Sparklette Magazine » Sentosa

Sentosa Flowers Festival 2012 – Enchanted Spring [Photos]

Melissa Koh — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 09:27:02 +0000

Since 2005, the annual Sentosa Flowers festival that takes place on Sentosa island in Singapore has been a flourishing success. Guests are greeted with brilliant colours and delightful scents of spring with inventive themes each year.

Into its seventh year, this highly popular event carries the theme “Enchanted Spring” for 2012, featuring educational trails and 16 colourful and interactive photo points for families to share enjoyable moments together. This being the Year of the Dragon, at least half the exhibits are inspired by the mythical creature.

Stretching across Imbiah Lookout, Merlion Plaza, Beach Plaza and Mount Faber, Sentosa Flowers 2012 showcases a massive 100,000 flowers and plants, including 800 species, varietals and cultivars.

Sentosa Flowers 2012
22 – 29 January 2012
10am to 10pm daily

Free entry (usual island admission charges apply)

Enter Sentosa Flowers through the majestic Dragon Gate; it is just a few steps away from the Imbiah Station. This picture-perfect set-up is bedecked with an abundance of plants!

As you walk along the flower trail towards the Merlion, you will spot the pink Floral Zodiac Dragon.

This dragon figure is embellished with an uncountable number of petals; you would probably not come across such a sweet-scented dragon again ever!

Sea World

Head over to the Sea World, minutes away from the Beach Station, where you will encounter an array of sea animals made of flowers!

Imbiah Lookout Highlights

As you enter a garden filled with brilliant hues of spring, flower fairies are here to look after the plants, keeping them strong and healthy.

Spring Melodies

Perk up your ears and listen to the joyful and soothing melodies of springtime, accompanied by flowers pieced together to form musical notes and instruments!

Look out for flowers that have yet to bloom; I’m sure when they do, it will be the most amazing sight!

Even dragonflies are not left out in this dragon-themed event!

The yellow chrysanthemum symbolises comfort, joy and rejuvenation; many Chinese people are fans of this flower as it represents lifelong happiness and good luck!

Dinoland

Join in the educational trails and learn fun facts about dinosaurs!

Can you figure out the different dinosaur species?

Trees of Life

Six larger-than-life bird figures surround a bed of blush-pink petals; this spot is picture perfect!

Sand Sculpture

More highlights of Sentosa Flowers 2012 include its first ever Sand Sculpture, specially created for the event at the Imbiah Lookout.

A majestic sand sculpture — spanning six meters in length, three meters in width and three meters in height — is named “Dance of the Dragon”, brought to life by internationally-acclaimed sand sculptor JOOheng Tan.

The intricate detailing of the sand sculpture is evidence of the time and effort spent.

Awakening

The dragon theme continues with the “Awakening”, a concept derived from an olden tale where a famous painter brought a dragon to life by dotting the eyes. Here, you can pick up a giant brush next to this giant floral painting and give the finishing touches.

The majestic dragon comes alive with a glint in its eye!

Sweet Love

Head to Sweet Love, where flowers in full bloom line the Love Tunnel. Take a stroll with your loved ones through the tunnel and soak in the romantic scents from the beautiful blossoms.

As you reach the end of the tunnel, a pair of adorable dragons forms a picturesque background for couples.

Mount Faber

Cable car rides
S$26 for round trip, S$24 for one way

If you’re feeling a little adventurous, hop onto a cable car to Mount Faber where you can enjoy Chinese tea in the Dragon Gate Inn at The Jewel Box.

Sentosa Flowers 2012 is the ideal venue for family bonding and capturing fun memories together. Amongst the colourful flowers, you can learn fun facts about plants with the Chinese character for “dragon” in their names, dinosaurs and even tea processing at the six educational trails available.

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Wave House Sentosa – Making Waves in Singapore

Jasper Aston Lim — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 13:00:20 +0000

Wave House Sentosa is the latest addition to the Wave House chain, allowing surfing enthusiasts to have fun in the formerly “wave-less” Singapore. Besides pumping up the local sports scene with hi-tech wave-producing installations, Wave House also excites diners with an in-house restaurant.

Located within walking distance from the Sentosa Beach Station, I recommend taking a leisurely stroll from the station to take in the sights and sounds of the beach clubs along the way. A buggy transportation service is also available.

