L'Espresso @ Goodwood Park Hotel - Honouring Legacy and Tradition With A Classic English Afternoon Tea

Available for dine-in from now till 10 August, Goodwood Park Hotel celebrates its 120 years of rich history with their classic English Afternoon Tea at L'Espresso. They have also introduced their new Legacy Blend 120, a commemorative tea created in collaboration with TWG Tea that is inspired by the iconic landmark's German heritage.

 

Pamper yourself with a relaxing dining experience and savour a specially curated repertoire of English afternoon tea delights served to the table upon order. We had the dainty finger sandwiches such as the Roast Beef & Gerkin, Cucumber & Cream Cheese, Smoked Salmon & Horseradish Cream, and Egg Mayonnaise with Watercress.

 

The open-faced sandwiches offer classic combinations such as the Coronation Chicken with Mango Chutney & Almonds, Sea Shrimp with Marie Rose Sauce & Smashed Avocado, and Crabmeat Salad with Roasted Corn Puree.

 

Indulge in buttery croissants filled with ham & english cheddar cheese or the Tuna Salad with English Cucumber as well.

 

Delectable hot savouries include a hearty Traditional Irish Beef & Guinness Stew, as well as the Mini Pork Shepherd's Pie with Cheese Crust. The Traditional Irish Beef & Guinness Stew is rich and savoury. Paired with freshly baked Bread Roll for a satisfying dish.

 

Not to be missed out is their freshly baked scones, served with traditional Devonshire clotted cream, strawberry jam and butter.

 

Lastly, round up the meal with a lovely assortment of pastries, cheese and sliced fruits. They also have a variety of classic British sweet treats such as the Sticky Date Pudding, Treacle Tartlet, Nougatine Chocolate Cake, Frosted Salted Caramel Nut Slice, the Strawberry & Cream Triffle and Sherry Triffle in Jelly Cup.

 

Classic English Afternoon Tea

Date: 19 Jun to 10 Aug 2020
Pricing inclusive of 2 servings of coffee or tea: 

Mon-Thu: $45++ per adult, $27++ per child (6 to 11 years old)

Fri-Sun, Eve of PH and PH: $48++ per adult, $28.80++ per child (6 to 11 years old)
Pricing inclusive of a glass of Taittinger Brut Reserve NV champagne and 2 servings of coffee or tea: 

Mon-Thu: $68++ per adult

Fri-Sun, Eve of PH and PH: $72++ per adult

Photos and words by Crystal. A girl who likes to eat, photograph, and write about food, and dreams about travelling around the world one day. Note: This is an invited tasting.


L'Espresso
Goodwood Park Hotel
22 Scotts Road
Singapore 228221
Tel: +65 67301746
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Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 2pm - 530pm
Sat-Sun & PH: 12 - 230pm, 3pm - 530pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk down Scotts Road to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

BTM Mussels & Bar @ Duxton Hill - All About Seasonal Mussels From France And Across Continental Europe

A lady sat at the bar counter, savouring a steaming pot of mussels, with sips of white wine in between; and she was in a world of her own. Get up close and personal with your 'mussels' at BTM (‘Back to Mussels’) Mussels & Bar, nestled in the quaint neighbourhood of Duxton Hill. A moules-frites concept by chef and restaurateur Olivier Bendel, BTM is a cosy and intimate space that serves up well sought after seasonal mussels sourced from France and across Continental Europe, cooked with original recipes created by Olivier himself.

During his first decade in the food and beverages industry, Olivier developed more than 250 original mussels recipes, and it was also during this time that he worked with some of the best mussel producers in the region. Those relationships continue, and together with his knowledge and understanding of mussels, you can expect good quality seasonal harvest each time you visit BTM. Picking mussels at the peak of their season, currently, the kitchen uses live Bouchot Mussels that are air-flown from Parcs Saint-Kerber in Cancale, Brittany (Northwest of France) to Singapore twice a week. 7 original recipes made it to the menu, available in portions of 500gm ($36), 750gm ($48) and 1kg ($58), and each style is served with French fries.

