Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Man Fu Yuan @ InterContinental Singapore - Highly Anticipated 8-Hands Showcase Returns with ‘Echoes of Canton 粤做粤精菜: Honouring Culinary Heritage’

Man Fu Yuan  8-Hands Showcase Returns - Echoes of Canton 粤做粤精菜 Chefs Group Shot

Man Fu Yuan returns with its second edition of the 8-Hands collaboration, themed ‘Echoes of Canton 粤做粤精菜: Honouring Culinary Heritage’ from 1 to 30 April 2024. This culinary extravaganza features four curated set menus, each comprising six delectable dishes presented by renowned Chefs Fok Wing Tin, Peter Tsang, Pung Lu Tin, alongside Man Fu Yuan’s resident Executive Chinese Chef Aaron Tan.

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Appetiser 4.2/5

To tantalise our taste buds, the appetiser trio boasted Chilled Lobster with Chicken Salad, Chilled Mini Lotus Roots marinated in Orange Jus and Green Sichuan Peppercorn, and Spinach Roll with Seaweed, Tobiko, and Sriracha Aioli.

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Soup 4/5

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Seafood 4.2/5

The meal continued with a hearty and comforting bowl of Braised Seafood Bisque with Fish Mouth and Bamboo Pith, followed by the innovative Crispy Cod Fish Stuffed with Caviar — a fusion of Chinese ingredients presented in a Japanese sushi-inspired form, delightfully coated in a thin batter for extra crispiness.

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Poultry 4.5/5

For poultry lovers, the Wok-fried Venison Cube with Ginger, Lemongrass, and Black Pepper Sauce served in Claypot offered tender venison complemented by a pungent black pepper sauce, creating a robust infusion of umami heightened by aromatic spices.

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Superior Seafood 4/5

A dish tracing back to the Manchu-Han imperial feasts developed in the Qing Dynasty, the Braised 18-19 head Dried Abalone with Giant Grouper Skin showcased painstaking preparation to achieve the perfect texture of the giant grouper skin, complemented by premium abalone in a delicious sauce.

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Rice 4.5/5

The meal reached its crescendo with the Wok-fried Crispy Rice with Prawns, Mushrooms, and Scallion — a delicious interpretation of Seafood Pao Fan, where the rice was wok-fried and allowed to soak up the robust seafood flavours for an exquisite dining experience.

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Dessert 4.8/5

To conclude on a sweet note, the Warm Roasted Peanut Rice Cream with Superior Red Bird's Nest offered a smooth, creamy, and nutty dessert with an added texture from the bird's nest, providing the perfect finale to a memorable dining experience.

Available for both lunch and dinner, ‘Echoes of Canton 粤做粤精菜: Honouring Culinary Heritage’ offers menu prices ranging between $98++ for a lunch-only sharing menu and $158++ to $398++ per person for individual-served portions, with options for wine pairing also available at $88++.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Man Fu Yuan
InterContinental Singapore
Level 2
80 Middle Road
Singapore 188966
Tel: +65 63387600
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Bugis (EW Line, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1145am - 330pm, 630pm - 1030pm

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

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

L’Espresso @ Goodwood Park Hotel - Afternoon Tea Buffet with English Classics and European Delights

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From now until the end of April, L'Espresso at Goodwood Park Hotel presents an Afternoon Tea Buffet featuring English Classics and European Delights. You can indulge in a delectable array of European-themed sweets and savouries alongside traditional English Classics, which include quintessential sandwiches, a live Carving Station, and more. L'Espresso also introduces its latest Scone Bar, offering a delightful selection of freshly baked scones in assorted flavours.

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Seafood Croquettes

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Prawn Twister

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Golden Crispy Battered Fish Fillet

The Hot Delights section is where you will find all the scrumptious fried morsels, such as Golden Crispy Battered Fish Fillet, Seafood Croquettes, and Prawn Twister. Each item is served with its respective pairing sauce — Tartar Sauce & Malt Vinegar for the English touch, Rémoulade for a French flair, and Roasted Garlic Aioli for a taste of Spain.

