanese. So the soup is beef Shabu Shabu, a Japanese hot pot dish minus the hot pot.

With ample ingredients of thinly sliced beef, mushrooms and vegetables, this is the kind of soup that mommies would cook for their children. It certainly has that home-cooked flavour and really warms the stomach and soul!

For the main course, you may choose between:
- Grilled chicken teriyaki or
- Saba Shioyaki

For a 3-course set meal that costs just S$12.80++ S$18.80++, you probably would not expect pretty plating. And that’s exactly what they do here. Both main courses are laid out beautifully in an array of colours.

Grilled chicken Teriyaki
Rating:

The grilled chicken is really delicious, drenched in a rich teriyaki sauce. Every home should have a bottle of that sauce; it works magic with any meat or fish. Even pizza.

Speaking of my love for teriyaki sauce, this reminds me of a dining experience at another hotel some years back. I was with my Mom at Traders Hotel’s Cafebiz. After I requested for teriyaki sauce, the waiter checked and said that they didn’t have any in the kitchen. But a short while later he came back with the teriyaki sauce which the chef had specially made for me from scratch! That’s an unforgettable experience, an example of how some restaurants would go the extra mile to make their customers happy :) today I still remember that incident vividly.

Saba Shioyaki (grilled mackerel)
Rating:

The grilled mackerel is done Shioyaki style, which means it has been rubbed with salt and slow-grilled. The taste is excellent, with the flesh thoroughly cooked and the skin unburnt and still remaining intact.

Of course, for a fish like this, the downside is that it has a lot of bones. So if you don’t want to eat in fear like I did, go for the grilled chicken instead. For both dishes you get the same teriyaki sauce, complete with chawanmushi and teppanyaki vegetables.

Chawanmushi (steamed egg custard)
Rating:

The chawanmushi comes with a spicy kick. The surface is dusted with red chilli pepper, which I find interesting because this is the first time I am eating this egg custard cup with a note of spiciness.

Fruit cocktail
Rating:

The waitresses are always prompt in clearing the dishes and finally, we are served the dessert. True to the health-conscious mindset of the Japanese, instead of ice cream and cake, we get a healthy healthy fresh fruit cocktail.

Like the other dishes, it is prettily arranged: diced papaya, watermelon and honeydew in a glass, topped by a dainty cherry. If anyone wanna impress his or her date by tying a knot in that cherry stem with the tongue, that’s the time. The restaurant is very quiet for a Friday evening.

Here’s the colourful menu of this colourful restaurant. Pick your cuisine and head down on that day!

I like this rotating menu concept, because it sure gets people curious and coming back on other days! And, with the few specific dishes to cook on each day, I’m pretty sure the chefs have an easier time in the kitchen, too.

Another hidden gem in the vicinity is Seventh Heaven. That’s a great place for more desserts after a hearty meal!

Re!Fill
Hotel Re! @ Pearl’s Hill
175A Chin Swee Road
Singapore 169879
Tel: +65 6827 8226 | Website | Menu
Service:

Available daily from 11am – 10pm

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The Vila’ge is pronounced “vee-lah-jey”. Until very recently, I had thought it was simply pronounced and spelled “the village”!

But firstly, here’s a bit of history behind these two restaurants. Marché opened its first restaurant at the Heeren in 1997, boasting a European village dining concept, and a second one at Suntec City Mall some time after.

7 years later, The Vila’ge opened its first restaurant at China square with an identical concept. It became Marché’s direct competitor.

In 2006, Marché closed its flagship restaurant at the Heeren, and The Vila’ge took over the same floorspace.

So, how different from Marché would The Vila’ge be?

As it turns out, not too different! Both restaurants employ a similar “cashless” system where every diner is given a bar coded card. When we order our food and drinks from any of the twenty-ish stations, our purchase is recorded onto the card. Payment is made only upon leaving.

The similarities do not end there. I had dined at Marché (the Heeren branch) a number of times when it was still in business. The Vila’ge sports almost the exact same layout! The drinks section is laid out in the exact same fashion, with bottles and cans sticking out of barrels. The dining area does not look any different from before. Heck, even the make-your-own-pizza station is still located at the exact same spot!

So basically, everything looks the same as Marché. My only clue that this place is actually a different restaurant is that it now has a new name! Very different, indeed.

This is why I’m a little perturbed that photography is banned here. Why do restaurants ban photography anyway? The only reason I can think of is that they do not want competitors mimicking their design, food, whatever. But hello, this isn’t even a unique concept that The Vila’ge came up with on its own. Even its bull (or cow) mascot is the same as Marché’s! And so, “click”, “click”, “click”, my camera went.

