The Lobby Lounge @ Intercontinental Singapore - Celestial Bird’s Nest Afternoon Tea Set

Treat yourself to an indulgent afternoon with Intercontinental Hotel's Celestial Bird's Nest Afternoon Tea Set. Served in the luxe and spacious Lobby Lounge, it's the perfect setting to sip tea, chit chat and nibble on exquisitely crafted savouries and sweet fancies infused with the health benefits of bird's nest.

Celestial Bird's Nest Afternoon Tea Set 4.5/5

The afternoon tea is presented on a lovely three-tier gold stand reminiscent of a bird cage. The sweets rest pretty on the top tier, each one a visually stunning confection. The Snow Bird's Nest and Caramel Apple Choux is filled with a luscious combination of bird's nest, caramel cremeux and poached apples. The Blood Bird's Nest Blackberries Tartlet is sweet and tart all at once, with blackberry marmalade and chamomile honey custard. However, the vanilla sable base could be firmer as it crumbled pretty easily. Macarons are also filled with Madagascar Vanilla Butter Cream and Osmanthus Honey Cakes.

Osmanthus Honey Cake

Given how pretty it is, the Osmanthus Honey Cake deserves to star in its own picture! It's light and fragrant with honey, pear, as well as osmanthus jelly and vanilla genoise. It is a refined treat and a delight to eat.

24K Golden Bird’s Nest bottles

If you were wondering why the two macarons have some numbers emblazoned on them, well, that's the code to unlock the treasure box that holds the 24K Golden Bird's Nest bottles. Each bottle is filled with double-boiled bird's nest, red dates consommé, wolfberries, edible gold leaves and peach gum. Eat up for beautiful skin and improved digestion!

Second Tier

The trio of savoury bites is thoughtfully curated. We had a dish of Bird's Nest Jelly with Hokkaido Scallop and Oscietra Caviar, a Beef Pastrami and Black Truffle Sandwich with feta cheese, and a Bacon-wrapped Quail Egg Skewer. They were all yummy and had a nice balance to all the sweets we had just eaten. I especially liked the scallop plate!

Third Tier

Last but not least, we had a Smoked Salmon Quiche, classic English Buttermilk Scones, and Lemonade Scones. The scones were served with Devonshire clotted cream, Strawberry Rose preserves and Fruits of the Forest jam. Unfortunately, as I decided to eat the scones last, they were a bit cold by the time I got to it.

If you can still fit more sweets in your stomach, the afternoon tea set also comes with unlimited ice cream! We had the option of banana gelato or mixed berry sorbet, along with a variety of toppings like toasted coconut, chocolate balls, and Oreo crumbs.

Overall, it was a wonderful and relaxing afternoon tea experience at Intercontinental Hotel's Lobby Lounge. The service is also friendly and prompt. The lounge lets in natural daylight, which also makes for a great setting to capture some photo memories of your experience and with your loved ones.

This Celestial Bird's Nest Afternoon Tea is available daily till 28 July 2024.

1st Seating: 1:00pm to 3:00pm, 2nd Seating: 3:30pm to 5:30pm
Weekdays $65++ per person, Weekends $70++ per person
Prices are inclusive of one serving of loose-leaf tea/coffee per person. Elevate your experience with a flute of Champagne ($28++), or a glass or signature cocktail ($20++)

Photographed and penned by Shermine. Through her pictures and stories, she shares her journey of savouring new flavours and experiences. Note: This is an invited tasting.


The Lobby Lounge
InterContinental Singapore
Level 1
80 Middle Road
Singapore 188966
Tel: +65 68251008
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Nearest MRT: Bugis (EW Line, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1-3pm, 330pm - 530pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Bugis MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Celebrate the magic of Christmas at Hilton Orchard Singapore

Christmas has dawned upon Hilton Orchard Singapore, and with it, a magnificent festive spread from its esteemed F&B establishments - Estate, Ginger.Lily and Osteria Mozza graced the hotel with an air of seasonal enchantment.

Fresh Seafood Platter

Embarking on the festive celebration, we commenced with the Fresh Seafood Platter. A sumptuous assembly featuring Maine Lobster, Irish Oysters, Alaskan King Crab, and Scallops – a true indulgence for seafood aficionados, capturing the essence of the ocean in a single feast.

Pan-Seared Foie Gras

Next, we had the Pan-Seared Foie Gras. An ode to decadence, the foie gras was artfully paired with onion and chestnut puree, dragees alsace crust, and a tantalising balsamic glaze. This symphony of flavours elevated the delicate foie gras to a sublime experience.