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Spanish-style Chicken Drumettes

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Pork Schnitzel

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Grilled Bratwurst with Sauerkraut

For some meatier delicacies, there are Spanish-style Chicken Drumettes, Swiss-style Pork Schnitzel with Cheese, and Grilled Bratwurst with Sauerkraut. The Pork Schnitzel, reminiscent of the one I enjoyed in Vienna, was a delightful surprise. It was well executed - perfectly flat as it should be, with a tender texture that made each bite pleasurable.

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Sourdough Pizza Margherita

Not forgetting the Italian touch, you can savour the Sourdough Pizza Margherita, where the simplicity of the ingredients accentuates the sourdough crust's airy texture.

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Beef Bourguignon

One of the standout offerings was this French Beef Bourguignon. It was hearty and flavoursome, featuring tender beef cubes alongside chunks of moreish courgettes and soft, sweet carrots.

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Croffle Herb-roasted NZ Beef Tenderloin

The Chef Action Station is also a key highlight of this buffet, offering freshly made Croffle topped with Herb-roasted NZ Beef Tenderloin. While the tenderloin was commendable, some inconsistencies were noted. My first plate was delighting with thin slices of beef tenderloin, yet the second serving was disappointing with an overdone tenderloin and a thicker cut.

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Prawn Cocktail with Fresh Mango

Under the Sandwiches section, selections include Finger Sandwiches, Open-Faced Sandwiches and Croissant Sandwiches. Similar to hot delights, you get both a touch of English and European flavours — Prawn Cocktail with Fresh Mango & Lime Zest (English), Ham & Swiss Cheese (Swiss), Bocadillo de Atún (Tuna & Egg) (Spanish) and Basil Pesto Caprese (Italian).

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Herb & Garlic Cheese Tartlet with Cranberry Compote, Smoked Salmon Bruschetta with Mascarpone

The Open Sandwiches offers dainty Herb & Garlic Cheese Tartlet with Cranberry Compote and Smoked Salmon Bruschetta with Mascarpone. I like how each small bite was so packed with mouthfeel and flavours.

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Salmon Gravlax

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Charcuterie

I visited this section the most for the luscious slices of Salmon Gravlax. The chilled section also offers a selection of Charcuterie with Pickles & Mustard.

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Plain, Raisin, Coffee, Apricot, Pistachio & Maple Pecan Scone

As mentioned, a brand new Scone Bar has been added to the buffet menu, presenting an assortment of scones with new flavours such as Coffee, Apricot, Pistachio, and Maple Pecan alongside classics like Plain and Raisin. The Plain remained my top choice, followed by Maple Pecan for the additional nuttiness, which worked well with the wide selection of condiments, which even includes Lemon Curd and Caramel Banana, among others.

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Tarta De Manzana

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Desserts

I enjoyed the wide variety of desserts from various parts of Europe. The German Donauwellen (Marble Cake) was yummy with tart cherries embedded. The Spanish Tarta De Manzana (Apple Tart) is a must-try, boasting a layer of beautiful custard base topped with apples. Equally satisfying was the Swiss Apricot Cake, which highlighted the flavours of the summer fruit.

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Limited-time Chef Specials will be available only twice during Monday to Thursday seatings and once during each seating from Friday to Sunday and Public Holidays. What was served during my visit was Creamy Chicken Pot Pie with Puff Pastry and Peppermint & Strawberry Lollipop.

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Afternoon Tea Buffet with English Classics and European Delights
8 March – 30 April 2024
Mon-Thu: 2pm - 5:30pm ($65 per adult/ $39 per child)
Fri-Sun & PH: 12pm - 2:30pm, 3pm - 5:30pm ($68 per adult/ $40.80 per child)

Photograph and 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.


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

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 2pm - 5:30pm
Fri-Sun & PH: 12pm - 2:30pm, 3pm - 5:30pm

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