Monday, 9 May 2022

Conrad Centennial Singapore – Executive King Room + Twin Room [MEDIA INVITE]

Conrad Centennial Singapore ★★★★★ (5 Stars Hotel)
Two Temasek Boulevard
Singapore 038982

T: +65 6334 8888

Room Type: Executive King Room + Executive Twin Room
(with Executive Floor Privileges)
Stayed: April 2022
Booking: Media Invite

Evening View from Our Room
We are back at Conrad Centennial Singapore (‘CCS’) for a staycation with our niece and nephew. After fulfilling its calling as one of the designated SHN hotels and delivering five-star hospitality to quarantine guests (You can watch the documentary video here), CCS is progressively opening up towards full operations.

Location (10/10)
The hotel is located in Marina Bay, next to Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre and is surrounded by three shopping centres Suntec City, Marina Square and Millenia Walk. These shopping centres are known as kids entertainments centre as they host theme playgrounds such as SuperPark at Suntec City, Pororo Park, Kiztopia and Nerf Action Experience in Marina Square.

Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre
These shopping centres also have a good mix of shops that caters to the whole family and also family-friendly dining.

Room: Overall (10/10)
Cleanliness (10/10). Space (10/10). Room Amenities (10/10), Family Orientated (10/10)




Our rooms are located on the 30th floor, with the view of the bay. As the booking is under family, the rooms are connected and the connecting doors are already open when we enter the room.

Executive King Room 
Executive King Room 
The layout of the Executive King Room and Executive Twin Room are almost the same. While the King Room come with a long sofa with the same length as the windows, the Twin Room comes with a shorter sofa, to provide space and separation between the two super single beds.

Executive Twin Room
Executive Twin Room
Each room received welcome snacks, consisting of dried fruits, cookies, chocolate and still and sparkling bottled waters. A welcome handwritten card by the General Manager added a special personal touch to make you feel extra welcome.

Welcome Snacks & Drinks
Handwritten Welcome Card
Instead of the usual working table, the room comes with a round table. It is paired together with the sofa, giving it a more holiday / family feel to the room instead of a business room. Of course, you are still able to turn it into a working space as the individual chair is well padded and allows you to focus on your work.

Morning Coffee with a view
The bed is firm with a touch of soft padding on the top. (Bed firmness rating 8/10) The pillows on the bed are huge and good for hugging and when you lay on them, it just cuddles your head nicely. There is also a pillow menu that you can choose from discoverconradsg.

Afternoon View 
As part of Hilton’s Hotels, CCS is also committed to reducing its environmental footprint. This can be seen through the change in their bathroom amenities. Instead of small individual bottles of shampoo, conditioner and body wash, it has changed to a bigger and reusable size. The current choice is Byredo Mojave Ghost. For the bath soap and face soap, CCS still use Shanghai Tang Mandarin Tea.

Bathroom
Amenities
The Shower
Shampoo, Conditioner and Body Wash
Body Lotion, Hand / Face Soap
The bathtub was a hit with our nephew and niece. Once they see the bathtub, they keep asking when they can use it. They look forward to enjoying themselves soaking and playing with the bubbles there with the Conrad rubber ducky.

The Bathtub
Conrad Rubber Ducky
Bath Amenities
The mini bar offerings in the room have changed compared to pre-COVID time. The guest still received the complimentary Nespresso Coffee and Rottenfield Tea; however, they no longer have vast selections of alcoholic beverages and snacks. Instead, these items need to be ordered from the room service or enjoyed at the executive lounge.

Coffee & Tea
Gone are the complimentary plastic water bottles, instead the guest will receive the complimentary drinking water in the recyclable tetra packs.

Drinking Water in Tetra Pack
There was a turndown service in the early evening, to ensure we have sufficient supplies throughout the night.

Bedside Table with Conrad Care Pack

For the Young One
Upon booking, we informed CCS of the age of our nephew and niece. Since my nephew is below the age of 12, a special bathrobe and slippers are provided in the room for his use. Wow, what a great attention to detail.