Even though The Vila’ge gets zero points for creativity and originality, the food may fare better. Marché, as I recall, did not have any food that was particularly memorable. I had the pizza each time I went. This time round, we went for the catch of the day, which was stingray.

Sambal Stingray with Rice
S$6.80+ + 1% CESS
Rating:

Served with rice, the stingray was surprisingly good! I thought that the best sambal stingray would usually be found in hawker centres. I was wrong. The sambal chilli, in particular, was awesome. It made the dish what it is. And at just $6.80, this dish was no doubt very satisfying.

Black & White Chocolate Cake
S$4.80+ + 1% CESS
Rating:

The desserts selection was scarcely limited. I had the black and white chocolate cake, which was filled with both dark and white chocolate mousse. I love mousse, and this certainly looked very pretty. But in the end it didn’t really do much for me.

For such a huge restaurant I would have liked to see more dessert choices other than just the few cakes and breads. But they do get some brownie points for having a $14 chocolate fondue set available. Whether it’s any good remains to be seen.

Erdinger Beer
S$10.20+ (a pint) + 1% CESS
Rating:

Free beer tomorrow? Boy, wouldn’t that be sweet? The beer of choice here is the German Erdinger. Very smooth and rich!

At the end of the day, I did like what I had, but there could have been more choices available. I also liked the overall look and dining concept of this place, although I am well aware of the fact that Marché takes most, if not all, of the credit for that.

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We were a party of six and got a table by the window, which was nice and near to the buffet spread. One thing I noted was that there were many pyramidal stacks of chocolate balls on displayed, with each chocolate wrapped in red cellophane. Specially arranged for Christmas, I presume.

For a seafood buffet, I thought the seafood spread was rather limited. I didn’t spot any lobster or crayfish at all whereas there were quite a number of meat dishes. For now I would simply let the pictures do the talking.

The fish was my favourite. Very flavourful!

I confess, I really do not know how to get crab meat out of their shells and pincers.

Huge ass prawns. Too bad they weren’t peeled though. I’m so lazy!

My favourite part of the buffet turned out to be the desserts. There was a delectable selection of cakes. The tiramisu was my favourite, as well as this white chocolate and coffee cake. Isn’t that an awesome combination?

The ice cream was a disappointment though. All the flavours ran out quickly and a long period of time lapsed before the ice cream was finally replenished. There was also no chocolate fondue or fountain available.

But the biggest disappointment of all was the service. Our glasses were rarely filled even though there were so many waitstaff walking about. The young waiter in charge of our table hardly ever appeared. The floor manager (since he’s the only one in a suit) was constantly tending to another party of six next to us while conveniently bypassing our table the entire time. Probably if we were a bunch of caucasians or middle-aged people in suits we wouldn’t have received such silent treatment.

For a world-class hotel such service standards is certainly unacceptable. But having said that, the last time I went to the chihuly lounge at the same hotel, the service was excellent.

Anyhoo, those of you who are looking for an excellent seafood buffet with a wider variety and more efficient service, you would be better off at Cafébiz in Traders Hotel or the Town Restaurant at Fullerton Hotel. Give Greenhouse a miss!

I do retain some nice words for the hotel though. Loved the Christmas tree, the giant red Christmas balls and candy canes. Sweet!

Greenhouse
The Ritz-Carlton Millenia
7 Raffles Avenue, Level 3
Singapore 039799
Tel: +65 6337 8888 | Website
$43+++
Buffet rating:
Service:

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

For more Christmas trees, check out the Sparklette Christmas Tree of the Day series.

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Alaskan crab
Rating:

One of the first things I sampled was the Alaskan crab. The crab meat had the sweetest, richest and most succulent flavour! I am no crab expert, and found it hard to believe that this was the natural flavour of the crab. Whoa!

Lobster (with Alaskan crab legs)
Rating:

The lobster paled in comparison. Its flesh was totally bland! On a scale of 1 to 10 its flavour was a 0; there was no taste to it at all! Again, I am no lobster expert. But isn’t the lobster supposedly king of shellfish?

Salmon sashimi & crab claw
Rating:

Of course there were the usual fares like sushi and sashimi. I stuffed myself with heaps of salmon sashimi, my absolute favourite! One of the unique offerings at Cafébiz is their lok-lok (dip-dip) station with sticks of raw food such as crab claws, prawns and chicken meat. To accompany the lok-lok, there is a huge array of sauces such satay gravy and sambal belachan (fermented ground shrimp). Yum! No worries if you aren’t too adept at cooking. A chef stationed at the lok-lok booth would offer to cook it for you in soup and serve it at your table. Great service!

