Sunday, April 5, 2026

Tea Lounge @ Conrad Singapore Orchard - Art of Chocolate, An Indulgent Afternoon of Valrhona-infused Delights

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Tea Lounge at Conrad Singapore Orchard has launched a decadent Weekday Afternoon Tea in collaboration with Valrhona, featuring a curated selection of pastries and cocoa-infused creations crafted with Valrhona's signature couverture chocolates.

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We started with a warm, creamy, indulgent Hot Chocolate, though a more bittersweet profile might have made for a better opening given the sweets ahead.

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Finger Sandwiches

The tier of savoury finger sandwiches was nothing short of elegant and satisfying. The ratio of soft, fluffy bread to fillings was spot on. The Devilled Mimosa Sandwich offered a classic egg mayo filling, while the Cured Cucumber Sandwich delivered a pleasant savoury crunch. The Smoked Salmon Sandwich with Caviar was mouth-filling and luxurious, while the Smoked Roasted Chicken Sandwich leaned more towards a shaved ham sandwich, though still delectable with its tender bite.

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Vanilla Moist Layer Cake

The tea cakes and pastries tier showcases some of Valrhona's key couverture chocolates, including Guanaja 70% that goes into making the Vanilla Moist Layer Cake. I learnt that Guanaja 70% is regarded as the world's first intensely bitter chocolate with 70% cocoa, when it was first introduced in 1986!

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Crémeux and White Miso Tart

The Crémeux and White Miso Tart stood out the most for me. It features Matcha inspiration, made with Kagoshima matcha and cocoa butter. The savoury white miso tart also draws on umami, reinforcing the creation's Japanese flair. Among the sweets, I thought this had the most balanced sweetness.

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Raspberry Crémeux and Coco Biscuit features Opalys 33%, known for its pure white colour and velvety texture. Coconut is infused into the pastry as well, imparting a gentle tropical note. The Hazelnut Travel Cake is a vegan-friendly cake made using Amatika 46%, Valrhona's first vegan couverture. The nuttiness of the cake came through beautifully. Roasted Buckwheat Mandola is created with Hukambi 53% milk chocolate and elevated with a nutty crunch from roasted buckwheat.

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Mushrooms Royale and Dark Chocolate Quiche

In between, we were also served Mushrooms Royale and Dark Chocolate Quiche, both of which were among my favourite items. The dark notes of the pastry tart complemented the creamy and savoury filling especially well. The scones are served with clotted cream, salted caramel chocolate jam, strawberry jam, and calamansi curd.

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Scones

In addition to the Classic Plain, there is also the Manjari 64% Chocolate and Candied Orange Zest Scone. Studded with chunks of luscious Manjari 64% chocolate in every bite, it was delicious enough to enjoy with just the clotted cream.

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Sweet Risotto

Sweet Risotto was served à la minute, with a choice of three flavours — dark chocolate, raspberry, and matcha. During our visit, guest Pastry Chef Arief Rusli of Valrhona was in residence at Tea Lounge, and we had the privilege of having him finish our risotto with a pepper-spiked mousse. Its contrasting peppery note offset the milky sweetness of the risotto, creating a more balanced and nuanced finish.

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Beyond the existing selection of teas and coffee, you can also customise your own Gryphon tea at a dedicated tea station with a variety of ingredients to choose from.

Art of Chocolate is available Mondays to Fridays from 30 March to 10 July 2026, 12pm to 5pm.

Pricings
$54++ per adult
$27++ per child with selection of tea and coffee
An additional $50++ per adult for free-flow prosecco and wines
An additional $70++ per adult for free-flow champagne and wines

Photos and words by Si An. A homebody who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, the smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food.


Tea Lounge
Conrad Singapore Orchard
Lobby Level
1 Cuscaden Road
Singapore 249715
Tel: +65 67253245
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Nearest MRT: Orchard Boulevard (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 12pm - 5pm
Sat-Sun: 12pm - 215pm, 3pm - 515pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard Boulevard MRT station. Take Exit 1. Turn right and walk down Cuscaden Road. Walk to the destination. Journey time is about 3 minutes.[Map]

Saturday, April 4, 2026

Orchid Live Seafood @ Seletar Hills Estate - Fresh Live Seafood & Fun Mystery Seafood Bags

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If you are a fan of fresh live seafood, Orchid Live Seafood is probably one of those places that should already be on your radar. Known for its tank-to-table seafood and Teochew-style cooking, this long-standing local favourite has been serving up quality live catches for years, with preparations that let the seafood's natural sweetness shine. On our recent visit to their Jalan Kelulut outlet, we got to try a mix of their signature dishes, seasonal specials, and even their newly launched Mystery Seafood Bag experience, which adds a fun surprise element to the meal.

