H&C Café – A New & Better Choice for You [MEDIA INVITE]

H&C Café has launched a new menu focused on healthy, hearty, wholesome and delicious. To accompany the new culinary creation, H&C also introduced Fancy Chinese Tea range.

H&C Cafe

Part of Dining Area

There are 9 options for the Fancy Chinese Tea, and we only managed to try 3 of them.

Fancy Chinese Tea

Cold Brew Orchid Pu’erh Tea [$10.90] – Orchid Flower and Pu’erh Tea Leaves. I like the presentation; the bottle looks similar to XO Cognac. The tea has a strong Pu’erh flavour, is not bitter and with refreshing orchid aftertaste.

Cold Brew Orchid Pu’erh Tea 

Beau-tea-ful You [$14] – Mixed Dried Fruits, Rose, Strawberries and Dragon fruit & Tea-rrifically Healthy [$14] Chrysanthemum, Buckwheat Tea and Osmanthus. These teas are brewed using the Siphon method and poured into a glass teapot before servings. The Beau-tea-ful You is naturally sweet from the fruits and rose, with a touch of sourness from the berries. Meanwhile, the Tea-rrifically Healthy has a refreshing chrysanthemum flower with a slight bitter finish from the buckwheat. Each of the brews is only for 1 time only.

Siphon Method

Beau-tea-ful You 

Tea-rrifically Healthy

Moving to the food, we started with Crispy Squid [$18]. The squid is crunchy and the exterior is covered with spicy, sweet and savoury concoction. Once we drizzle the lime juice, the acidity brings a nice twang to the dish. A good start to the meal.

Crispy Squid

Hot & Sour Gyoza [$14]. The pan-fried chicken gyoza has a crispy and chewy texture. The tangy sour mustard greens soup, complemented by the sweetness from the cherry tomatoes opened up my appetite.

Hot & Sour Gyoza

Sticky Pork Ribs [$15.50]. Bite-size pork ribs, deep fried and coated with classic sweet vinegar glaze. The sweet and savoury flavour combo makes the pork ribs plus the longan make this dish irresistible.

Sticky Pork Ribs

Low Cal, Avocado Scallion Capellini [$22.50]. The scallion capellini is fragrant and smooth. The avocado, mushroom, nori and cherry tomatoes made the dish look healthy. Surprisingly, it brought up the nostalgic feeling, like I am eating high-end version of economic bee hoon.

Low Cal, Avocado Scallion Capellini 

Hot Sauce Prawn Pasta [$27.50]. The prawns are fresh and crunchy, while the capellini absorbs the rich and umami essence from the prawn and hot sauce. The kale adds a healthy and contrasting texture to the dish, while the egg confit helps to tame the spicy hot sauce.

Hot Sauce Prawn Pasta

Tomato Beef Stew [$19.50] served with sourdough. The beef cheek has a nice caramelisation and fork tender as well. The stew is light, tasty, tangy and a touch of Sichuan spice to perk up the stew. The crisp sourdough complements the stew nicely with its texture and to polish up the gravy. (*instead of sourdough, you can ask for scallion pancake).

Tomato Beef Stew 

Humble Grain Stone Bowl [$16.50]. A beautiful medley of vegetables and grains. There are mixed grains, potato, mixed mushrooms, fried kale, white sesame and scallion soy sauce. Each of the ingredients brought unique and tasty components to the dish, complemented by the charred from the hot stone bowl.

Humble Grain Stone Bowl

Salmon & Grains [$34]. Lovely seared salmon fillet with a crispy skin plated on the top of mixed grain tossed with scallion soy sauce. The charred Romaine lettuce adds a nice smoky flavour and crunchy texture. The avocado adds a rich creamy texture to the dish, while the squeeze of lemon binds all the ingredients together and remove any fishiness from the salmon.

Salmon & Grains

Squid Mixed Grain Rice Stew [$26.50]. A fusion creation that blends the East and West. The sour mustard green broth works well with the mixed grains, while the squid and cherry tomatoes brought exciting texture and burst of flavours to this dish. A delicious creation indeed.

