Chinese

[INTL BUFFET] Have A Merry Little Christmas & Usher the Year of the Rat with an Imperial Feast @ The Square Restaurant, Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay

/ Fiona Seah / Leave a comment

Season’s greetings, everyone!

The time for merrymaking is upon us again and that only means one thing – endless parties and gatherings with your loved ones and friends whom you’ve been too busy to meet all year. Sadly, for the incompetent cooks like yours truly, whipping up a dish as simple as an omelette for a potluck can be a real headache. Rather than subjecting your culinary-inept friends (and your stomach) to the unnecessary torture, why not ditch the apron and leave the food preparation to the professionals?

In a food haven that is Singapore, however, buffets are so aplenty that it takes sheer dedication to even shortlist that few locations. Perhaps, we can start from The Square Restaurant at Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay which has quite a number of exciting festive dishes lined up for lunch and dinner!

Have A Merry Little Christmas
(1 – 31 December 2019)

Indulge in an extravagant feast throughout the month of December as The Square Restaurant brings you the finest selection from the land and sea. Expect to see traditional (but improved!) festive favourites such as their 24-hour Roasted Brine Turkey, Roasted Beef Striploin and Roasted Lamb Leg to get you in the Christmas mood alongside an array of the freshest seafood on ice, like the chilled Alaskan King Crab Legs, Half-shell Scallops and sashimi. At the same time, keep in touch with your roots with local delicacies such as The Square Signature Black Pepper Crab and Salted Egg Crayfish.

24-hour Roasted Brine Turkey with Giblet & Cranberry Sauce

24-hour Roasted Brine Turkey with Giblet & Cranberry Sauce

Baked Gammon Ham with Pineapple Sauce

Baked Gammon Ham with Pineapple Sauce

Mediterranean Seabass En Papillote

Mediterranean Seabass En Papillote

Roasted Cumin & Pepper Infused Pork Rib served with Mango Mojo

Roasted Cumin & Pepper Infused Pork Rib served with Mango Mojo

Spanish Seafood Paella

Spanish Seafood Paella

A la Minute Pasta: Salted Egg

A la Minute Pasta: Salted Egg

Making an introductory appearance at the buffet is the à la minute pasta with your choice of sauce between homemade salted egg and Mala. Having tried both sauces, I must say each of them has its own merits and appeal to different taste buds. Salted egg was a little on the thick side (totally apparent in the above picture) and I could taste the chunks of yolk. But as with most salted egg dishes, the possibility of feeling gelat (surfeited?) is there so go easy on the servings. #sayNOtofoodwaste

Mala, on the other hand, was a breath of fresh air. It contains just the right amount of Sichuan peppercorns for me, a novice eater, to enjoy comfortably without being irked by the (many a time excessive) tingly numbness in my mouth. But that said, if you can’t handle spicy food (though I did suggest to have a range of spiciness level for guest to choose from), definitely opt for salted egg instead.

And do remember to make some room for desserts at the end of the meal as you wouldn’t want to miss delectable sweet treats, like The Square Signature Durian Pengat, Log Cake, Chocolate Fondue, Fruit Cake, Tiramisu and other assorted pastries specially curated for Christmas!