Marinieres 4.2/5, Thailandaises 4.2/5, Au Roquefort 3.8/5

Each recipe uses white wine, and each whiff of that savoury, winey aroma effusing from the broth as I brought it close to my face, was divine. Among all the different recipes, the style of preparation that will make one down the entire pot of 500gm on his own, I reckon would be Marinieres, the classic French style of preparation consisting of white wine, butter, parsley and onion. The light and elegant broth, infused with the juice from the mussels, didn't take long to get under my skin. Second to that would be the Thailandaises, a Thai-inspired concoction that will leave your tongue tingling with a bit of excitement. For a really bold option, and perfect for sharing, do consider Au Roquefort. The bits of the ‘the King of Blue Cheese’ swimming in the broth provides an extra oomph to the flavour.

Ardennaise 3.5/5

Ardennaise is a more neutral option, which is prepared with mushrooms, fresh cream, white wine, butter, parsley, onion and bacon. The bacon was supposed to lend a depth of smokiness to the broth, but it wasn't that pronounced as expected.

Au Curry 3.8/5

For the love of spice, go for Bouchot Mussels Au Curry. The red hue itself was appetising. Despite the addition of red curry and cream, the broth didn't lose its acidity. What the red curry provides is an added dimension to the aromatic white wine-based broth.

Le Croq-Truffle 4/5

Other than their signature moules-frites, the bar bites are worth coming back for. Offering bar bites from France and the Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg) region of Europe, one of the most highly raved about since its opening is the Le Croq-Truffle ($18), a luxurious version of the 'Croque Monsieur’. Fresh black truffle from France, Comté and Serrano Ham sandwiched in between heavily buttered toast, one piece of it is an indulgent, and 2 pieces of it is a sin!

Escargot Tartes Flambées 3.8/5

Perfect for sharing is the Tartes Flambées or Alsatian oven-baked flatbreads ($24 to $28), which come in a variety of interesting toppings. We had the Escargot Tartes Flambées ($26). The layer of caramelised onion slathered across the flatbreads, however, stole the limelight of the escargots. Richly browned, it was savoury-sweet, incredibly moreish, and mingled really well with the vibrant and garlicky Parsley Butter.

Truffled Porcini Croquette 4.2/5

The croquettes here are some of the better ones I have tried. Each one was perfectly crusted with a thin layer of coat. Between Jamon Croquettes ($12) and Truffled Porcini Croquette ($12), the latter won me over with its moist, cheesy, and relatively more gooey filling, coupled with an extra bite from the meaty mushrooms.

Jamon Croquettes 3.8/5, Bitterballen 3/5

If that is too much for you, Bitterballen ($8), Holland’s number one bite-sized snack, shares a similar crusty exterior with croquette but is less creamy as it is made simply with roux, beef and beef stock.

Waffle "BTM" 3/5

Desserts are available as well. Waffle "BTM" ($18) comprises a Belgian style waffle topped with vanilla ice cream and chantilly cream. It is decent, but the dessert menu promises a lot more exciting options than this. And since you are here at BTM, do explore more.

Summer Fruit-Infused Beers

BTM's beverage menu is also well-thought-out, offering wine, champagne and beer that Olivier deems best to pair with the mussels and sides. For a change, try its creations of Summer Fruit-Infused Beers - Passionfruit, Raspberry, Lychee and Pomelo Grapefruit (Happy Hour $10 / Regular $12).

Written and photography 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.


