A Contemporary Lunar New Year Celebration With Oriental High Tea @ Si Chuan Dou Hua

Available from 1 February to 4 March 2018, Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant, Tian Fu Tea Room introduces the Reunion Imperial High Tea (新春团圆宫廷下午茶), a rare oriental find among high tea options in Singapore featuring a value-for-money 9-course dim sum and tea pairing high tea set menu for an indulgent celebration this festive season.

Not only can you expect exquisite handcrafted dim sum items, the Imperial High Tea also comprises festive specialties such as a Yu Sheng customised for each dining party's size, Glutinous Rice with Waxed Meat, as well as a tri-flavoured Pan-fried New Year Cake to tantalise your tastebuds.

Jubilant Gathering (Cocktail) 4.5/5

Located at the TOP of UOB Plaza, the adjoining restaurant bar, Chuan @ The Sixtieth brings a specially crafted cocktail to the menu, Jubilant Gathering (欢菊一堂) which is concocted by bartender Gabriel Li with a combination of vodka and chrysanthemum tea, chilled by a lemon ice ball and served in a traditional three-piece Chinese tea cup. While retaining a strong chrysanthemum fragrance, the gradual melting of the lemon ice ball alters the taste of the cocktail with renewed sweet and tangy complexities ever so slightly over time, rendering this drink a truly refreshing one with every sip.

Prosperity Salmon Yusheng 4/5

As with all Lunar New Year celebrations, the one at Si Chuan Dou Hua takes on a more westernised and healthier approach to their Prosperity Salmon Yusheng with salad lettuce and an orange dressing with candied orange peel for a refreshing and tangy flavour. It is presented in separate portions to each diner for individual ‘tossing’ to good fortune and health.

Steamed Prawn & Scallop Dumpling 4.2/5, Steamed Assorted Mushroom Dumpling 4/5, Steamed Seafood wrapped in Seaweed 4/5, Crispy Yam Puff in Curry Paste 4.2/5

Next up in a bamboo basket are four different exquisitely crafted dim sums offerings. The Steamed Prawn & Scallop Dumpling has a luxurious freshness and seafood-sweetness, while the Crispy Yam Puff in Curry Paste boasts a hint of curry spice fragrance in its soft yam fillings, and a crispy exterior that does not leave any oily aftertaste. The Steamed Assorted Mushroom Dumpling wrapped in delicate, slightly chewy skin is enjoyable as well with its juicy savoury interior, while the Steamed Seafood wrapped in Seaweed has a rich umami taste and a good balance of juicy meat and sweet broth.

Glutinous Rice with Diced Chicken wrapped in Lotus Leaf 4/5

The Glutinous Rice with Diced Chicken wrapped in Lotus Leaf comes in a portion of warm, soft and sticky rice with tender braised chicken and mushrooms which adds a luscious savouriness to the dish. A rather satisfying dish that I wished I could have seconds.

Steamed Dumpling with Lotus Paste 3.8/5

Desserts comes in an assorted trio in a bamboo basket, consisting of the Steamed Dumpling with Lotus Paste which boasts a fragrant lotus paste fillings encased in a soft tangerine shaped dessert.

Pan-fried New Year Cake 4/5

The Pan-fried New Year Cake layered with original, pandan, and gula melaka flavours had subtle hints of pandan and gula melaka fragrance, a soft sticky texture and not overly sweet in taste.

Golden Fish Shape Mango Pudding 3.8/5

The Golden Fish Shape Mango Pudding comes in a soft creamy pudding, though it feels lacklustre with a lack of stronger distinct mango accents.

The Reunion Imperial High Tea can be enjoyed either TOP of UOB Plaza where guests can enjoy the high tea while taking in the panoramic view of the city from the 60th floor of UOB Plaza 1, or at PARKROYAL on Beach Road, where guests can discover a quaint and cosy tearoom accented by Chinese calligraphy. From 1 Februay to 4 March 2018, the high tea set is available at $48 at the TOP of UOB Plaza and $38 at PARKROYAL on Beach Road. For UOB cardmembers, one dines free with every three paying adults while Maybank cardmembers can enjoy 18% savings. The high tea menu differs at both outlets.