Children Bathrobe and Slippers

Room Entertainment & WiFi (9/10)
We have 55 inches flat-screen TV, place strategically as the centrepiece for entertainment. With 55 channels to choose from, I am sure there is something for everyone. The WiFi connectivity is seamless, the download speed is good enough for everyone to play their games, watch Youtube and streaming without any glitches.

Executive Floor Privilege (8.5/10)
The Executive Lounge is open from 14.30 – 16.30 for Afternoon Tea and 18.00 – 20.00 for Evening Drinks. Reservations needed.

Part of the Executive Lounge
Do take note that there is an age limit for admittance to Executive Lounge. Children under 12 years old, can only be admitted for Afternoon tea. Evening Drinks are reserved for guests aged 12 years and older.

Since our nephew is below the age of 12, we brought him up for the afternoon tea. He enjoyed the spread of canapes, scones, cakes and fruits together with his orange juice.

Afternoon Tea
While our nephew is taking his nap, our niece went up with us to enjoy the Evening drinks (of course no alcohol for her). The finger foods and cheese selections are tailored to suit the alcohol and soft drinks. We get to enjoy the night view of the surrounding area.

Evening Drinks

Dining (8.75/10)
Breakfast (8.75/10), Sunday Brunch (8.75/10)

Breakfast is served at Oscar’s in assisted buffet mode. Guests can be seated indoor or outdoor. We arrived a bit later, so we get the outdoor seat, which is quite comfort with the morning breeze . The spread consists of baked pasty, salad, fruits, cooked food, local delights, waffle and ice cream. (YES, ICE CREAM).

Part of the Outdoor Seating
Overall, it was a good spread and good quality of food.

Part of Breakfast Spread
YUP, Waffle and Ice Cream for Breakfast
The Sunday Brunch is just awesome. Great selections of Fruitti Di Mare, Oscar’s Signature Caesar Salad Bar, Pan Fried Foie Gras, Salad Bar, Western Mains, Flavours of India, Local Flavous, Weekend Charcoal Barbecue, Roast Station and Desserts Station. The spread is just amazing.

Part of Fruitti Di Mare
Foie Gras & Roasted Angus Striploin
BBQ Lobster
Cocktail from Live G&T Station

Check out this video for the Sunday Brunch full spread.

Full details of the pricing and menu for Oscar’s is available here.

Hotel Facilities (9/10)
The swimming pool is located on the 4th floor and this time we get to experience it with the kids. The-20 metre size swimming is very spacious and each guest has sufficient space to swim or play with. The cabanas are a great place to rest in between swim and also to chill.

The Swimming Pool
The Conrad Spa and Fitness Centre are also located on the fourth floor. However, we did not manage to try it out.

Conrad Spa
Image Credit: Conrad Centennial Singapore
Fitness Centre
Image Credit: Conrad Centennial Singapore
For drivers, parking at the basement carpark is complimentary. You can get complimentary tickets from the concierge or reception.

Services (9/10)
The service team is very friendly, welcoming and efficient. I received an email upon confirmation to inform us of the check-in time plus the use of discoverconradsg, so we can plan on how to maximise our stay. (*reservation slot only made available 2 days prior to arrival).

Nephew with Conrad Mascot in Sakura Kimono

Overall: Highly Recommend
Conrad Centennial Singapore comes highly recommended for a family staycation. The location is strategic and they do take care of the young ones. We look forward to our next visit. Cheers!!

Thank you very much to Conrad Centennial Singapore for the Staycation Invite

Conrad Lobby

EXECUTIVE FLOOR BENEFITS
As an Executive Floor/Suite guest, enjoy the following privileges and benefits:
· Access to the Executive Lounge on Level 31
· Unlimited tea, coffee and soft drinks available at the lounge
· Daily a la carte breakfast at Oscar’s at Lobby Level
· Delightful afternoon tea with finger sandwiches and cakes served in a stand
· Complimentary evening drinks with hors d’oeuvres
· Complimentary use of the meeting room at level 5 for two hours per day (subject to availability)
· Complimentary local calls
· Complimentary Premium wireless internet access
· 20% discount on all a la carte spa treatments

OPENING HOURS
Executive Lounge
· Open daily from 2:30pm to 4:30pm and 6:00pm to 10:00pm
· Afternoon Tea: 2:30pm to 4:30pm
· Evening Drinks: 6:00pm to 8:00pm

Kindly be informed that the Executive Lounge closes at 5:00pm to 6:00pm for sanitation.

