Atrium Restaurant @ Holiday Inn Atrium Singapore - Hawkerlicious Buffet + Durian Bazaar

While fashion trends, bloom and wither as our love for them diminishes, our attachment towards durians only seems to get deeper - the more the merrier. This almost 'unconditional love' for the King of Fruits is even more pronounced during this time of the year, evident in social media posts. To celebrate the advent of the Durian season, Atrium Restaurant at Holiday Inn Atrium Singapore has designed a Hawkerlicious Buffet, catering to your palate.

Started off the evening with my own plated Gado Gado. I was quite sceptical initially in dressing my ingredients with the peanut sauce as usually they can be quite heavy, oily or salty in taste, but how wrong I was! Their peanut sauce was robust with a fine balance of flavours, whetting my appetite instantly.  With such a good sauce, I had no doubt that the satay would satisfy me just as well. Indeed, the satay meat was tender with a sweet, smoky taste, and the peanut sauce simply makes them even more moreish.

Next up is their mouth watering Laksa. I love the fact that I get to cook it myself, hence I can have a huge portion of beansprouts and a heap of the Laksa leaves. Writing about it makes me crave for it instantly. I don't order Laksa when dining out honest, but for theirs, I actually need to make a conscious effort not to drink up the gravy.

Another must try local delight is Oyster Omelette. I like the chewy starch, which is a perfect contrast to the crisp omelette. The portion of oysters can be more though. Another key ingredient is the chilli sauce, and their did manage to up the taste a notch. It would have been a better experience, I feel, if the Oyster Omelette can be made a la minute. Imagine it on your plate hot and piping. Hence,if you have the patience, perhaps, it is worth waiting for a fresh batch.

Their Chilli Crayfish is also one of their signatures. Don't forget to grab some of the crispy fried Man Tou for the sauce.

One of the dishes that I would recommend is their Nonya Chap Chye, which sits quietly among the rest.  It is full of my favourite crunchy black fungus, with very soft and flavourful Tau Kee and cabbages. Stir-fry vegetables is seldom my choice in a buffet as they are usually soggy with sauces, but somehow, this dish works for me much better than I thought it would.

Apart from the traditional pastries such as chiffon cakes and nonya kuehs, you may also DIY your own Ice Kachang, which is always a fun thing to do.

After all these 'works' to get your appetite going, it is time for the real work! Durians time! From $15 nett per durian, you get to choose one type of durians D1, D13 or Red Prawn. The best thing is that, you get to enjoy it with a bunch of your loved ones under the moonlight and shining stars out in their terrace.

Indeed, as one brilliantly pointed out, eating durians is a communal ritual.  I recalled moments of such occasions, some were filled with infectious laughter, while in some, only the sound of individual drawing every bit of the durian flesh off the seed could be heard. Missing such moments? This Hawkerlicious Buffet may be one of the options for you to experience it again.

Hawkerlicious Buffet (Book now to enjoy 1-for-1 offer)
Date: 15 July to 31 August 2016
Time: 630pm - 1030pm
Price:
Sun-Thu: $78++ adult | $25++ child
Fri-Sat: $88++ adult | $25++ child

Durian Bazaar
Date: 15 July to 31 August 2016
Time: 630pm - 1030pm
Price: From $15 nett per whole durian

Written by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Atrium Restaurant
Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium
317 Outram Road
Singapore 169075
Tel: +65 67317172
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hiatrium
Website: http://holidayinn.com/sinatrium
Nearest MRT: Tiong Bahru (EW Line)

Operating Hours:
Daily: 6am - 1230am

Direction:
1) Alight at Tiong Bahru MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Tiong Bahru MRT station (Stop ID 10169). Take bus number 123. Alight 4 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes.  [Map]

Ellenborough Market Café @ Swissôtel Merchant Court - Return Of The Matriarch

Stepping into the dining halls of Ellenborough Market Café at Swissôtel Merchant Court, and you know you are in for something slightly different - Not the usual warm lights, solid wooden furnishing against generic tiles and neutral walls of a typical international buffet restaurant in a hotel. Instead, pretty turquoise walls made bold with sparkling diamond-cut glass wall features, backs contemporary furnishings that stand elegantly on vintage-style Peranakan floor. What a chemistry between heritage and modernity.

Stir Fried Slipper Lobster in Black Bean Sauce 3/5

In a new look, but old fond flavours stay. Led by Executive Chef Louis Tay, not only the team continues to whip up signature dishes, they now expanded the international hot dish selection.

Roast Beef 3.8/5

Well roasted with a pink core, drizzled with the sauce made with its own juice and fats, my salad could not be more sumptuous than this!

La Mian with Lion Head Meatball 4/5

I don't usually take 狮子头 or Chinese Meatballs as they are always just a compact ball of meat like siew mai but theirs turned out to be exceptionally tasty - juicy, tender and sweet, like a exquisite xiao long bao that falls apart easily in my mouth. The broth was sweet and the La Mian, hand-pulled by their La Mian Master was light and springy.