You would find Wave House nicely tucked away in the eastern corner of Sentosa, housed at a standalone building. Upon entering the establishment, the warm lights and earthy colours lend a cosy ambiance to the premises.

Appetisers

Torchon of foie gras & smoked duck breast (sampling portion)
S$18++

While the foie gras served with sweet sugared toast is supposed to be the main attraction of the dish, it is the succulent duck breast pairing with pear vincotto that steals the limelight.

Black pepper sesame crust tuna tataki (sampling portion)
S$13++

Slices of lightly seared tuna tataki coated with a crust of black pepper and sesame, then drizzled with an enhancing fragrant mix of sesame and balsamic vinegar dressing makes this an extremely appetising dish!

Mains

Braised Australian beef cheek (sampling portion)
S$24.50++

Cooked to fork-tender, the braised Australian beef cheek marries well with the fresh mushroom ragout and flavourful gravy. You can also enjoy it with the side of edamame, which adds an extra dimension to both texture and taste.

Blackened fillet of salmon (sampling portion)
S$24.50++

The salmon fillet, seared over high temperatures to seal in flavour conceals a small portion of uncooked fresh meat within. It is not as noteworthy when compared with the other mains. Personally, I enjoy the varied textures the dish provides with a square of deep-fried salmon skin and smooth potato mash.

Pan roasted emperor snapper fillet (sampling portion)
S$26.50++

While the crab hash side and accompanying sausage are not impressive, the snapper fillet is scrumptious; it is delicate and fresh with a natural sweetness highlighted by the crab jus and pickled fennel.

Desserts

Chocolate lava cake
S$10.50++

I have always been a fan of chocolate lava cakes, so I immediately jump at this dessert. The lava cake may be of average size, it is full-bodied and filled with rich and thick chocolate.

Look at how the molten chocolate flows! Even though the thin chilli strips add a nice touch of colour and spiciness, they are a tad hard. The pairing with vanilla ice cream makes the overall dessert a bit too sweet for my liking.

Airy milk chocolate cloud
S$10.50++

The lovely airy milk chocolate cloud dessert is a definite highlight of the evening. It is topped with blended raspberry granite and praline nougatine that adds a crunchy texture to the milk chocolate base. This light and slightly sweet treat is extremely satisfying and a must-order!

With modern interiors, candlelight setting and prompt service, I foresee this quiet, secluded restaurant to become a popular dating spot. Wave House provides an opportunity to escape from our busy concrete jungle. There is also an outdoor beach bar area to kick back and chill after a meal if you have time.

Have Your Say!

What is your favourite beach bar/restaurant in Singapore? Share with us in the comments!

Wave House
Sentosa
36 Siloso Beach Walk
Singapore 099007
Tel: +65 6377 3113 | Website

Opening hours:
Restaurant: Daily 11am – 11pm (10:30pm last order)
Beach bar: Mon – Fri 10am – 11pm
Wed, Sat, Sun & PH 9am – 11pm

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Café del Mar – Feast & Chill Out by the Beach

Veron Ang — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:24:04 +0000

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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The Garden at The Sentosa Resort & Spa – It’s Organic!

Veron Ang — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 07:52:13 +0000

I really enjoy eating, as I’m sure most people do. Thanks to increased awareness and better education on the importance of nutrition, we are becoming more sophisticated consumers. During chow hours, you would probably go for the heart-healthy and waist-friendly kind of food.

At The Sentosa Resort & Spa (not to be confused with the new Resorts World Sentosa), one of its restaurants, aptly named The Garden, encourages conscious dining. In fact, all the dishes feature organic ingredients where possible, and a large selection of salads and vegetarian options.

I must admit though. When I was first invited here for food-tasting, I was quite skeptical. Healthy greens may be good for the body, but they hardly appeal to me! But boy, was I in for a surprise! This is one of the most enjoyable meals I’ve had in recent months. In fact, it pleased me so much I even did a bit of live blogging from the restaurant on our Facebook Page. Oh yeah, do join us there if you haven’t, okay?

What do gardens come with? Plants, of course! The Garden features a tree as the centrepiece. This is indoor! Can you tell if the tree is real? Apart from this, there is also outdoor dining by the pool. Percy, the resident peacock, may even strut by to say hello!