Words and photos 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.


Si Chuan Dou Hua
TOP of UOB Plaza
UOB Plaza 1
80 Raffles Place
#60-01
Singapore 048624
Tel: +65 65356006
Website
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Raffles Place MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes.

Myo Restobar @ Oxley Tower - 40 Years Of Kia Hiang’s Heritage In A New Modern Setting

For fans of Kia Hiang at International Plaza and the defunct Kim Tian outlet, you will be glad to know that they have opened a new outlet named Myo Restobar on the 19th floor of Oxley Tower. The new outlet has a modern setting offering both classic home-style Cantonese dishes and dim sum.

Gold Foil Dumplings with Assorted Mushrooms 4/5

We started with some dishes from the dim sum menu. First we tried the Gold Foil Dumplings with Assorted Mushrooms ($4.80 for 3pc). The thin, stretchy and translucent dough is stuffed with assorted mushrooms which is huge and plump. The vegetarian dumpling has an enjoyable chewy and crunchy textures.

Healthy Walnut Buns 4/5

Not commonly seen on dim sum menu is the Healthy Walnut Buns ($4 for 3pc). It is quite similar to the lotus paste bun except that the dough is more fluffy. The stuffing is also replaced with the nutty walnut paste which is not as sweet.

Flaky Angus Beef Pastry 4.2/5

A favourite among the group is the Flaky Angus Beef Pastry ($5.80). My eyes brightened up when I bite into the flaky pastry. The pungent black pepper sauce is a good change to the usual sweet bbq sauce. Another worthy note is the used of diced angus beef instead of pork for a more tender bite.

Kia Hiang Claypot Spring Chicken 4.5/5

Not to be missed at Myo Restobar is the signature Kia Hiang Claypot Spring Chicken ($18) which has been passed down from father to son. A whole chicken is wrapped in cabbage and cooked in a herbal broth inside the claypot. This result in the sweet and soft cabbage absorbing the savoury broth on top of the juicy chicken. I could have this alone with two bowls of rice.

Angus Tenderloin Cubes with Garlic and Broccoli 4/5

Perfectly cooked is the succulent Angus Tenderloin Cubes with Garlic and Broccoli ($18/$23/$28). The dish showcases the chef's wok skill, coating the beef cubes with wok-hei flavour while locking in the juiciness of the beef.

Double-boiled Chicken Soup with Ginseng 4/5

Double-boiled Soup of the Day - Watercress Soup 4/5

Cantonese is known for the soup and you will not be disappointed with the offering at Myo Restobar. We tried both the Double-boiled Chicken Soup with Ginseng ($6) and Watercress Soup ($5). One could definitely tastes the effort and time in drawing out the essences for the soup, which has depth and flavour.

Baked Hamachi Collar in Butter Sauce 3.5/5

The Baked Hamachi Collar in Butter Sauce ($18 each) is rather pricey in my opinion. Putting the price aside, the fish collar is baked to a beautiful golden brown with crispy skin and succulent meat. It is a delightful dish to go with the craft beers on tap at Myo Restobar.

Double-boiled Peach Gum with Red Dates 4/5

Wrapping up our dinner is the Double-boiled Peach Gum with Red Dates ($4). Peach gum is known to be rich in collagen, cleanses blood, clears acne and prevent urinary tract infections with regular consumption. It is actually tasteless with a jelly-like texture that goes well with the refreshing sweet soup.

To accommodate the lunch crowd, Myo will also be launching Set Menus from $16. Diners can choose between three dim sum sets and three lunch sets from the wok station. Furthermore, Myo also offers brown rice for the health conscious customers. By the way, to access to the restaurant, take the lift to 19th floor from lobby 1. Do note that the lift has a weird design, there are two lift floor panels and you can only find the 19th floor button in the inside floor panel.

Note: this is an invited tasting.


Myo Restobar
Oxley Tower (Lobby 1)
138 Robinson Road
#19-01
Singapore 068906
Tel: +65 69311247
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri, Sun: 11am - 9pm
(Closed on Sat)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit F. Turn left and walk towards Robinson Road. Turn left and walk down Robinson Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]