Lemon Meringue Cake

Lemon Meringue Cake

Brownie & Hazelnut Cream

Brownie & Hazelnut Cream

Apple Walnut Log Cake

Apple Walnut Log Cake

Apple Almond Puff

Apple Almond Puff

Tiramisu

Tiramisu – which I thought was Milo Dinosaur at first glance WAHAHAHA

Festive Buffet
Lunch
Monday – Saturday (except 25th Dec) · 12.00 pm – 2.30 pm
Adult: $48++ · Child (5-12 years old): $29++ · Senior Citizen (above 55 years old): $38++
Dinner
Sunday – Thursday (except 24th, 25th and 31st) · 6.00 pm – 10.00 pm
Adult: $68++ · Child (5-12 years old): $39++ · Senior Citizen (above 55 years old): $58++
Christmas Eve Buffet Dinner
24th Dec · 6.00 pm – 10.00 pm
*includes free-flow martini, beer, wine and soft drinks
Adult: $88++ · Child (5-12 years old): $49++ · Senior Citizen (above 55 years old): $78++
Christmas Day Lunch
25th Dec · 12.00 pm – 2.30 pm
Adult: $68++ · Child (5-12 years old): $39++ · Senior Citizen (above 55 years old): $58++
Christmas Day Buffet Dinner
25th Dec · 6.00 pm – 10.00 pm
Adult: $68++ · Child (5-12 years old): $39++ · Senior Citizen (above 55 years old): $58++
New Year’s Eve Buffet Dinner
31st Dec · 6.00 pm – 10.00 pm
*includes free-flow beer, wine and soft drinks
Adult: $88++ · Child (5-12 years old): $49++ · Senior Citizen (above 55 years old): $78++

Usher the Year of the Rat with an Imperial Feast
(8 January – 8 February 2020)

Hold off your New Year’s resolution of getting back in shape because the feasting is not quite over yet! With the Year of the Rat exactly one month away from Christmas, brace yourselves for another round of edible temptation coming at you from every direction in January!

For many Chinese families, zi char places and Chinese restaurants are usually the gathering point for reunion dinners, and it’s always the same old dishes offered in the set menus. Worse, the prices of these dinner sets can only rise each year while portions remain unchanged or get reduced. Share the same sentiments? Then, you might want to relook the style of your reunion dinner this coming Chinese New Year.

How about a reunion buffet dinner for a change? That way, you will be ensured everyone gets their fill from a myriad of dishes at their leisure (like, you know how some restaurants churn out dish after dish and you feel pressured to speed up your eating? SO STRESSFUL) and you actually pay according to how much each person can consume? Yes, extended families with a brood of very young offspring and blessed with longevity, buffet dinner should be the way to go. And The Square Restaurant has just the what is needed to satisfy diners of all ages.

Yu Sheng (charged separately at S$68++ for Medium or $88++ for Large, excluding 20% discount for dine-in guest). Of course, your Yu Sheng will not be presented as such. This is exclusively for media.

Fa Cai Yu Sheng (charged separately at S$68++ for Medium or $88++ for Large, excluding 20% discount for dine-in guest). Of course, your Yu Sheng will not be presented as such. This is exclusively for media 😜

Your Fa Cai Yu Sheng (courtesy of Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay)

Your Fa Cai Yu Sheng (courtesy of Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay)

From an assortment of BBQ meats, Poached Broccoli with Dried Oysters and Black Moss to Wok-fried Salted Egg Prawn and Laksa, the buffet boasts a good mix of traditional and modern Chinese New Year delicacies that is bound to please the pickiest and most demanding of taste buds. On top of that, the more hands-on family members would also find themselves immersing themselves in the experience at the DIY Kong Bak Bao station. What better way to bridge the generation gap between the young and old than to offer your elders the Kong Bak Baos you have specially prepared for them, right? 😉

Roasted Grain-fed Beef Striploin

Roasted Grain-fed Beef Striploin

Braised Broccoli with Dried Oysters & Black Moss

Braised Broccoli with Dried Oysters & Black Moss

Wok-fried Salted Egg Prawn

Wok-fried Salted Egg Prawn

Hong Kong-style Steamed Pomfret

Hong Kong-style Steamed Pomfret

The Square Signature Black Pepper Crab

The Square Signature Black Pepper Crab

Assorted Chinese BBQ Platter

Assorted Chinese BBQ Platter

Assorted Chinese BBQ Platter

Assorted Chinese BBQ Platter

Braised Pork Rib with Chinese Mushrooms & Bamboo Shoot

Braised Pork Rib with Chinese Mushrooms & Bamboo Shoot

Lastly, round off the hearty meal with more than just a boring bowl of mango pomelo sago. Everyone at the table gets to pick from a variety of pastries infused with local flavours including but not limited to Pandan Egg Tart, Taro Butter Cake, Bak Kwa Chicken Floss Swiss Roll and Golden Sesame Ball. Not really a pastry person? Sure. Have a go at the Chilled Peach Gum with Red Dates and Dried Longan – which is an absolute favourite of my plus-one because it is tasty yet so healthy – or Pan-fried Nian Gao. Are you salivating yet?