The bread sticks are speckled with seeds and nuts, and they come with a delicious yoghurt dip.

Watermelon Daikon roll
S$18++
Rating:

We start with the watermelon Daikon rolls. They look like crab sticks, don’t they? Truth be told, I would have preferred if these were in fact crab sticks. There is supposed to be snapper sashimi, shredded cucumber and rocket shoots with Ponzu sauce in this, but mysteriously, I see only the watermelon and greens!

The Salad

The salad range takes up two whole pages of the menu, plus a third page for vegetable and fruit blends. You can concoct your own blends or construct a salad using 8 ingredients. At one glance, the ingredient selection for the salad seems to comprise everything under the sun!

Qi Revitalising
S$18++
Rating:

Undecided, we go for the Qi Revitalising salad with pre-selected ingredients including mung beans, Shiitake mushrooms, sesame seeds, snow peas and red dates. I like that the waitress brings over the whole “set” and enthusiastically does the mixing and tossing in front of us.

The set includes orange vinaigrette with tofu emulsion and a light spraying of lemongrass mist. Those wafers at the top are in fact black seed crisps.

The salad is served in what can only be described as a bucket! Huge portion! Even when shared amongst a party of three, each person still gets an ample portion.

The Main Courses

While many of the dishes here feature vegetables extensively, the emphasis is really on conscious dining. So you would still find a nice selection of seafood and meat dishes cooked in a healthful way. Yay for me!

Parchment baked snapper
S$36++
Rating:

One of my most favourite dishes here is the baked snapper. It is soaked in a thick gravy that tastes very much like the robust Thai sweet curry; complete with lime and lemongrass, just without the spice.

Coconut foam is added, which lends a sweet undercurrent that is vital for a dish like this. I am somewhat suspicious of it though. Coconut milk is notorious for being high in calories and saturated fat. Is coconut foam much better?

Accompanying the baked snapper is a bowl of brown rice, which I learn is the main choice of rice served here.

“Chicken rice”
S$39++
Rating:

The other main course that impresses is the signature “chicken rice”. Note the quotation marks :) I’ll explain. This isn’t your typical chicken fat and sesame oil laden Hainanese chicken rice, but a more heart-healthy rendition.

The organic chicken breast is marinated in ginger-soy and paired with sauteed kai lan vegetable. The style seems more European than Asian. While I’m not jumping up and down over the rice, which is pressed like ketupat, the chicken scores points for being extremely appetising. I must stress that this isn’t anything like the Singapore version of Hainanese chicken rice, nor does it pretend to be. A dish like this stands on its own.

Grilled Portobello mushrooms
S$30++
Rating:

The third favourite dish for the day is the grilled Portobello mushrooms, served with rice, roasted pumpkin, walnut and golden raisins. I believe my first reaction upon biting into the mushroom was a dramatic “Whoa! How juicy!” The succulent juices that ooze with every bite provide burst after burst of flavour. I think it has done enough to oust Jerry’s deep fried mushrooms from their longstanding position as the single most delicious mushroom item I have ever placed in my mouth.

Organic wheat germ pasta
S$29++
Rating:

What I find more forgettable is the organic wheat germ pasta with tuna and octopus confit. It fits nicely into my initial impression of healthful food — nutritious, but bland and unexciting.

The Drinks

After sampling the TWG Tea at One Rochester, we are thrilled to unearth an even bigger range of teas from this renowned homegrown company at The Garden!

TWG Tea Fruit Mountain tea
S$8.50++
Rating:

This time round, we opt for the Fruit Mountain tea which has the same delightfully sweet and fruity scent as the signature 1837 black tea. It is served in a tall glass that looks interesting but is not exactly practical.

Detox blend
S$13++
Rating:

Of course, in line with conscious dining, you can have your pick from one of the signature blends, such as the Detox blend of apple, celery, beetroot and ginseng. Celery appears to be the primary flavour, while the ginseng is more of an undertone (but you do taste it).