Squid Mixed Grain Rice Stew 

Overall, I like the latest creations at H&C Café. The food is internationally inspired, creative and tasty, while maintaining the healthy and lower in calories principles. The Fancy Chinese Tea concoctions are also nice and easy to drink. Definitely a place to try. Cheers!!

Thank you, Kristine, Executive Chef Eugene and H&C Café team, for hosting us.

Food & Drink: 8.5/10

Value: 8/10

Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)

Ambiance: 8.5/10

Budget per Person: $26 - $50

H&C Cafe

290 Orchard Road

#03-09 Paragon Shipping Centre

Singapore 238859

T: +65 9727 511

W: https://linktr.ee/halcyonandcrane

F: https://www.facebook.com/halcyoncrane/

IG: @halcyoncrane

OH: Daily 11.00 – 20.30

Conrad Singapore – Fashionista Afternoon Tea [Media Invite]

From Catwalk to Cakewalk, head pastry Chef Richard Chew and his team, taking inspirations from the runaway shows and recreating them in sweet form. It is the second year running, the pastry team at Conrad Centennial Singapore creating show-stopping patterns as well as signature items are merged with innovative textures and flavours.

From Catwalk to Cakewalk

From Catwalk to Cakewalk

This year Conrad Centennial Singapore collaborate with The Fashion Pulpit, a social enterprise that encourages the swapping of clothes. In this collaboration, there will be a showcasing 6 dresses from The Fashion Pulpit exclusive collection at The Lobby Lounge to promote environmental education and awareness in the field of fashion. Through this exhibition, they aspire to drive conversations about upcycling clothing that may no longer fit, worn out or damaged and transforming them into something new.

One of the dress from The Fashion Pulpit

The afternoon tea with a welcome drink, mango juice with coconut cream, topped with diced mangoes. It is sweet and refreshing, yet it was not as rich as I expected. Feels like you are having dessert to start with, a mango sago without the sago.

Welcome Drink

When it comes to Afternoon Tea, I will usually start with savoury. The list of the savouries is Tru­e Brie, Piquillo Marmalade, Hazelnut Oat Cracker; Sourdough, Kaya, Foie Gras Pâté, Caviar; Lemon Sablé, Smoked Fish, Yuzu Lemon Cream, Dill and Pickled Cucumber; and Premium Balik Salmon, Dill Sour Cream and Salmon Roe with Buckwheat Blinis.

The Savouries

Lemon Sablé, Smoked Fish, Yuzu Lemon Cream,
Dill and Pickled Cucumber

Tru­e Brie, Piquillo Marmalade, Hazelnut Oat Cracker

My picks for the savouries are Sourdough, Kaya, Foie Gras Pâté, Caviar, which deliver bold creamy flavour, especially the foie gras pate and the popping caviar. The blinis (mini pancakes) with salmon and dill cream. A more classical flavour profile, yet it just never fails. Each of the savouries is topped with edible flowers, which are delicate and complement the taste of different ingredients.

Sourdough, Kaya, Foie Gras Pâté, Caviar

Premium Balik Salmon, Dill Sour Cream
and Salmon Roe with Buckwheat Blinis

The sweets are presented like a model strutting through the catwalk. STRUT YOUR STYLE Pistachio Praline. This edible shoe is made from white chocolate and topped with pistachio praline. It is almost too pretty to eat, as the sweetness of the white chocolate is balanced with the pistachio slight bitterness and nuttiness. However, I would prefer if they use matcha, as it delivers a more contrasting bitter taste compared to the pistachio.

The Sweets

Strut Your Style

DRESSED TO THE NINES Wild Blueberry Mousse, Almond Sponge and Crunch Base. A complete set of the dress, designed for a beautiful day in Spring, including the hat as well. The blueberry mousse combines well with the almond sponge and the crunchy base.

Dressed To The Nines

Dressed To The Nines

HASH BAG 64% Chocolate Anglaise Mousse, Exotic Jelly and Crunch. A chocolate handbag that is rich and filled with dark chocolate truffle. Plus, the fireworks (pop rock candies) effects in your mouth at the end are just awesome.