Pandan Egg Tart

Pandan Egg Tart

Bak Kwa Chicken Floss Swiss Roll

Bak Kwa Chicken Floss Swiss Roll

Savoury and juicy sweetmeat wrapped with pastry dough and topped with chicken floss, this ingenious creation was a hit at the media tasting session. I never liked bak kwa, but I just couldn’t resist taking seconds of this. It was hea-ven-ly.

Orange Mousse Cake with Red Berry Jelly

Orange Mousse Cake with Red Berry Jelly

The Orange Mousse Cake is another top pick of mine and I am pretty sure it accounted for most of my calories gained that night – but damn was it worth it! The yellow strip of fondant icing – which I strongly feel should not just be on both ends of the cake because without it, the cake is better off in the Christmas buffet spread – has a citrusy note to it and the slight sourness of the red berry jelly filling prevents the mousse from being too cloyingly sweet. There is simply no reason to dislike this.

Taro Butter Cake

Taro Butter Cake

Chinese New Year may be more than a month away from now, but it’s never too early to start making your reservations. Act fast before your preferred dates are fully booked!

Prosperity Buffet
Lunch
Monday – Saturday · 12.00 pm – 2.30 pm
Adult: $48++ · Child (5-12 years old): $29++ · Senior Citizen (above 55 years old): $38++
Sunday Brunch
Sundays only · 12.30 pm – 3.00 pm
Adult: $68++ · Child (5-12 years old): $39++ · Senior Citizen (above 55 years old): $58++
Dinner
Sunday – Thursday (except 26th Jan) · 6.00 pm – 10.00 pm
Adult: $68++ · Child (5-12 years old): $39++ · Senior Citizen (above 55 years old): $58++
Chinese New Year’s Eve Dinner
24th Jan · 6.00 pm – 10.00 pm
*includes free-flow wine, beer and soft drinks
Adult: $88++ · Child (5-12 years old): $49++ · Senior Citizen (above 55 years old): $78++
Chinese New Year Dinner
25th & 26th Jan · 6.00 pm – 10.00 pm
Adult: $68++ · Child (5-12 years old): $39++ · Senior Citizen (above 55 years old): $58++
Fa Cai Yu Sheng
$68++ for Medium · $88++ for Large
(20% discount for all dine-in guests)

Overall, The Square Restaurant has impressed me not only with their palatable offerings, but also their creative spin on traditional dishes. I mean, just look at the presentation of the desserts especially! The effort is unmistakable.

Thanks for reading!

The Square Restaurant @ Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay • 177A River Valley Rd Singapore 179031 • For more information on buffet timings, please visit Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay’s WEBSITE

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for bite-sized beauty updates!

Singapore Favourite Food Village 2015 @ Read Bridge

/ Fiona Seah / Leave a comment
MEDIA INVITE

Hey everyone!

Clarke Quay has always been perceived as an expensive tourist attraction caused by overpriced booze and food along Boat Quay. Therefore most locals tend to shun that area and find nightlife elsewhere. But since last Friday, hordes of hungry people (more than 80,000 over the weekend) – both locals and tourists alike – have been streaming into this historical landmark to satisfy their craving for Singaporean food. If you’re guessing that a new restaurant has opened its doors at Boat Quay, you’re quite close!

This sudden buzz of activity is due to the Singapore Favourite Food Village (presented by Esso LPG) along Read Bridge which sees a vast variety of hawkers and young chefs gathering to serve up traditional Teochew favourites and new cross-cuisine offerings under one roof. If you’re close enough, you could even catch a whiff of all the scrumptious food coming from the makeshift booths located outside the large white tent specially set up for this 10-day event.