The Desserts

Organic chocolate
S$17++
Rating:

As a huge chocolate lover, I make a beeline for the organic chocolate. It arrives as a trio of smoked chilli pudding, chocolate crumble and chocolate ice cream (that doesn’t seem to melt!). Of the lot, the ice cream is the richest and yummiest. I still find chocolate to be most gratifying when it is in its unabashedly sweet and fattening form.

Soy bean panna cotta
S$15++
Rating:

If you like tau huay, you would fall in love with the soy bean panna cotta. After some prodding, we learn that this sweet dessert is made from cream, gelatin and soy bean obviously, and topped with lemongrass syrup. (Activity: Count the number of times “lemongrass” has appeared in this post!) This is one of those desserts that you can indulge in guilt-free and it tastes really, really good! Ohhh… I can eat this everyday!

Some afterthoughts

This is one of the most memorable and satisfying meals I’ve had in recent memory. I’m not just saying it because of the kind invitation from The Sentosa. As with all the restaurant and hotel reviews here, my principle is to keep it real and honest. Whether the meal is paid for from my own pockets or a complimentary invited session (for which I paid with my time and effort) is irrelevant. Either way, you would read the exact same words here.

After this meal, it really opened my eyes to the world of conscious dining and delicious, healthful food. We thank Michelle Yin and The Sentosa Resort & Spa for a truly wonderful and nutritious meal.

One more thing, if you’re driving or cabbing in to The Garden, head straight for Spa Botanica. That’s where you would find the restaurant. The sign may not be that prominent, so just ask any of the friendly resort staff around :)

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 the restaurants that you would recommend for a healthy meal? Share with us in the comments!

The Garden
Spa Botanica, The Sentosa Resort & Spa
2 Bukit Manis Road
Sentosa
Singapore 099891
Tel: +65 6371 1130 | Website
Service:

Opening hours: 10am – 10pm daily

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Resorts World Sentosa – A Quick Peek at the Casino

Veron Ang — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 07:25:33 +0000

The Resorts World at Sentosa, one of the two integrated casino resorts in Singapore, opened its casino on February 14, 2010. The first punters were welcomed at 12:18pm (local time) on the auspicious first day of Lunar New Year.

Since then, the casino has been drawing in a steady stream of visitors. The games available at the casino include baccarat, blackjack, slots and electronic game machines. Are you one of the early birds who have already been there?

One of our readers, Alwyn, has shared his exciting casino experience with us. Just in case you missed it, here’s an excerpt of what he says:

Casino update! I finally managed to pop by last evening. Basically gotta pay the S$100 + your IC. To enter scan your IC and from that time of 1st entry, it’s valid for 24 hours. If you exceed the 24 hours during your last exit, they will escort you to pay additional S$100.
Surprisingly, people were betting like there’s no tomorrow. S$500 – 1000 bets per hand was common place.
I saw young guys betting 1K per hand at blackjack, one old man and his friend lost about 10K in 1 hand of baccarat, 1 auntie won 600 after doubling down on her 11 point initial blackjack hand.
There were long queues at the cashier for people wanting to change their chips. I suggest you go to the smoking section cashier which was very quiet. People probably didn’t know it existed.
Food is cheap. There is a good mix of local food, about $4 per plate. Taste… average. Those looking for a beer I suggest buying from the drinks stall rather than at the bar. Price is 50% cheaper minus the nice glass, you drink from the can. :) At S$5 a pop.

Alwyn has related more interesting incidents and useful tips. So don’t forget to check out the rest of his casino experience!

Reuters

As we all know by now, Singapore citizens and permanent residents are required to pay a S$100 fee to enter the casino for a day, or S$2,000 for a year pass.

Credit

Even with the levy, people are still thronging the place to pay for the admission. Has the economy picked up? Or are people using the casino as a means to make a quick buck? Have you ever won big at a casino?

Credit

Lining the casino’s entrance is a long row of gantries with scanners. We notice that a majority of these are reserved for Singaporeans and permanent residents, while only a handful are meant for foreigners.

Credit

So far, one gambler has reportedly won S$1.5million at Resorts World Sentosa! Before anyone goes running off to the casino, do read Mr. Larry Haverkamp’s explanation on why the house always wins.

While the casino admission fee is meant to deter Singaporeans from gambling, avid gamblers will always find a way with or without the levy. The most important thing for players is to gamble responsibly.

