[Media Invite] CNY Buffet Dinner at Amara Hotel

In about a month's time, we will be ushering the Year of the Dog.  Look at this yusheng which is arranged nicely in the shape of the dog, isn't this very creative?  In fact, I find the doggie face looks really cute too!  =)

On the 15 February 2018 from 6pm at Amara Hotel's Grand Ballroom, the one-time reunion dinner is opened to all guests celebrating this Lunar New Year’s 2018 Earth Dog. 

The reunion dinner is followed by a sumptuous line-up of culinary haven with affordable 8-course menus which guests can choose from. The Golden Prosperity at S$68++ or Joyous Abundance at S$88 per person with a minimum of six persons per table.

For that extra posh and private dining experience, guests can take up the Imperial Fortune reunion package at S$1,888++ for a table of 10 persons. Each room comes with a fully equipped family karaoke system. The menu comes with dishes like sea urchin, black chicken ginseng soup and cod fish.  We tried the karaoke while we were having our dinner in the Grand Ballroom, it was fun!

Salad

Chilled Angel Hair Pasta with Truffle Oil and Kombu

Drunken Chicken

 Cucumber with Sesame Dressing

Homemade Beetroot Salmon

Homemade Mandarin Orange Salmon

Hot Selection

Vegetarian Treasure Pot (Pen Cai)

For a change, you may want to try vegetarian pen cai.  I think this is an interesting alternative from the usual pencai even for non-vegetarian.

Black Pepper Crayfish

Smoked Duck with Camphor and Tea Leaves (Whole)

Roasted Chicken with Spicy Sichuan Sauce (Whole)

Beef Bourguignon

Dessert Station

Instead of having durian desserts which are becoming very common, Amara Hotel introduces a variety of Chempedak desserts instead.

Chempedak Cake

Chempedak Butter Cake

Chempedak Agar Agar

Chempedak Swiss Roll

Chempedak Pudding

Chempedak Crème Brulee

During the media tasting, we had the special Pomelo Tangyuan.  On the actual reunion dinner on 15 Feb 2018, the Tangyuan (glutinous rice ball) will be sprinkled with edible gold leaves to mark the customary occasion.

The highlights are the lion dance performance where the rambunctious lions will perform “Cai Qing”- the plucking of the greens and guests can get pictures with the adorable God of Fortune mascots distributing gold ingots of chocolates.

CNY F&B Promotions (1 Feb – 2 Mar 2018)

Element and EOTS (Element on Tras Street)

Buffet	Time	Adult*	Child* (6 -12 years)
Reunion Dinner	15 Feb 2018, Thu  6pm – 10.30pm	$88	$43
Lunch	Mon – Fri 12pm – 2.30pm	$58	$29
Dinner	Mon – Sun  6pm – 10.30pm	$78	$39
Hi-tea	Sat – Sun 11.30 am – 2pm 2.30pm – 5pm	$42	$21

Thanks Lindy for the invitation and Chef Charles for keeping us so entertained during the dinner.

Amara Hotel Singapore

For reservations on the reunion dinner at Grand Ballroom:

call: +65 6879 2598

email: events@amarahotels.com

[Media Invite] Baker's Well Mooncakes 2017

[18 Aug 2017.Fri]  Baker's Well 2017 Mooncake Private Launch

Just when a friend of mine was sharing with me about this nice bakery at East Coast Road - Baker's Well that I had yet patronize before, I received an invitation to Baker's Well 2017 Mooncake Private Launch Event at Suntec City Convention Centre.

The different flavoured snow-skin mooncakes that Baker's Well offered are:

Yuzu Truffle

Earl Grey Lavender Truffle (New Flavor)

Champagne Truffle

Salted Black Sesame Truffle

Rum & Raisin Truffle

Matcha Truffle

Baker's Well's mooncakes are artisanal handmade from scratch.  I heard from them that even the blue colouring for the rum and raisin truffle mooncake are obtained from the blue pea flowers juices extracted directly from the owner's garden. 

 This year, their packaging is kept simple but still rather eye-catching.  When you place the 4 small boxes together, you can form two full moons which is quite an apt design for the mid-autumn festival.

 Baker's Well is well know for their traditional handmade baked-skin mooncakes such as Pure White Lotus with Double Yolk and Roasted Melon Seeds and Traditional Mixed Nuts.  All their products are made with less sugar and they also have Sugar-Free Pure White Lotus with Roasted Melon Seeds for the more health-conscious customers.

  The 6th flavour of their snow-skin collection is the Earl Grey Lavender snow-skin mooncakes.  Wrapped in a lovely shade of pastel purple, the perfect blend of premium Earl Grey Tea with Lavender will definitely please all tea-lovers.

Their all-time best selling snow-skin mooncakes are these pink Champagne Truffle.  The taste of the champagne is rather strong and definitely a must-buy for all liquor enthusiasts.  