Christmas Cravings

No festive celebration is complete without Christmas Cravings. A culinary voyage through the Classic Beef Wellington, Whole Roasted Turkey with bread stuffing, and the Honey Glazed Bone-in Ham, offering a trifecta of festive delights that beckon the spirit of Christmas to the table.

Smoked Turkey and Candied Bacon Pizza

Osteria Mozza contributed to the festive revelry by creating the Smoked Turkey and Candied Bacon Pizza. Adorned with squash, cranberries, and fried sage, this festive pizza danced on the palate, marrying unique holiday flavours with the joy of traditional pizza craftsmanship.

Grilled Sandwich

Adding a touch of warmth to the festive menu is the Grilled Sandwich, a treasure trove of flavours with layers of turkey prosciutto, Swiss cheese, pepperoncini, and pickles. The peppery zest of the pepperoncini harmoniously blended with the tangy pickles for a delightful finish.

Raclette Cheese

A personal favourite emerged as Raclette Cheese, beckoning to be savoured with bread, ham, and pickles. The rich, melted goodness of the raclette infused each bite with a delightful blend of textures and flavours.

Not to be overlooked are the Executive Pastry Chef's creations, offering visual delights and an exquisite array of log cakes with unique flavours distinct from the classic renditions. The festive sweet delights are tantalising for those with a penchant for confectionary delights.

In conclusion, Hilton Orchard Singapore has woven a tapestry of festive delights that cater to the eyes and promise a culinary journey rich in flavours and creativity. This Christmas, the hotel stands as a beacon of gastronomic joy, inviting patrons to celebrate flavours that encapsulate the season's magic.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Hilton Orchard Singapore
333 Orchard Road
Singapore 238867
Tel: +65 67374411
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Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Tamashii Robataya @ North Canal Road - New Revamped Menu With Omakase Starting from $88

I am back once again at one of my favourite Japanese restaurants, Tamashii Robataya at North Canal Road to check out its revamped menu. Besides its omakase menus, it has introduced 3 more Semi-Omakase dinner menu ranging from $88 to $168. On top of that, it has also created some new a la carte dishes to delight the diners' palates.

Hairy Crab with Hokkaido Aka Sea Urchin 4.8/5

Our dinner started with the Hairy Crab with Hokkaido Aka Sea Urchin ($45). The fresh and sweet hairy crab is tossed with aka sea uni and topped with murasaki uni. It is a heavenly combination boosting with unami from the creamy sea urchins.

Sage Beef with Sea Urchin 4.2/5

Another new item on the menu is the Sage Beef with Sea Urchin ($45). The tender sage beef is wrapped with uni and topped with both uni and caviar. This is like a uni bomb that explodes in the mouth with the rich uni's sweetness. I know I shouldn't complain about the generous amount of uni but I thought lesser maybe better here for the appreciation of the age beef.

Grilled Alfonsino with Crispy Scales 4/5

The Grilled Alfonsino with Crispy Scales is a head to tail dish, not wasting any parts of the fish. The heads and fish bones are used to make the fish broth that is poured at table side. This complements the moist and succulent grilled alfonsino while the crispy scales give it an enjoyable contrast in texture.

A5 Grade Miyazaki Beef Sandwich 4.2/5

Unlike the Japanese version whereby the teriyaki sauce is already spread onto the beef sandwich, the A5 Grade Miyazaki Beef Sandwich ($98) is served with apple and chilli sauce on the side, this is to avoid the sandwich from getting soggy from the sauce. I prefer the chilli sauce over the apple sauce for that little spicy kick in the end.

Anago Foie Gras Donburi 4/5

Last but not least, we have the Anago Foie Gras Donburi ($48). Foie Gras are mixed together with Japanese rice so diners can get the rich buttery with each mouthful. The rice bowl comes with fat and succulent tempura sea eel. I felt that grilling the sea eel would be more appropriate to showcase the dish.


Note: This is an invited tasting.


Tamashii Robataya
12 North Canal Road
#02-01
Singapore 048825
Tel: +65 62220316
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Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NE Line), Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 12pm - 230pm, 630pm - 1030pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk towards the junction of North Canal Road and South Bridge Road. Cross the junction and continue on North Canal Road. Walk along the shophouses along North Canal Road. Look out for an alley and turn left into it. Look for the entrance to the building and take lift to level 2. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Raffles Place MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk towards North Canal Road. Continue on North Canal Road. Walk along the shophouses along North Canal Road. Look out for an alley and turn right into it. Look for the entrance to the building and take lift to level 2. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]