Have Your Say!

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

Have you already checked out the Resorts World at Sentosa and its casino? Share your experience in the comments!

Resorts World at Sentosa

Check out what you can expect at the rest of Resorts World at Sentosa. For dining options, here are our reviews of the Chinese restaurant, The Dining Room at Crockfords Tower Hotel, as well as the patisserie, Boulangerie at Festive Hotel.

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http://sparklette.net/travel/singapore/sentosa-casino/ | 10 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.

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Resorts World at Sentosa – The Dining Room [Hotel Guests Only]

Veron Ang — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 17:31:36 +0000

Update: The Dining Room is open only to Crockfords Tower Hotel guests.

With all the buzz surrounding Resorts World at Sentosa, some of you may be looking to spend some time over here. Perhaps you are also curious about the dining options. What restaurants are there? Are they affordable?

After watching movies like Ocean’s Eleven, casinos give me the impression of being brimming with tycoons and rich people that have the ability to blow cash freely at the tables. So, the restaurants at a casino resort must be really posh and unaffordable for the general population, right?

Wrong. The Dining Room at Crockfords Tower Hotel, one of the six at the Sentosa Integrated Resorts, offers an array of Cantonese dishes that are surprisingly inexpensive (see menu below). You would also find a rare dessert delicacy here that I would urge everybody to try at least once, because it is pretty darn good!

Let’s start with the dim sum. A selection of dim sum is available, including the crowd favourites like xiao long bao, har kow and siew mai.

Steamed scallop dumpling
S$4.80++
Rating:

But our favourite is the scallop dumpling. This comes in threes, each one topped with a slice of sweet scallop. What they don’t tell you is that it also contains a plump, juicy prawn! Seafood lovers rejoice!

Steamed xiao long bao
S$4.80++
Rating:

The xiao long bao is your standard soupy dumpling with a thick and chewy skin, served with a vinegar and ginger dip. It is quite tasty, albeit a tad salty for people that are looking for something milder. As far as the xiao long bao is concerned, the ones at Crystal Jade are still unbeatable. Everyone agree?

Cantonese seafood rice in chicken broth
S$9.80++
Rating:

The seafood rice in chicken broth is something new for me. I always had the impression that porridge is “sick man’s food” because that’s what our parents like to feed us when we are ill. That is, until I tasted my first bowl of congee that actually made me feel wonderful.

Well, this one is even better than that. It is basically a cross between porridge, rice and soup. Okay, so it is really just rice in soup, but it tastes much better than it sounds and looks. You get fresh seafood and various kinds of vegetables in the chicken broth. The combination is chock-full with flavour and the perfect comfort food. Forget porridge; this nutritious combo is what I’d like to have when I’m sick. Decent price, too.

Star grouper slices braised with fresh tomatoes and eggs
S$19.80++
Rating:

What we find less decently priced is the grouper. Now, I am certainly no fish expert, but I got a fishy feeling about this. Is grouper an expensive fish? For that price, three rather small slices is quite a skimpy portion. We do enjoy it nonetheless, thanks to the tomatoes and the unusual but much-welcome ingredient of beaten eggs that lends an additional richness.

Baked egg tart with bird’s nest
S$10.80++ for 3
Rating:

The best part of this meal is hands-down the aforementioned bird’s nest egg tart. We really have the chef to thank for this. He had already run out of the tarts, but he made a few more specially for us.

To be honest, we were sceptical when we first saw this item on the menu, thinking that the bird’s nest was simply a gimmick. To our surprise, each egg tart comes topped with a sizable heap of bird’s nest. Oodles of squeal-inducing, rock sugary sweet bird’s nest on a warm delicious egg tart! We are delighted! Right there and then, we have tasted the best egg tarts we’ve ever had in our lives!

If you are looking to impress that hard-to-please mother-in-law or pamper your partner, this, I can imagine, is quite perfect.

While the official website indicates otherwise, a check with the staff reveals that the restaurant is open 24 hours daily. This is to cater to hotel guests and patrons of the 24-hour casino. No one goes hungry!