Why Teochew? Well, while most are familiar with the history of Singapore River, not many are actually aware of the transformation that had taken place throughout the years around it. Once stood along Singapore’s iconic river long before the country gained independence was Ellenborough Market which was subsequently nicknamed “Teochew Market” as the Teochews populated the area with nearby hawker stalls specialising in well-known Teochew food. However, a big fire struck the wet market in 1968 and wiped out most of it as a result. The remains of the building was then demolished to make way for housing flats in the 1970s. As a Teochew myself, I’m quite ashamed not to have known about this important aspect of the Teochew community’s history in Singapore so I’m glad to have been enlightened through this Teochew-dedicated food fair (and I hope you will too!).

Here are some highlights of the Singapore Favourite Food Village to prep your stomach if you’re planning to make a trip down this coming weekend.

The crazy crowd on opening day

The crazy crowd on opening day

Don't worry about getting your hands and mouth dirty. SFFV has got you covered!

Don’t worry about getting your hands and mouth dirty. SFFV has got you covered! (Yes, tissue packs are free at the information counter)

Teochew opera!

Teochew opera! (Psst… you wouldn’t believe that the person behind this thick opera makeup was actually actor Nick Shen himself! His passion for Chinese opera is really laudable 🙂 )

(Brace yourself (and your tummy) because a truckload of tantalising food pictures is coming. Ready?)

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Spicy crab (S$10 for 5 pieces) at Ming Lang

Spicy crab

Spicy crab (S$10 for 5) at Ming Lang

BBQ Satay

BBQ Satay (3 sticks for $10) at Gold Bridge

Nonya Otah (S$0.50) / Nonya Mackeral Fish Otah (S$1.30)

Nonya Otah (S$0.50) / Nonya Mackeral Fish Otah (S$1.30) at Uncle’s Otah

The two famous meat from this booth are: Suckling Pig (S$188 whole/ S$100 half/ S$12 small), Roasted Duck (S$40 whole/ S$20 half/ S$8 small)

The two highly sought-after meat from this booth are: Suckling Pig (S$188 whole/ S$100 half/ S$12 small), Roasted Duck (S$40 whole/ S$20 half/ S$8 small) at Jia Le Hong Kong Roasted Food

I didn’t manage to try the roasted meat but a fellow food blogger who was also present at the event remarked that the Suckling Pig was good and it was sold out before 9pm. So make sure you’re there early to try it!

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Kebab at Indian House

Beverage booth where you can get some booze

Beverage booth where you can get some booze

Tiger Radler beer

This newly-launched Tiger Radler beer (S$5) is our refreshing thirst quencher of the day

Salted Egg York Carrot Cake

Salted Egg York Carrot Cake (S$6/S$8) at Everything Foods

As a sucker for all things salted egg, I was thrilled to know that it has been incorporated into one of my all-time favourite hawker food – fried carrot cake! It’s a very memorable dish with flavours that are incredibly complementary. The taste of the salted egg was slightly more overwhelming (but in a wonderful way) so it was the first thing that hit my palate the moment I deposited a tiny piece in my mouth. The creamy salted egg could also be seen oozing out from the sides. The portion, however, is a teeny-weeny bit small for the price but it’s definitely one of the best dishes at the SFFV.

Char Siew Pork Spare Ribs with Steamed Rice (S$8) at Fern & Kiwi Bar & Eatery

Char Siew Pork Spare Ribs with Steamed Rice (S$8) at Fern & Kiwi Bar & Eatery

Char Siew Pork Spare Ribs with Steamed Rice (S$8) at Fern & Kiwi Bar & Eatery

Char Siew Pork Spare Ribs with Steamed Rice (S$8) at Fern & Kiwi Bar & Eatery

Drenched in sweet marinade and drizzled with sesame seeds, these soft, tender and value-for-money honeyed pork ribs promise a burst of flavours with every bite. Although we forwent the rice to allow space for more food, I thought the price was still quite reasonable (especially coming from an upscale restaurant very well-known for its racks) because honestly, the pork ribs were incredible.