BTM Mussels & Bar
5 Duxton Hill
Singapore 089591
Tel: +65 66907562
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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line), Maxwell (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Tue: 5pm - 11pm
Wed-Thu: 12pm - 11pm
Fri-Sat: 12pm - 12midnight
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Orchid Hotel. Walk to Tanjong Pagar Road, cross the road. Walk to Craig Road. Turn left onto Craig Road. Walk to Craig Place. Take the staircase inside the carpark at Craig Place to Duxton Hill. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Maxwell MRT station. Take Exit 3. Turn righ and walk to Neil Road. Cross Neil Road. Walk to Duxton Road. Turn right onto Duxton Hill. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Tea Lounge @ Regent Singapore - Launches Newest English Garden Afternoon Tea

Tea Lounge at Regent Singapore has just launched an evergreen English Garden Afternoon Tea theme, where guests get to enjoy a quintessential Afternoon Tea in a contemporary colonial garden setting with classic British desserts. On weekdays, guests get to savour a quintessential three-tier afternoon tea. In contrast, on weekends, the high tea buffet serves up an extravagant spread of premium caviars, a carving station, with additional carveries of wood oven-roasted wagyu beef rump, Yorkshire Pudding and Forest Mushroom Jus, and more.

Tea Lounge goes back to the most quintessential of English customs - offering a selection of dainty sandwiches and delicate scones, as well as a variety of Gryphon tea blends to choose from. From robust, strong blacks of Assam to delicately scented Lychee Rose and herbal tisanes, there is no lack of choice for selecting just the right infusion. We opted for the Lychee Rose Tea, which had a subtle sweet lychee fragrance to it.

The Regent’s Signature Scones are slightly denser, with a nice crunchy crust around and a moist, crumbly centre. Served with Devonshire clotted cream, house-made berry preserves and luscious lemon curd. Various counters are generously stocked with a selection of dainty sandwiches such as Black Truffle, Organic Egg Mayonnaise and Cucumber, Mini Sausage Puff, Baby Spinach Quiche, and vibrant toss-ups of Chicken, Blue Potato and Green Peas with English Mustard.

Tea Lounge also offers up locally-inspired dishes such as the Fried Carrot cake, Cheng Teng, Herbal Chicken, Chicken Satay with peanut sauce, Chilli Crab Mantou, and Kueh Pie Tee.

The Chilli Crab Mantou was nicely executed with its fluffy buns and slightly pan-fried on the outside. The chilli crab sauce leans towards the spicier side, but I felt it lacked the robustness from the crab flavour.

We had the roasted wagyu beef rump, which was extremely succulent and tender on the inside, and spot a slightly charred exterior.

Not to be missed is their Crispy Chicken with sweet chilli sauce. The meat is cooked to fork-tender superb with a crispy exterior. Complete with a dip of sweet chilli sauce to elevate the whole enjoyment.

When you finally make it to the dessert station, get ready for a delightful selection of desserts. Among the spread, there are Triple Chocolate Fudge, Carrot Cake, Banoffee, Eton Mess, Victoria Sponge Cake, Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake, Rose apple Profiteroles, Fragrant Yuzu Fosset and more.

The ice cream waffles combination never goes wrong, as we enjoy the crispy fluffy waffles paired with the fragrant creamy lychee ice cream.

Afternoon Tea
$68 per adult | $34 per child
Additional $10 | $40 for a glass or free-flow Prosecco
Additional $15 | $60 for a glass or free-flow Champagne

Photos and words by Crystal. A girl who likes to eat, photograph, and write about food, and dreams about travelling around the world one day. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Tea Lounge
Regent Hotel Singapore
Lobby Level
1 Cuscaden Road
Singapore 249715
Tel: +65 67253246
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Nearest MRT: Orchard MRT (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 12pm - 5pm
Sat-Sun: 12pm - 230pm (1st seating), 3pm - 530pm (2nd seating)

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. Continue onwards to Forum Shopping Mall. Walk further down to Orchard Parade Hotel. Turn left onto Tanglin Road. Continue walking down Tanglin Road. Turn left onto Tomlinson Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 18 minutes. [Map]

Firebake @ East Coast Road - Launches New Item And A Refreshed Lunch Menu

Firebake at East Coast Road has launched a refreshed lunch menu and new items. It has also adjusted its opening hours. It now opens from 9am on the weekend to accommodate breakfast and brunch crowd. As for weekdays, it has added more variety for its lunch menu, giving diners more choices.

