Friday, February 28, 2025

TUX Bar & Lounge @ Carlton Hotel Singapore - Newly Crafted Afternoon High Tea Set at $39 Per Pax

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TUX Bar & Lounge, located within Carlton Hotel Singapore, is a short walk from Bras Basah and City Hall MRT stations. This stylish lounge offers a cosy setting for intimate gatherings and features various promotions, including Happy Hour (4 to 7 pm daily) and Ladies' Night (4 to 11 pm on Wednesdays).

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Most recently, TUX introduced its new Afternoon High Tea Set, which is also available at Tuxedo Cafe & Patisserie on weekends from 1 to 4 pm. Guests can enjoy it in the lounge or the newly opened alfresco dining area.

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Afternoon High Tea Set 4/5

The set is priced at $39 per person (minimum two diners) and includes a curated mix of handcrafted sweet and savoury delights paired with coffee or tea. For a touch of indulgence, diners can opt for two glasses of Elderflower Gin Fizz or Pol Remy Excellence at $108 for two. These alcoholic options are also available à la carte at $22 per glass.

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With six coffee and tea options available, we opted for the Elegant Earl Grey and Acai Berry Pomegranate & Vanilla.

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We tucked into the tea, starting with the savoury tower. It included a decent range of Mushroom Quiche, Tuna Sandwich, Egg Mayo Croissant, and Fruity Avocado & Honey Walnut Coulis.

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Traditional English and Raisin Scones were also included, accompanied by classic clotted cream, strawberry, and blueberry yuzu jam.

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The highlight of the sweets tower was the Tuxedo Signature Cake, which changes regularly. During our visit, we had the Kumquat Hazelnut - a crisp-based dessert filled with rich, nutty chocolate that carried a tangy touch.

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Other sweets included Handcrafted Bonbon, Mini Honey Apricot Pistachio, Pina Colada Verrine, Mini Matcha Financier with Yoghurt Cream, Blueberry Cheese Tartlet, and Chocolate Raspberry Verrine.

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While the rest of the selection was pleasant, we found the Mini Matcha Financier’s matcha flavour milder than expected.

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Combo Platter Selection 4.2/5

Additionally, we sampled the Combo Platter Selection ($38) from the bar’s à la carte menu, ideal for 2 to 3 diners. It featured chicken satay, prawn cakes, fish fingers, marmite chicken wings, and pork skewers.

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Though initially had no expectations, we were pleasantly surprised by the piping-hot, well-executed items. Our favourites were the tender chicken satay and juicy pork skewers.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


TUX Bar & Lounge
Carlton Hotel Singapore
76 Bras Basah Road
Singapore 189558
Tel: +65 6311 8839
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Website
Nearest MRT: Bras Basah (CC Line), City Hall (EW, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 4pm - 2am
Fri-Sat: 4pm - 1am

Direction:
1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit A. Cut through Raffles City Shopping Centre to Bras Basah Road. Walk to traffic junction of Bras Basah Road and North Bridge Road. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Bras Basah MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Bras Basah road. Turn left and walk down Bras Basah Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Fu Hui Gen Tang (福慧根汤 ) @ Thye Hong Centre - Experience The Culinary Wellness Ritual Of Taiwan’s Famed 40-year-old Speciality Soup Restaurant

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Fu Hui Gen Tang (福慧根汤 ), Taiwan's famed 40-year-old speciality soup restaurant, debuts in Singapore this February at Thye Hong Centre, bringing its renowned herbal wellness soup culture. Favoured by celebrities and politicians, its signature soup, crafted from 50 traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, is based on an imperial recipe from the Eastern Han Dynasty. Co-founded by Professor Wu, a renowned TCM practitioner, the restaurant marries ancient wisdom with modern refinement after years of research.

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The soup follows the principles of five elements and five flavours, undergoing a meticulous "九蒸九晒" (nine steaming, nine sun-drying) process for optimal purity and balance. To fully experience its restorative effects, diners are advised to drink three bowls (600ml) of the soup before starting the rest of the meal. This allows the soup to enter the liver for detoxification, the spleen for nutrient absorption, and the kidneys for storage. Interestingly, the taste profile of each bowl changes depending on individual constitution, ranging from sweet, bitter, tingling, sour, to salty.

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Fu Hui Gen Tang Chicken 5/5

The soup is available in three variations: Fu Hui Gen Tang Original, Chicken, and Mushroom. Diners can opt for an à la carte order or curated set menus, which pair the soup with a selection of complementary dishes. I tried the Individual Set Menu ($108 per person) featuring the Chicken variation, which had a deep herbaceous aroma but remained light and smooth on the palate. I was told the original variation delivers an even more intense herbal flavour. Drinking the soup might have a boozy effect on some individuals due to the accelerated blood circulation in the body. Back in Taiwan, diners will rest themselves on the tatami floor!

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Black Fungus

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Celtuce

After finishing the three bowls of soup, the meal began with two cold starters: Black Fungus with Vinegar and Celtuce with Preserved Snow Cabbage. The black fungus had a satisfying crunch, with a slight tanginess that whetted the appetite, while the celtuce offered a crisp texture and a subtle umami from the preserved snow cabbage.

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White-braised Pig Trotter 3.8/5

Next came the White-braised Pig Trotter. Unlike the rich, heavily seasoned braised pork dishes, this version was much lighter in taste, almost reminiscent of Okinawan-style braised pig trotter. The clean flavours allowed the natural gelatinous texture of the pork to shine, though it could have been even more tender.

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Vermicelli with Steamed Egg White 4.5/5

The final savoury dish was Vermicelli with Steamed Egg White. Japanese vermicelli is used for its texture and ability to absorb stocks. The soft, silky noodles soaked up the essence of the broth, harmonising perfectly with the delicate steamed egg white beneath.

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Dessert was a serving of gelatinous White Fungus with Astragalus and Angelica. Lightly sweetened and infused with herbal depth, it was a soothing end to the meal, rounding out the experience with a lingering, aromatic finish.

Kindly Note: Fu Hui Gen Tang's soup is not recommended for individuals who have recently undergone major surgery, those with alcohol allergies, women in the early stages of pregnancy, and children under six years of age.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Fu Hui Gen Tang
Thye Hong Industrial Centre
2 Leng Kee Road
#01-05/06
Singapore 159086
Tel: +65 8805 5400
Facebook
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Website
Nearest MRT: Redhill (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue - Sun: 12pm - 10pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Redhill MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn right and walk down Tiong Bahru Road. Continue onto Leng Kee Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]