The Dining Room
Resorts World Sentosa
Crockfords Tower, Level 2
Service:
Tel: +65 6577 889 | Website
Menu: Starters | Main courses | Desserts

24 hours daily

Open only to Crockfords Tower Hotel guests

Resorts World at Sentosa

Check out what you can expect at the rest of Resorts World at Sentosa. Want more desserts? Head over to Boulangerie at Festive Hotel.

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Resorts World Sentosa & Universal Studios Singapore – An Inside Look [Pictures]

Veron Ang — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:06:18 +0000

The Resorts World Sentosa integrated resort in Singapore has finally opened!

Are you wondering what it is like on the inside? We take you on a tour through this highly anticipated attraction. Even before the Universal Studios theme park, the country’s first ever casino, and most of the 60 restaurants are open for business, the resort has already amassed a huge crowd on its opening day!

Clearly, the casino is the biggest draw of the resort. Be honest: How many of you are already planning your trip here?

The way to the casino is a route through passageways interconnected with escalators. Attention has been paid to every detail to give the feel of a whole different world. Ambient music plays in the background while lighting effects create dancing patterns and images on the walls.

This place has got some kind of underwater theme going on. A prelude to the controversial upcoming Marine Life Park, perhaps?

Water waves ripple on the arched ceiling and floor. You feel as though the floor MIGHT be moving. Pretty cool!

The eager crowd scrutinises the casino rules and regulations, and that includes a $100 admission fee. Some people were even spotted photographing the rules for future reference! Do you think the $100 fee would turn anyone off?

Here are more information and pictures of the Sentosa casino!

A slender-legged elephant towers over the crowd near Festive Hotel. He totally reminds me of Thailand!

Check out our dining review of Boulangerie at Festive Hotel

The main lobby of Festive Hotel features dozens of colourful lanterns hanging from the tall ceiling. The decoration certainly emanates a festive ambience! You would find a bakery and a bar in the lobby, and a spa up the beautiful staircase.

For the well-heeled shoppers, a whole alley of designer boutiques can be found at Crockfords Tower. No sign of Victoria’s Secret yet. Also missing is Tiger Woods’ face at TAG Heuer.

In between Crockfords Tower Hotel and Hotel Michael lies an eye catching pair of sculptures. Aren’t they adorable? Uncensored, too, they are. Some time back there was a bunch of exhibits here featuring a similar chubby theme. It is probably the same artist who’s also responsible for the cute fat pigeon along Boat Quay.

Check out our dining review of The Dining Room at Crockfords Tower Hotel

This is The Dining Room at Crockfords, a 24-hour restaurant specialising in Chinese/Cantonese cuisines. Ever heard of a bird’s nest egg tart? Well, the one here is exquisite!

When you visit the resort, do pay attention to the chandeliers. Most of them sport ornate and sophisticated designs that look interesting and abstract.

Festive Grande, the 1,600-seater theatre hosts a musical acrobatic performance, Voyage de la Vie. Uh, someone translate?

As you can see, many parts of the resort are still under construction. Universal Studios Singapore has yet to open. Same goes for the two remaining hotels and the casino.

Video Tour

Watch video walkthrough of the Resorts World at Sentosa:

Video by Singapore Casino Insider

Resorts World Sentosa Casino

Lining the casino’s entrance is a long row of gantries with scanners. We notice that a majority of these are reserved for Singaporeans and permanent residents, while only a handful are meant for foreigners.

The casino has opened its doors to the public. Check out our article on the Sentosa casino to find out what it has to offer!

Universal Studios Singapore

Here are some photos to whet your appetite. The theme park looks fabulous and fun!

Resorts World Sentosa restaurants

Check out our reviews of the Chinese restaurant, The Dining Room at Crockfords Tower Hotel, as well as the patisserie, Boulangerie at Festive Hotel.

Have Your Say!

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

What do you think of Singapore’s first casino resort so far? Will you be checking it out? Leave your comments!

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Sentosa Club Islander – Weekend Brunch by the Beach

Veron Ang — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 10:22:04 +0000

Back in my university days, Sentosa island was almost like my second home. A few times each week I would hit the beach for a sunbathing session. I even had that special islander pass that bestows upon its holder the power of unlimited queue-free access to the island.

So while my course mates were dozing off in the air-conditioned lecture theatres, I was dozing off on a mat under the sun. Eventually I grew darker and less recognisable by my own friends and kin. My tanning regime had to end.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why, the McMuffin, of course!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have I mentioned this is no ordinary toast?