It can't be any better to start your morning with fresh, warm woodfire bakes at Firebake. A modern take of our traditional breakfast is the Milk Buns with Traditional Kaya ($3.50). For the price, this is a steal to kick start the day. There are also the Firebake Morning Buns with almond, lemon and cinnamon ($3.50), savoury Cheesymite of cheddar cheese and vegemite ($3.50) and Firebake Croissant Rolls ($3, $3.50 with chocolate).

Firebake Tartine 4/5

The Firebake Tartine ($18 full portion) is an open-faced sandwich featuring a slice of Seedy, topped with mortadella with sundried tomato pesto draped over a pool of cheese fondue. The toppings will vary from time to time. The full portion is definitely good for sharing.

Seafood Risotto 4.2/5

The Seafood Risotto ($26) is now available for brunch, lunch and dinner. The Arborio rice is well fragrant by the seafood stock and white wine. It also comes with succulent cubes of scallop, sweet prawn tails and tender bits of mussels. That is not it. It even comes with stalks of grilled green asparagus and a whole grilled Mediterranean seabass fillet.

Firebake Wagyu Cheese Burger 4.5/5

The sight of the melted cheddar flowing down the Firebake Wagyu Cheese Burger ($18) already got me drooling before sinking my teeth into the juicy medium-done Australian wagyu patty. The patty is sandwiched between house-baked wood-fired sourdough potato buns. What brings the burger together is the thick tomato-based beef sauce, inspired by the traditional pastitsada stew.

Grilled Argentinian Striploin 4/5

For something more substantial, there is the Grilled Argentinian Striploin ($28). The 220g steak is grilled to medium over Firebake's traditional wood stove and served over a slice of rye bread, topped with a vibrant salsa verde. The steak though lean, it is packed with intense flavour with a delightful smokey char.

During weekday lunch, guests can now have a pick of an appetiser, main and desserts to add a little more variety for lunch. They can also choose between the 2-course menu (from $22) and a full 3-course menu (from $25).

Note: this is an invited tasting.


Firebake
237 East Coast Road
Level 1
Singapore 428930
Tel: +65 64401228
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Nearest MRT: Dakota (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Fri: 1130am - 10pm
Sat-Sun: 9am - 10pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Dakota MRT station. Take exit A. Walk to bus stop at Blk 99 Old Airport Road (Stop ID 81181). Take Bus 10 or 32. Alight 7 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 18 minutes. [Map]

The Lobby Lounge @ InterContinental Singapore - Launches New Classic Afternoon Tea: The Orchard

This season, InterContinental Singapore launches new classic afternoon tea: The Orchard at The Lobby Lounge, available from 1 April 2019 to 31 July 2019. In collaboration between Executive Pastry Chef Ben Goh and RaviFruit's Executive Pastry Chef Jean-Francois Devineau, diners get to indulge in the 13 exclusive creations specially crafted by the two chefs, inspired by fruits from around the world.

The variety of luscious savoury treats and sweets infused with seasonal fruit flavourings are showcased in elegant gold-rimmed cases and a two-tiered stand reminiscent of terrariums.

Sweets crafted by Chef Ben Goh include the Chocolate Cone with Strawberry Beetroot Cream, Mandarin Orange Crémeaux and Carrot Jelly, Apple Milk Chocolate Mousse with Rhubarb Compote, and Ruby Peace and Yuzu Praline.

Sweets crafted by RaviFruits' Executive Pastry Chef Jean Francois Devineau include the Mango, Passionfruit and Coconut Cream Verrine, Morello Cherry and Pistachio Tart, Cake Roll with Blueberry Compote and Raspberry Yoghurt, as well as Caramel Orange Scone & English Scones with homemade peach jam, strawberry jam and clotted cream.

Some of my favourites from the afternoon tea were the sweets which feature a combination of fruit and vegetable, such as the Mandarin Orange Crémeaux & Carrot Jelly, and Chocolate Cone with Strawberry Beetroot Cream. The Caramel Orange and English Scones are best enjoyed with the homemade fruit jams, clotted cream and a pot of tea/coffee.