Breakfast at Oscar’s
· Monday – Friday: 6:30am to 10:30am
· Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays: 6:30am to 11:00am

Wednesday, 4 May 2022

Goldleaf Restaurant – Mother’s Day Take Away Menu 2022 [MEDIA INVITE]

Celebrate this Mother’s Day with a sumptuous menu from Goldleaf Restaurant from the comfort of your home or anywhere you want. While there are no more restrictions, you might want to enjoy the celebrations without squeezing with other people at your favourite restaurant.

The team at Goldleaf Restaurant has designed this delicious and comforting menu to cater to your needs.

Goldleaf Mother's Day Take Away Menu
We started the meal with Cold Dish Trio. Consists of cold tofu, jellyfish with Chinese cabbage and sliced abalones with mala sauce. Each of them has its unique taste and texture, appetizers to start your meal.

Cold Dish Trio
Steamed Seabass in Superior Soy Sauce. A signature dish at Goldleaf and they have perfected the steaming time to the seconds. The seabass is smooth, silky and flaky, while the soy sauce accentuates the flavour of the fish nicely. If you wonder, will the quality of the fish still be good for home delivery? I can tell you that I received a home delivery from Goldleaf a few years back, and the fish is one of the dishes that finished first on that day.

Steamed Seabass in Superior Soy Sauce. 
Steamed Seabass in Superior Soy Sauce.
Braised Duck Thigh. Tender and succulent duck meat, well-infused with the thick, robust and umami golden brown braising sauce. I like the fatty duck skin that just melts in your mouth. A nice dish to go with a bowl of white rice.

Braised Duck Thigh
Braised Mushrooms with Seasonal Vegetables. The robust braised mushrooms are poured on top of the crunchy Nai Bai. It’s like having a 2-contrasting flavour. A crunchy, clean and slightly bitter vegetables mixed with bouncy, intense and robust braised mushrooms. Simple combo yet packs with flavour.

Braised Mushrooms with Seasonal Vegetables (Nai Bai)
Golden Porridge. This is the second time we tried this dish. The porridge is cooked with seafood stock, together with big tiger prawns, mussels and scallops. Each scoop of the porridge is filled plump grain of rice infused with solid seafood flavour. Yummy!

Golden Porridge
Mussels in Golden Porridge
Scallops
Kam Heong Flower Clams. A fresh and juicy flower clams cooked with fragrant and spicy Kam Heong sauce. I like the texture of the clams; however, I find the sauce is a bit too spicy for my liking. However, LD does not have any issue with the spiciness. In case you don’t take spicy dishes well, you can ask them to lower the spiciness level.

Kam Heong Flower Clams
Kam Heong Flower Clams
Goldleaf’s Mother’s Day Take Away Menu is priced at $238 (4 to 5 pax). You can place the order through take.app/a/goldleaf or call 6346 1088. You can also add other signature dishes through the app. If you have a bigger group, don’t hesitate to contact them to arrange bigger portions.

Steamed Pork Patty
We also tried their Omelette with Chye Por and Steamed Pork Patty with Salted Egg, and we just love it.

Omelette with Chye Por
Omelette with Chye Por
If you have not made any arrangements for the upcoming Mother’s Day, get in touch with Goldleaf. Other set menus are also available. Cheers!!

Thank you very much Kristine, Karen and Goldleaf Restaurant for hosting us.