Brunch platter
S$19.50++
Rating:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Sentosa Flowers 2009 – Colours of Spring

Veron Ang — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 04:17:19 +0000

During Chinese New Year each year, many Singaporeans flock to the island down South to revel in the annual Sentosa Flowers display.

After visiting the event for the first time last year, I’ve made it a point to visit it every Chinese New Year. The event brings us city dwellers to a place literally filled with nature, where everything looks so beautiful and vibrant. It’s wonderful :)

In case you missed it, here are some photos from the colourful event. This year’s theme was the colours of spring, with over a hundred species of spring flowers imported from all over the world.

On one side of this, there’s the gorgeous pink floral display with the name of the event formed using red flowers. This is what you see on the other side:

A cute and happy looking picture, with smiley faces and butterflies!

How colourful! Well I’m sure many of you are much better at identifying the flower species than I am. So if you recognise any of them here that I don’t, let me know the name!

Of course, I would pay extra attention to my favourite pink lily. Ain’t she a beauty!

Spotted a few people with their cameras waiting patiently by the side. There were bees buzzing around so these people were actually looking to get a good shot of the flowers with the bees on ‘em. See?

The huge rainbow arch made out of flowers was a huge hit with the crowd.

Try spotting the pot of gold!

Here’s another bunch of unidentified blossoms that are pretty in pink.

This being the year of the ox, the ox played a prominent role in some exhibits.

Morning glories in a brilliant shade of purple.

The tall slabs of stone with faces on them. What do you call them? Never mind. There’s the majestic Merlion in the background overlooking the whole floral extravaganza.

This time round, part of the event stretches along the palawan beach. The road by the beach is fringed with daisies in red, pink, orange, yellow and white. Wouldn’t it be awesome if we had such daisies along our public roads too? They would really brighten up the place!

A series of garden displays created by local students were also showcased. Some were amazing pieces of work that really brought out the festive mood.

I like this one with a giant paintbrush and peonies on the side. The Chinese character is 春 (chūn), which means spring.

Another 春 done in a three-dimensional display.

My most favourite work is the ox made out of cane. He looked totally adorable!

It may be just me, but the event appeared to have been scaled down a little, perhaps due to the economic downturn. Nonetheless it was still spectacular. Kudos to the organisers, florists, botanists and all the gardeners that helped to inject some cheery spirit during these difficult times.

Want more pretty flowers? Check out my coverage on Sentosa Flowers and Singapore Garden Festival last year.

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Sentosa Flowers 2008

Veron Ang — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 11:13:43 +0000

Every Chinese New Year, special events are held to celebrate this important festival. In Singapore, there is the Chinatown street market, Chingay Parade or River Hong Bao. One other popular event is the annual Sentosa Flowers show.

At this springtime event, you get to enjoy a kaleidoscope of rare flower species imported from all over the world.

Sprawling an area of 5 hectares at Imbiah Lookout, the flower extravaganza is showcased in various zones, with each zone subtly sporting its own theme.

In Learning Journey, the lifespan of a butterfly is presented using flowering plants that have been painstakingly cut and pruned into the shapes of caterpillars and butterflies. The caterpillar even bobs its head!

Is it just me, or does the butterfly kinda resemble a bee? In my impression, butterflies have slimmer bodies!

This large flower has been constructed from several smaller flowers, like big round pompoms! I think they look cute!

To celebrate Valentine’s Day, which is usually around the same time as Chinese New Year, predesignated photography spots have been set up in the Language of Love zone. Boy, are these hot! Long queues would form at spots such as the red hearts above, with eager couples waiting their turn to get a romantic shot in front of the floral display.

Besides flowers, props are also used to enhance the presentation. From afar, these gigantic sunflowers (complete with giant bumblebees!) can be seen sprouting from the bed of regular-sized sunflowers.

I’m not quite sure what it is. But this white flowering plant looks pretty unique to me. It reminds me of cotton wool.

Photo by Jaslinewong

I absolutely love, love, love this cute clay fountain of a little boy and girl couple. They look so innocent and sweet!

We don’t often get to see blues in flowers, do we?