 Similarly, their Snow-Skin Rum and Raisin Truffle mooncakes (purple) also has a very strong alcoholic taste.  Generally, I find that Baker's Well snowskin mooncakes, although small in size but very strong in their respective unique flavour.

These Snow-Skin Yuzu Truffle mooncakes have a very refreshing citrus taste.

Traditional Handmade Baked-Skin Mooncakes.

 I love their Mixed Nuts baked mooncakes.  Every bite contains a mouthful rich of different types of nut, very satisfying.

Where to try Baker's Well mooncakes?  You may head to their shop at East Coast Road or visit any of the Mid-Autumn roadshows.  Takashimaya already started the mooncake fair last weekend!

Baker's Well
Website:  http://www.bakerswell.com/

Whampoa Keng Fish Head Steamboat Restaurant 黄埔庆鱼头炉餐馆 @ 28 Biz Hub (Chai Chee)

The 3rd outlet of Whampoa Keng Fish Head Steamboat opened in Chai Chee neighbourhood area!  Another great steamboat option for the Easties! Yay!!!  It has plans to establish additional outlets in North-East regions of Singapore as well as overseas venture too!

The 15-year-old restaurant brand opens at the ground floor coffeeshop space taking up 3 stalls selling Whampoa Keng Economic Rice,Whampoa Keng Fish Soup Noodle and the signature Whampoa Keng Fish Head Steamboat with other local famous Zi-Char dishes.

 Air-con seats are available next to the coffeeshop if you prefer to have your steamboat in a more comfortable setting.

 You can choose from 3 types of fish - Red Grouper, Bucket Pomfret and Bardan Sliced Fish (Boneless) to be cooked over the traditional charcoal-fired steamboat!  Definitely this would add to the flavour of the soup!

 We had the red grouper for our food tasting session.

Whampoa Keng Signature Fish Head Steamboat

(a) Red Grouper $40 (1-2pax),

(b) Red Grouper $50 (3-4pax),

(c) Red Grouper $60 (5-7pax),

(d) Red Grouper $70 (8pax++).

The fish was fresh and meaty and you could also find fried yam in the steamboat. Probably typical in a teochew-styled steamboat. The soup was sweet and rich, and the flavour got more and more intense. It was really enjoyable slurping the hot soup especially during cold, rainy days.

Whampoa Keng also serves many well-executed Zi Char dishes that you can order alongside with your steamboat.

PS:  All the Zi Char dishes below were plated elaborately for the food tasting session only.  :P

Signature Prawn Paste Chicken Wings

(a) $10 (1-2pax)

(b) $15 (3-5pax)

(c) $20 (6pax+)

Personally, I love this dish as the meat was really well-marinated and juicy. The exterior of the mid-wing joints was deep-fried to a nice crisp.

Specialty Tofu

The homemade tofu was smooth and it came with a generous potion of seafood gravy.

Signature Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs with Fried Cod Fish

(a) $15 (1-2pax)

(b) $20 (3-5pax)

(c) $25 (6pax+)

A slight twist to the standard Zi Char dish by adding in fried cod fish strips. These cod fish strips were really addictive and I ate them in between dishes as snacks.

Nonya Sotong

(a) $15 (1-2pax)

(b) $20 (3-5pax)

(c) $25 (6pax+).

Our table enjoyed this plate of nonya squid rings in particular. The squid rings were soft and the sauce definitely went well with our bowl of rice. Do give this dish a try if you are here!

Seasonal Vegetables with Scallops

 (a) $22 (1-2pax)

(b) $28 (3-5pax)

(c) $34 (6pax+)

Its colourful presentation will make it look great as a Chinese New Year dish.

 Salted Egg Yolk Prawn

(a) $20 (1-2pax)

(b) $30 (3-5pax) 

(c) $40 (6pax+)

These bite-sized prawns were fresh, succulent and crunchy. The amount of salted egg yolk sauce was about right, not too much. Again, another standard Zi Char dish that will not disappoint.

 Price List for steamboat:

Currently, there is not GST or Service Charge at this outlet.  Make your reservation through @hungrygowhere and enjoy a discount of 25% on steamboat for this outlet too!  I had enjoyed this makan session and would definitely consider bringing my family here for a hearty steamboat meal!

Whampoa Keng Fishhead Steamboat
28 Senang Road S416601
(28 Biz Hub)
Tel:  6386 3228 (for reservation)
Operating Hours (Weekday):  Monday to Friday: 11am to 3.00pm and 5pm to 11pm
                            (Sat/Sun/PH): 11am to 11pm
Capacity:  45 tables (Co-share with Coffeeshop),
                 12 tables in Air-conditioning room, reserved only for Whampoa Keng’s customer)