Hash Bag

Hash Bag

SEALED WITH A KISS Limited edition - Raspberry Sensation. An edible lipstick. It has a nice balance between sweet and savoury. Though it is made from raspberry, the flavour profile reminds me of the childhood snack hawthorn flakes.

Sealed With A Kiss

Sealed With A Kiss

When you almost finish your sweets and savoury, the service staff will deliver the scones, complete with homemade cream and strawberry jam.

Scones Original & Raisins

Scones Original & Raisins

To accompany your afternoon tea, you can have up to two choices of Ronnefeldt tea and coffee, hot or iced. This time around, I choose Orange Pekoe, Ceylon tea and finish off with Mocha. Meanwhile, LD chose the fruit infusion Sweet Kiss tea.

The Tea Set

Mocha

Overall, the sweets selections of the Fashionista Fashion Tea really impressed us. It truly took the inspirations from the catwalk and translates to the lovely desserts. The savoury bites and scones are good; however, they were just blown away by the sweets. A must-try afternoon tea. Cheers!!

Fashionista Afternoon Tea

Where: Lobby Lounge

When: 16th September 2022 to 22nd November 2022

Monday - Sunday (2 seating)

First seating: 1pm-3pm; Second seating: 3:30pm - 5:30pm

Prices start from:

S$49++ per person - Inclusive of unlimited Ronnefeldt Tea or Brazilian Coffee

*Add on S$20++ per person for unlimited Prosecco - 2 hours only

Takeaway or Delivery:

From S$96.30 nett per set (for 2 persons)

To order, visit > HERE <

For more information, kindly visit www.connoisseur.sg/fashionista-afternoon-tea/, call 6432 7483 / 6432 7357, or email sinci.lobbylounge@conradhotels.com

Thank you very much Team Lobby Lounge for hosting us.

Food: 9/10

Value: 8/10

Service: 8/10

Ambiance: 8.5/10

Budget per Person: $51 - $80

Lobby Lounge @Conrad

2 Temasek Boulevard

Lobby Level, Conrad Centennial Singapore

Singapore 038982

T: +65 6432 7483

W: https://eatdrinkhilton.com/lobby-lounge-conrad-sg/

F: https://www.facebook.com/conradcentennialsingapore

IG: @Conradsingapore

OH:

Sun - Thu: 07:00 - 00:00

Fri - Sat: 07:00 - 01:00

Daily Afternoon Tea: 13.00 – 17.30

Menu Available Online

Lobby Lounge – Holiday Afternoon Tea [MEDIA INVITE]

Snow Man @ Lobby Lounge at Conrad Centennial Singapore

Celebrate this Festive Period with Christmas Theme Afternoon Tea curated by the team at Conrad Centennial Singapore. This delightful Christmas theme is available from now till 3^rd January 2020.

Prosecco with Conrad Bear

We are welcomed by “The Grinch”. This welcome mocktail is made from mango, lime and soda water. Sugar crust is added on the lips of the cup to sweeten the concoction more. The Grinch has a nice colour combination, yellow mango at the bottom, blue lime in the middle and clear soda water at the top. Once you stir it, the green colour will slowly engulf the whole drinks. Luckily the drink tasted sweet and refreshing, unlike The Grinch that is full of bitterness towards Christmas.

The Grinch 

The Grinch - After Stirring

Weekend Afternoon Tea consists of 4 courses, starting with Seafood Platter. Your palate will be treated with fresh Poached Boston Lobster, Irish Oysters and Fresh Prawns. The lobster prawns are firm and springy, and I have both of them plain and really enjoy the natural sweetness of the seafood. This season, the Irish Oysters are more subtle. I added a few drops of vinaigrette dressing to bring out the flavour of the oysters.

Seafood Platter

Slow Cook Beef Brisket, Mushroom and Caramelized Onion, Toast, Cheese Sauce and Guacamole Parsley is the second course. The beef brisket is tender and easily pulled apart when you cut thought solid toast. The bread used here is solid and hard, suitable to handle the heavy meat and jus from ingredients. I just wish there is some gherkin to balance the richness in this toast.