Another example of great service was when I asked for teriyaki sauce. Being a picky eater, I always, always ask for teriyaki sauce when eating Japanese food. But they did not have it, which was rather unusual for an Asian buffet restaurant. So, the waiter got the chef to MAKE the teriyaki sauce from scratch. Wow! I could not be more impressed!

Dim Sum
Rating:

There were very few offerings of dim sum however. I tried the crystal dumpling and prawn dumpling which were not so good in comparison to those at dim sum eateries. But the chicken bun that had been slightly baked was a real treat! If I wasn’t so stuffed already I would have downed a couple of those yummies.

What sets Cafébiz apart from other buffet restaurants is that it has several unusual offerings. Apart from the lok-lok as mentioned earlier, there is also Churrasco, a South American specialty. A couple of waiters make their rounds with huge skewers of grilled food, stopping at each table to slice off chunks of meat onto the diners’ plates. We were offered sausages, chicken wings, and roast pineapple!

As if that’s not enough, Cafébiz also offers authentic la mian (hand-pulled noodles)! An in-house chef hailing from China is available to hand-make la mian upon request. He was rather enthused to “pull” some noodles for me but I had to decline as I was stuffed! He then offered to chop up a roast duck for me! But once again I declined and asked for a chicken drumstick instead.

Chinese chicken drumstick & Indian food
Rating:

Mom and I both agreed that the chicken drumstick was awesome! The meat was smooth, succulent and juicy. On the same platter is some tandoori chicken and other North Indian food. Those were prepared by an Indian chef and were delicious!

Clockwise from top left: Kung Pao chicken with cashew Nuts, fish fillet in pistachio Sauce, Moroccan chicken
Rating:

More unusual fares followed at the hot food station. There were dozens and dozens of delectables with names I have never heard of. Not being very adventurous, I tried out the safer options such as Kung Pao chicken with cashew nuts (very yummy), fish fillet cooked in pistachio sauce (an instant favourite) and Moroccan chicken that came together with some fruit in yellow stew. I can’t exactly remember for sure.

Fruit jelly in assorted flavours
Rating:

Desserts! Arranged in neat rows were these fruit jelly cocktails. They came in cute delicate glasses and had flavours such as lime, apple and mango. For me they sort of served as appetisers for the desserts that were about to follow. Appetisers before the real desserts, get it?

Strawberry, Chocolate & Coconut Ice Cream
Rating:

The ice cream counter was a very modern one. It had just eight flavours, but I really liked the fact that the ice cream was not too hard. I was able to scoop comfortably. You know how some places serve ice cream that is so frozen you have to break a nail and a knuckle just to get a scoopful? Over here the temperature is set just about right. Also, when you place the metal scoop back in its holder, there is some sort of suction mechanism that automatically cleans it instantly. Wow!

Egg tarts, pandan cake, green tea cake & tiramisu
Rating:

And what’s a buffet without cake and tarts? I enjoyed the pandan cake and tiramisu. Thankfully they had been cut into very thin slices. Cafébiz must have anticipated that its diners would be too stuffed to polish off regular slices. I loved the prune pie most. It’s one of those pies that come in a big metallic platter and you scoop off the portion you want with a huge ladle. Then you have fun drenching it in vanilla syrup. And I absolutely love vanilla syrup!

And now, the grand finale. Are you ready for this?

Chocolate fountain
Rating:

Ta-da! A five-tier chocolate fountain! How glorious it looked! The chocolate was absolutely heavenly!

Dipping foods to go along with chocolate fountain
Rating:

There were the usual dipping foods like fruits, marshmallows and hard biscuits. I didn’t exactly care for those fruits. As with chocolate fondues, I like my chocolate with marshmallows! And boy did I love it! I stood there by the fountain, skewer in hand, and helped myself to all the chocolatey goodness. For that moment in time I was in chocolate heaven. Warm chocolate in my mouth. Warm chocolate everywhere. I didn’t even notice I was dripping chocolate all over the place until a waiter helpfully pushed a plate beneath my chin.

Orange juice
S$9+++
Rating:

Finally it was all over. A tall glass of orange juice to cleanse my palate and aid in the digestion, and we’re all set! That was the most wonderful meal I’ve had in a long, long time. And with such wonderful, five-star service, it certainly wouldn’t be my last visit to Cafébiz.

Cafébiz
Traders Hotel
1A Cuscaden Road
Singapore 249716
Tel: +65 6831 4374 | Website
Mon – Wed lunch buffet (12-3pm): S$39++
Mon – Wed dinner buffet (6.30pm): S$50++
Thu – Sun dinner buffet (6.30pm): S$55++
Buffet rating:
Service:

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

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/food/cafebiz-traders-hotel/ | 36 comments

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© 2011 Sparklette.net