Kuey Pie Tee 4/5

One key ingredient to a delicious Kuey Pie Tee is of course the little golden shells. Though left out in the open, each thin shell remained airy and crispy. Being my own chef adds to the experience - scooping heaps of tunips and vegetables into the golden shell right up to its brim, topping it with succulent shrimps and mash eggs, dressing it with sweet sauce, and down to the sprinkling of ground peanuts and chopped parsley for the final touch. Not forgetting a dash of chilli!

Salads - Nonya Wing Bean Prawn, Chicken Feet Kerabu, Prawn & Mango Kerabu 3.5/5

At the Peranakan station, one of my favourite items are their peranakan appetisers. Tangy with a hint of spiciness, they did get my appetite going. I love the combination of the different ingredients to create that crunchiness, even the deboned chicken feet got my jaw moving quite abit. My favourite is the Prawn & Mango for that extra fruity sweetness. They go really well with the traditional signatures such as signature Ayam Buah Keluak and Babi Pongteh, which are more robust and heavier in taste.

Chilli Crab with Fied Man Tou

Herbal Pork Loin 4/5

Pretty good line-up at their hot station. Their Chilli Crab even comes with fried man tou. The star for me though, its their Herbal Pork Loin. I love the broth. It was light but extremely flavourful with herbs. The chef certainly didn't scrimp on the ingredients. The pork loin was fork tender. If only, there was some dark soy sauce with chilli padi and a bowl of white rice. It will felt like a comforting, nutritious home cooked meal.

Traditional Muah Chee 3/5

While they have a huge chiller full of dainty western patisseries, the star is really their traditional kueys and hot desserts. They have our childhood favourite - Homemade Muah Chee, which was soft and chewy, and if you ain't fast enough, expect to queue for the hot favourite Nyonya Kueh Dadar, which is made fresh in front of your eyes.

Peanut Paste with Ah Balling 4/5

I didn't expect to see such a wide variety of traditional desserts. Do try their homemade Ah Balling. A gentle bite on the delicate skin and out oozes warm black sesame lava.

Durian Pengat 3.5/5

Enjoy Durian Pengat at its place of 'origin'.

Assorted Kueh

Great selection of food but i wish the selection of their Peranakan dishes could be more. That perhaps allow me more space for their comforting desserts.

Price
Lunch Buffet
Mon-Sun: $52 per adult
Dinner Buffet
Mon-Thu: $62 per adult
Fri-Sun, Eve of PH & PH: $68 per adult
High Tea
Sat-Sun & PH: $42

Written by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food. Note: This is an invited tasting.

Ellenborough Market Café
Swissôtel Merchant Court
20 Merchant Court
Singapore 058281
Tel: +65 62391848
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Clark Quay (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Buffet Lunch: 12pm - 230pm
Buffet Dinner: 630pm - 10pm
Buffet High Tea: 330pm - 530pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Clark Quay MRT station: Take Exit E. Walk straight to Tew Chew Street. Cross the road and turn right. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Rumah Sayang @ JEM

When I was told that there is a popular Peranakan cafe at the basement of JEM, I was a bit puzzled because I didn't release I have seen one during my previous visits. Fortunately a food trail lead me to Rumah Sayang, a Peranakan theme cafe solving the mystery. No wonder I have missed it because the name of the Halal restaurant did not suggest that it is a Peranakan cafe. Moreover the cafe sells a mixed of Nasi Padang, local cooked dishes, local snacks and kuehs on top of some signature Nyonya dishes. Nevertheless, the cafe is extremely popular with the shoppers. It is one of the busiest eatery at the shopping mall constantly streaming in with diners.

Tahu Goreng 4/5

Upon being seated, we started with a plate of Tahu Goreng ($3.50). Crispy on the outside and smooth inside, the texture enjoyed to the fullest with the delectable sweet and spicy nutty sauce.

Curry Fish Head 4.5/5

A must order at Rumah Sayang is their Curry Fish Head ($18.90). The fresh fish head is accompanied with a delicious curry gravy that is rich and creamy while the spice level could be accepted by majority. I like that it is also served with a lot of vegetables so my meal would not be very boring with just one choice. The only disappointment is that the claypot comes with only half a fish head instead of whole.

Salted Egg Yolk Chicken 4.2/5

To have a more complete meal, you may want to throw in another local favourite Salted Egg Yolk Chicken. I am a big fan of salted egg yolk so this is a winner for me. The chicken was tender and juicy complemented  by the salted egg yolk sauce. The flavour of salted egg yolk sauce was enhanced further with the curry leaves aroma and a hint spiciness.