I know that leaves sometimes appear in colours other than green. But ones that are completely pink? These I have never seen! They look even prettier than the flowers!

Aren’t these morning glories unusual with their white edges? Kind of like lace!

These “tie-dyed” roses sure look unique! I think they are some sort of a hybrid species.

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. I have never seen a rose like that!

If you ask me, I still prefer the regular red or pink rose, though not as much as my most favourite flower…

…the exotic pink lily! It was such a joy, seeing these lilies growing in abundance right in front of me! Before Sentosa Flowers, I had only seen them in bouquets.

Photo by De Novo

At the fountain area, swans and ducks made from flowers froli as visitors snap away with glee with their cameras.

Visitors can also purchase leaf-shaped cards where they would pen their words and attach them to trees.

Amongst the hundreds of messages of wishes and dedications to that special someone, this particular message of peace stood out for me.

Photo by eydren1982

Even moving away from the Imbiah area, giant floral displays can still be seen towering into the sky. This colourful display featuring the Chinese character, Chun (spring), is particularly eye-catching due to its majestic height. It stands more than 2.5 metres tall!

In so many amazing ways, flowers can be transformed into interesting works of art when creativity is put to use!

I am already looking forward to next year’s Sentosa Flowers!

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The Station Kitchen – 3-in-1 Restaurant

Veron Ang — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 15:38:34 +0000

St James Power Station is the clubbing hotspots in town. It has been refurbished from an old power station. And that’s not all. This power station is also Singapore’s first coal-powered power plant and was built in 1927! That’s quite a bit of history isn’t it?

Located at the Sentosa gateway and across from VivoCity, the largest shopping mall in Singapore, this formerly functioning power station is now home to nine different clubs and bars.

I wonder if party-goers know that there is also a restaurant over here, called “the station kitchen”. It is managed by the BreadTalk folks and houses three kinds of cuisines and concepts. There is the Din Tai Fung noodle bar (Chinese food), What You Do Prata stall (Indian food) and charcoal (Taiwanese grill).

At What You Do Prata, the Indian chef whips up a range of curries and gravies that look really tantalising. I love Indian food, so naturally I was very tempted!

Chicken Masala
S$4.50+++
Rating:

Instead of having some good ol’ roti prata, I went for the chicken masala. I had really high expectations because the Indian chef looked as though he was really good at what he did! But the chicken turned out looking much better than it tasted. Masala means a mixture of many spices, but the masala sauce certainly didn’t excite.

Briyani Rice
S$2+++
Rating:

Of course, if you had all that gravy, you would want something else to go along. Ideally I would have naan but they didn’t have any so I had briyani rice instead. Once again, it was blah and tasted monotonous. A good briyani rice ought to be some nicely spiced basmati rice, well-cooked and firm to the bite. Disappointingly, the one here just didn’t make the cut.

Teh Halia (Ginger Tea)
S$2.90+++
Rating:

Still, I loved the teh halia. teh halia is teh tarik (“pulled” tea) with ginger juice added. The first time I ever had teh halia, I found the taste a little odd. But after subsequent times I was hooked! This, and masala tea (spicy tea) too.

At the din tai fung noodle bar, Chinese chefs made noodles on the spot. This is done by repeatedly pulling and stretching the dough by hand. Each time someone places an order, the guy would start doing his thing, hence guaranteeing that every bowl of noodles is made fresh!

Noodle with Minced Pork in Bean Sauce
S$8+++
Rating:

I don’t eat pork but I did get a taste of the hand-made noodle — firm and smooth, springy and cooked to perfection. Very nice! The bean sauce was delightful.

So that’s two out of three. The last part of The Station Kitchen — charcoal — didn’t really appeal to me much. A major part of the charcoal concept means that you get/have to cook your own food, which doesn’t exactly appeal to me.

Even though the food at The Station Kitchen may not be that fantastic, party-goers are sure to throng this place after dark as it’s probably the only eating place in the same area that opens until 5am. Under its management, which has a successful and proven track record in BreadTalk, Din Tai Fung and Food Republic, The Station Kitchen would certainly be around for a long time.

The Station Kitchen
St James Power Station
3 Sentosa Gateway #01-11/15
Singapore 098544
Tel: +65 6376 8085
Service:

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