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Homemade Tofu served with Century Egg & Tobiko 4.5/5

Starting with a cold appetiser, the Homemade Tofu served with Century Egg & Tobiko ($8) was a pleasant surprise. The tofu had a firmer, more custardy texture, with strips of imitation crab meat tucked inside. The century egg purée was well-balanced and not too strong, while the tobiko added a little pop. A simple but enjoyable starter.

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Signature Local Rock Lobster Porridge 5/5

The Signature Local Rock Lobster Porridge ($120 for 1kg) was easily one of our favourite dishes of the meal. Although meant for 4 persons, it can definitely feed 5 to 6 if you are sharing other dishes too. The broth was light yet packed with sweetness from the fresh live rock lobster, making it both comforting and flavourful. A must-order here for that umami punch!

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Steamed Snow Crab 4.5/5

For April, Orchid Live Seafood is offering Live Snow Crab at $78 for 1 or $138 for 2 (U.P. $138/kg). Steamed with egg white, the crab was naturally sweet, letting the freshness shine. A little tip: we added some egg white to the lobster porridge, and it made it even more umami. Do not miss this incredible offer, really value for money!

Plushies

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White Pepper Dungeness Crab 4.5/5

Blind boxes are trending, but have you tried Blind Seafood? Orchid Live Seafood's new Mystery Seafood Bag lets diners pick from two tiers ($48++ / $68++) to reveal a surprise live seafood item at up to 50% off, plus a cute seafood plushie to bring home.

There are a few possible catches, including Bamboo Clams, Boston Lobster, Abalone, Soon Hock, Turbot and Dungeness Crab. We got the Dungeness Crab and had it cooked in white pepper style - fragrant, fresh and super addictive.

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Signature Steven Chicken 4.5/5

Not everything worth ordering here is seafood. The Signature Steven Chicken ($24, medium) is one of the restaurant's long-time favourites, and it's easy to see why. Nicely fried, crispy and coated in a savoury-sweet glaze, sprinkled with sesame seeds - this was a very addictive dish that would appeal to almost everyone at the table, especially the kids.

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Stir Fry Royal Chives 4.5/5

Also known as Qing Long Cai, the Stir Fry Royal Chives ($18, small) was cooked just right, retaining a nice crunch. Light, fresh and simple, it was a good contrast to the richer seafood dishes.

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Overall, Orchid Live Seafood offers fresh live seafood, comforting local-style flavours and good value for the quality. Portions are generous, the staff are friendly, and the dining experience feels fuss-free yet satisfying. It is a great option for family meals and seafood gatherings, and it even has a private dining room for special occasions. They currently have 2 outlets - Jalan Kelulut and HomeTeamNS Khatib.

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Membership Perks

Join Orchid Live Seafood's FREE membership programme and enjoy:
• $10 voucher for your next visit
• 2 x $5 vouchers for your 2nd and 3rd visit
• Earn 1 point for every $10 spent
• Redeem $10 for every 30 points
*T&Cs apply.

Photos and words by Jaslyn. An avid cook who lives to eat and travel for food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Orchid Live Seafood
16 Jalan Kelulut
Singapore 809033
Tel: +65 6484 2495
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Nearest MRT: Buangkok (NE Line), Serangoon (CC, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 230pm, 5pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Serangoon MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk to bus stop at Serangoon MRT Station (Stop ID 66351). Take bus number 70, 104. Alight 10 stops later. Walk to Jalan Kelulut. Turn left onto Jalan Kelulut. Walk to destination. Journey time is about 25 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Buangkok MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Buangkok MRT Station (Stop ID 67601). Take bus number 104. Alight 6 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to Jalan Kelulut. Turn left onto Jalan Kelulut. Walk to destination. Journey time is about 16 minutes. [Map]