Prawn Fritter 4.5/5

You can also dropped by Rumah Sayang to have either your breakfast and tea if you are not looking for a full meal. They also have local delights like mee siam, mee rebus, mee soto, lakaa, prata, lotong and nyonya kuehs on their menu. Among them my favourite is the Prawn Fritter ($1.60 for 2pc). Hardly get to find this delicious prawny snack elsewhere. Deep fried to golden brown, crispy and not too oily. This is must eaten with the homemade chilli dip.


Rumah Sayang
JEM
50 Jurong Gateway Road
#B1-41
Singapore 608549
Tel: +65 63390938
Nearest MRT: Jurong East (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Jurong East MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes [Map]

Orchard Cafe @ Orchard Hotel

The buffet at Orchard Cafe has undergone a revamp with a newly launched Straits Cuisine buffet with a line up of authentic Peranakan dishes, traditional roasts, seafood options and all time local favourite. This is complete with live stations and a la minute highlights.

Condiments

A wide selection of condiments are available at the buffet spread with my favourite being the Cincaluk.

Kueh Pie Tee 3.5/5

A take from the classic is Chef Pual's version of Buah Keluak Kueh Pie Tee. The delicious delight is accentuated with the nyonya caviar aka buah keluak and fish roes. It is understand that the ultimate kueh pie tee was created during the Ultimate Hawker Fest 2013 and was well received. While I applauded the creativity and combination, the differ from the classic may cause some controversy over the authenticity of this traditional delight.

Popiah 4/5

Available at one of the live stations is the Popiah wrapped in a thin popiah skin. The popiah was plump and stuffed with generous fillings.

Steamed Black Cod Otah 4.2/5

Nyonya Hokkien Mee 4/5

Sambal Sting Ray in Banana Leaves 3.5/5

The buffet line also features Executive Chef Paul's signature dishes such as the Steamed Black Cod Otah, Nyonya Hokkien Mee and Sambal Sting Ray in Banana Leaves. The Steamed Black Cod Otah has a mixed of prawns in it which gave it a chunky bite. Fragrant with pork lard was the delectable Nyonya Hokkien Mee which was slurping good. The Sambal Sting Ray in Banana Leaves will appeal more to the tourist than local with its slightly on the sweet side chili sauce.

Ikan Kuah Lada 4.2/5

Nyonya Chap Chye 4/5

Lembu Rendang 3.5/5

Ayam Buah Keluak 4/5

Among the buffet spread is a row of claypots that features the traditional Perankan dishes such as the Ikan Kuah Lada, Nyonya Chap Chye, Lembu Rendang and Ayam Buah Keluak. The Ikan Kuah Lada was given a premium twist with the use of pink snapper instead of the usual mackerel. The tartness of the tumeric and peppercorn gravy went very well with a plate of rice. The Nyonya Chap Chye was well braised until soft with delectable sweetness of cabbage, fungus, pork belly and fermented yellow bean. Slow cooked to fork tender is the Lembu Rendang with nyonya spices. A must have is the staple Perankan dish, Ayam Buah Keluak. The black nut flesh is mixed with rempah and minced meat creating an unique and appealing flavour.

Durian Pengat 4/5

Nyonya Kueh Assortment 4/5

Chempedak Creme Brulee 4.8/5

Every buffet line is not complete without the dessert section. Indulge in a selection Nyonya Kueh Assortment,  Durian Pengat, Chempedak Creme Brulee and many more. Diner has the privilege to try from the creator Chef Paul, his Durian Pengat served in a short glass with pandan jelly. A must try is the Chempedak Creme Brulee that is an unique take from the classic with the eggy flavour nicely balanced by the fruity chempedak.

Double joy for diners at Orchard Cafe's Straits Cuisine Buffet as you may get the chance to win weekend staycations and other attractive prizes. All you have to do is capture your scrumptious moments of the buffet and share your photos on Orchard Hotel Facebook Page to stand a chance of winning these attractive prizes.

Buffet Lunch: $48 Adult, $24 Child
Buffet Dinner: $68 Adult, $34 Child

Senior citizen at the age of 55 years and above will be able to enjoy a 50% off the Straits Cuisine buffet lunch from Monday to Thursday, valid till 31 October 2014.


Orchard Cafe
Orchard Hotel Singapore
442 Orchard Road
Singapore 238879
Tel: +65 67347766
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orchardhotelsingapore
Website: http://www.orchardhotel.com.sg
Nearest MRT:  Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Buffet Lunch: 12pm - 230pm
Buffet Dinner: 6pm - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk towards Wheelock Place via ION. Exit Wheelock Place and turn left towards Liat Tower. Cross the road at the traffic light junction and turn left towards Palais Renaissance. Continue walking down Orchard Road and turn right onto Orange Grove Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk towards Shaw House via underpass. At the road level, walk along Orchard Road towards Palais Renaissance. Continue walking down Orchard Road and turn right onto Orange Grove Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]