Food & Drink: 7.75/10
Value: 7.75/10
Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)
Ambiance: 7.5/10
Budget per Person: $26 - $50; $51 - $80

Goldleaf Restaurant
88 East Coast Road
#01-05/06/07 Katong Square
Singapore 423371

T: +65 6346 1088
OH: Daily 11.00 – 14.30, 18.00 – 22.00

Friday, 29 April 2022

Thai Village – Thai Teochew Cuisine

Thai Village is a Chinese restaurant in Singapore serving Thai Teochew Cuisine. Those frequent visitors to Bangkok will be very familiar with the Chinese cuisine served in Yaowarat (Chinatown in Bangkok) or any Chinese restaurants in Bangkok. There are 3 branches of Thai Village in Singapore, this one is located in the Goodwood Park Hotel Estate.

Thai Village Restaurant @Goodwood Park Hotel
Since we (plus 2 other “makan kakis”) are having a staycation at Goodwood Park Hotel, we decided to visit Thai Village for late dinner. We came in about 8+ and the restaurant is packed.

We kicked off the dinner with the signature dish of Thai Village. Braised Superior Shark’s Fin with Crab Meat ($68 for small). Basically, a shark’s fin is almost tasteless or likely to be fishy, with a chewy and crunchy texture. It requires a superb and robust stock to infuse the flavour into the fin and overall dish. In Thai Village, their stock is just absolutely amazing. It is thick, robust, filled with collagen and delivers the ultimate umami flavour. The crab meat added a touch of natural sweetness to the dish. Although the portion is small, it is good for 2 pax.

Braised Superior Shark’s Fin with Crab Meat
The shark’s fin soup is served with beansprout, Chinese parsley and black vinegar.

Beansprout & Chinese Parsley

Braised Superior Shark’s Fin with Crab Meat
with Beansprout and Chinese Parsley
If you are not a shark’s fin fan, you can order the fish maw soup instead. They still use the same stock base, delivering the superb and umami fish maw. I can attest to eat as I tried it at their Singapore Indoor Stadium Branch.

Crispy Beancurd in Thai Style ($18). Deep-fried egg tofu, topped with julienne young mango, chopped big shallots and Thai sweet chilli sauce. The beancurd has a crisp exterior followed by a smooth and silky interior. The young mango is crunchy and tangy, paired with spicy shallot and sweet chilli sauce. A nice dish to balance the heavy soup at the start.

Crispy Beancurd in Thai Style 
Baked Duck Web ($20). The original version of this dish is supposed to be braised goose web. However, due to the restriction of goose meat in Singapore, duck webs are used as a substitute. Presentation-wise, it does not look very appetising. However, do not judge the dish by the look. It packs of flavours and has a resilient texture. The duck web is gelatinous but not as good as the goose web.

Baked Duck Web
Salt Baked Chicken Drumsticks ($20). Kind of reminds me of the dish called 3 cups chicken. Tender and succulent chicken meat, with a nice charred aroma and flavour. You can taste the salt seasoning in the skin and the flesh. The strong flavour of this dish together with the gravy is best enjoyed with a bowl of white rice ($1.20). A perfect “rice thief” dish.

Salt Baked Chicken Drumsticks
Baked King Prawns with Vermicelli ($34 for small). A dish that I will normally order in a Thai Restaurant. The vermicelli is silky and bouncy, while the prawns are fresh and crunchy. Although this dish also comes in the crab version, I always prefer the prawns as they give a better umami flavour.

Baked King Prawns with Vermicelli
The décor of the place is outdated, seems like it is stuck in the 1990s. However, the ambience and the service staff bring this restaurant to life. Good service from the captain and service crew, friendly and with motherly care.

The Wine Chiller
Overall, a great place to satisfy your cravings for luxurious Thai Teochew Cuisine. Their Braised Shark’s Fin Soup / Fish Maw soup or anything that is cooked with their Golden stock is a must-order here. The price is on the high side, but you are paying for quality. Cheers!!

Food & Drink: 8/10
Value: 6.5/10
Service: 7.25/10
Ambiance: 6.75/10
Budget per Person: $51 - $80; $81 & Above

Thai Village
22 Scotts Road
Goodwood Park Hotel
Singapore 228221

T: +65 6440 8251
OH: Daily 11.30 – 15.00; 18.00 – 22.00
For Other Branches, click here.

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