Slow Cook Beef Brisket, Mushroom and Caramelized Onion,
Toast, Cheese Sauce and Guacamole Parsley

Slow Cook Beef Brisket, Mushroom and Caramelized Onion,
Toast, Cheese Sauce and Guacamole Parsley

This time around I ordered Orange Pekoe tea to pair with my afternoon tea. The tea is aromatic and well balanced.

Orange Pekoe Ronnefeldt tea

The third course is the combination of sweet and savoury bites base with festive theme. I started with the savoury selections first. Roasted Turkey, Orange Marmalade and Brie Sandwich in Rye Bread & Multigrain Tartlet Roasted Chicken, Cranberries and Raisin Jam, Baby Cress are my pick. The combination of savoury poultry together with sweetness from the fruits sure brought out the flavour of Christmas.

3rd Course

3rd Course

Meanwhile, the Pomegranate, Roasted Beetroot, Cherry Tomato, Frissee and Feta Cheese Salad & Smoked Salmon, Dill Cream Cheese with Lemon Zest in Tortilla Wrap are the more common savoury dishes found in afternoon tea.

From Left Clockwise: Smoked Salmon, Dill Cream Cheese with Lemon Zest in Tortilla Wrap
Pomegranate, Roasted Beetroot, Cherry Tomato, Frissee and Feta Cheese Salad
Multigrain Tartlet Roasted Chicken, Cranberries and Raisin Jam, Baby Cress
Roasted Turkey, Orange Marmalade and Brie Sandwich in Rye Bread  

The sweet selections showcase to us the design that synonymous with Christmas. These include Chestnut Mont Blanc, Snow Man, Christmas Gift Box, Santa Sleigh and Christmas Ball.

The Sweet Selections

Chestnut Mont Blanc

Gift Box

My personal pick is the Snow Man and Santa Sleigh. Snow Man contains mango fillings, light and mildly sweet. Meanwhile, Santa Sleigh has a complex design and it delivers solid chocolate flavour. Since this is Christmas desserts, you can expect the desserts to be bold and sweeter. Do try and let me know which one you like as well.

Snow Man

Santa Sleigh

The final course is Scones served with Clotted Cream, Mixed Spiced Apricot Jam & Homemade Strawberry Jam. There are two types of scones, plain and cranberry. My favourite mix is always the combo of strawberry jam and clotted cream. I find the apricot is bit too sweet for my liking.

Scones served with Clotted Cream, Mixed Spiced Apricot Jam & Homemade Strawberry Jam

Overall, Holiday Afternoon Tea at Lobby Lounge will bring you the Christmas Atmosphere during this special period. An option to consider for your Christmas gathering, plus you also get the adorable Conrad Christmas Bear when you have Holiday Afternoon Tea at Lobby Lounge. Cheers!!

Weekend Afternoon Tea Menu

Indulgent Holiday Afternoon Tea at Lobby Lounge

Festive Weekday Afternoon Tea	3:00pm to 6:00pm	Per Adult: S$32++ (Coffee and tea)
Festive Weekend Afternoon Tea	1:00pm to 5:00pm	Adult: S$68++ (Ronnefeldt Tea and Brazilian coffee) S$98++ (Unlimited Prosecco, Ronnefeldt Tea and Brazilian coffee)  Child S$49++ (6-12 years old) ( No Seafood)

When: 11 November 2019 to 3 January 2020

Where: The Lobby Lounge

             Lobby Level @ Conrad Centennial Singapore

How: 

Tel: +65 6432 7483

Email: sinci.lobbylounge@conradhotels.com 

Website: www.connoisseur.sg

Weekend Afternoon Tea Beverages

Thank you very much to Conrad Centennial Singapore and Lobby Lounge Team for the tasting invitation and the experience.

Food: 8.5/10

Value: 8/10

Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)

Ambiance: 8.5/10

Budget per Person: $26 - $50, $51 - $80

Lobby Lounge @Conrad

2 Temasek Boulevard

Lobby Level, Conrad Centennial Singapore

Singapore 038982

T: +65 6432 7483

W: http://bit.ly/cbkconrad

F: https://www.facebook.com/conradcentennialsingapore

OH:

Sun - Thu: 07:00 - 00:00

Fri - Sat: 07:00 - 01:00

Daily Afternoon Tea: 13.00 – 17.00