The repertoire of fruity sweets extends into the savoury treats as well. Relish in the Andalusian Gazpacho, Smoked Chicken Mousse, Chestnuts and Walnuts Tart, Smoked Salmon Sandwich, Brie Cheese, Chives and Horseradish Cream, Prawn with Avocado and Grapefruit Emulsion, Tuna with Risotto and Coconut-lime Dressing, as well as the Ratatouille Quiche.

Begin with the Andalusian Gazpacho, which is a cool and refreshing starter

One of the highlights is the Tuna with Risotto which comes in a bite-sized risotto piece. The pearly grains of rice has a rich and creamy consistency, leaning on the softer side of al dente, while the coconut-lime dressing gave a lift in its flavours.

The Prawn with Avocado and Grapefruit Emulsion is an interesting combination with the fresh, juicy prawns, creamy avocado, and a subtle sweetness from the grapefruit emulsion. Complete the experience with unlimited servings of a la minute crepes and ice cream, or a flute of Taittinger Brut Champagne, perfect for an indulgent afternoon.

Classic Afternoon Tea: The Orchard is available at The Lobby Lounge from 1st April 2019 to 31st July 2019, from 2pm to 5pm daily. The set is priced at:$78++ for two guests, inclusive of a fine selection of loose-leaf teas and coffee, $108++ for two guests, inclusive of two flutes of Taittinger Brut Champagne, and a fine selection of loose-leaf teas and coffee. For reservations, please visit TheLobbyLounge.sg, email InterContinental.Dining@ihg.com, or call +65 6825 1008. >

Photos and words by Crystal. A girl who likes to eat, photograph, and write about food, and dreams about travelling around the world one day. 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: 2pm - 5pm

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

Ninja Bowl @ Duxton Road - Turns Two With A Whole New Slew Of Hearty Dishes

Ninja Bowl at Duxton Road celebrates its 2nd anniversary with a refreshed menu. In addition to the whole new slew of hearty dishes, it has for the first time introduce a range of pasta dishes too.

Tamago Sandwich 4.2/5

For our lunch, we started with the Tamago Sandwich ($16). The soft and fluffy tamogo is coated with a layer of melted gouda cheese for that extra oomph and sandwiched in between a croissant. Besides that, it is further accompanied with a side of Japanese curry minced beef and an onsen egg. You can even use the croissant to wipe the plate clean.

Hokkaido 4/5

For the seafood lover, there is Hokkaido ($16) which comes with tempura-battered fish fillet and soft shell crab. The tendon rice bowl is pretty substantial. Instead of the usual tendon sauce, homemade chilli crab sauce is used for a local twist.

Harajuku 4.5/5

It is probably hard to tell from the picture but on the plate is a whole roasted cauliflower. The Harajuku ($18) is a roasted cauliflower steak topped with tempura bits and pine nuts. Accompanying the dish is yaki unagi that has been glazed with kebayaki sauce and creamy mac & cheese. The combination may sounds a weird but surprisingly it works.

Ohayo 4/5

Last but not least we had the Ohayo ($20). The savoury-sweet combination can either be a brunch item or dessert. Two fluffy French toast is paired with maple-glazed pork belly, pomegranate. rocket, momo tomatoes and burrata. I feel the milky and buttery burrata cheese plays an important role in harmonizing the whole dish.

The new menu at Ninja Bowl has definitely delivered new excitement to the table, giving more reasons for guest to return. It once again has impressed me with their new creations.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Ninja Bowl
15 Duxton Road
Singapore 089481
Tel: +65 62228055
Facebook
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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 930am - 930pm
Sat-Sun: 9am - 6pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Orchid Hotel. At Orchid Hotel turn right onto Tanjong Pagar Road. Cross the road to the opposite side of Tanjong Pagar Road. Walk along Tanjong Pagar Road to Duxton Hill. Turn left onto Duxton Hill and then turn right on Duxton Road. Journey time about 15 mins. [Map]