Teochew Pig Trotter at Everything Foods

Teochew Pig’s Trotter Lor Mee (S$6.50) at Everything Foods

Teochew Lor Mee at Everything Foods

Teochew Pig’s Trotter Lor Mee (S$6.50) at Everything Foods

Teochew Lor Mee at Everything Foods

Teochew Pig’s Trotter Lor Mee (S$6.50) at Everything Foods

If you’re looking to fill your stomach on a budget, the Teochew Pig’s Trotter Lor Mee is one dish that is worth checking out. For just $6.50, you not only get a bowl of piping hot Chinese braised noodles served in thick starchy gravy, you also get to enjoy some gelatinous pig’s trotter. The gravy used in both had a subtle herbal taste that gave the dish an overall delicate flavour. The pig’s trotter is also unctuously layered with fatty skin (I’d say 80% fats, 20% lean meat), making it the perfect guilty pleasure food for those with a strong preference for fatty meat.

Mee Siam at Everything Foods

Mee Siam (S$5) at Everything Foods

Mee Siam at Everything Foods

Mee Siam (S$5) at Everything Foods

Adding to the parade of delectable local delicacies is a bowlful of toothsome and light vermicelli soaked in a well-balanced (sweet and sour) gravy and generously topped with shrimps, hard boiled egg and tau pok (fried bean curd). In terms of spiciness, my tongue wasn’t screaming relief even though I added extra chilli. But taste-wise, it’s more or less the same as what you’d find at food courts and hawker centres.

Golden Curry Chicken Rice at Kopi Roti

Golden Curry Chicken Rice (S$5) at Kopi Roti

This is a rice dish as the name suggests but on the overall I felt it was too underwhelming for the price (although mine was sponsored). The chicken was a pain to eat because of the lack of meat and the potato could do with a bit more time in the pot. The curry was decent but average as compared to those I’ve had before so unless you’re really dying to have some coconut milk in your body system, I say blow your money on something else.

Cold Crab Teochew Style (S$12+) by Swissôtel Merchant Court

Cold Crab Teochew Style (S$12+) by Swissôtel Merchant Court

Don’t expect to be served a big crab if that’s what you’re anticipating. Instead, you’d be given a full miniature crab (that’s right, 2 pincers) served cold yet fresh by the chef of Swissôtel Merchant Court himself. The shell didn’t come broken (although I’m sure the chef would be more than happy to crack them for you upon request) but with a less sturdy shell due to its small size, the meagre amount of meat can be retrieved easily if you have the patience to rip the crab apart with your hands (make sure you have wet tissue with you because I don’t remember seeing sinks anywhere) and teeth. Honestly speaking, for the amount of meat you can get out of this crab, I don’t think it’s worth all the effort. But if you don’t mind the hassle, by all means give it a go!

Truffle Wanton Noodle (S$8) at Bee Kee Wanton Noodle

Truffle Wanton Noodle (S$8) at Bee Kee Wanton Noodle

Truffle Wanton Noodle (S$8) at Bee Kee Wanton Noodle

Truffle Wanton Noodle (S$8) at Bee Kee Wanton Noodle

Truffle Wanton Noodle (S$8) by Bee Kee Wanton Noodle

Truffle Wanton Noodle (S$8) at Bee Kee Wanton Noodle

I’m probably gonna be slaughtered by qualified food critics (*cough*Gordon Ramsey*cough*) for saying this but I absolutely love truffle oil and its pungent smell (like, you can tell from the picture above right, me totally soaking in the aroma). Therefore I was really looking forward to try the Truffle Wanton Noodle at the fair!

True enough, the very first thing that greeted my nose was, much to the chagrin of boyfriend who was pinching his nose while shoving the bowl to me, the distinctive and unmistakable truffle smell. But that aside, the char siew (roasted pork) was sweet and rather tender. The charred sides also added texture and crunch.  However, the wantons, though very crispy, were pretty average with (little) fillings that’s not so special. The noodles were also a tad too dry even after tossing them with the sauce hidden at the bottom. Therefore, this scores full marks for novelty but relatively lower for execution (after taking into consideration the great char siew and the awesome truffle oil).

Fishball Noodles (S$4.50) at Ming Fa Fishball

Fishball Noodles (S$4.50) at Ming Fa Fishball

What’s a “wok” down memory lane without Ming Fa fishball noodles? Unknown to many, the old Ellenborough food market was actually once home to the famous fishball noodles so having it on board is indeed a great way to recreate the long gone market.

What I really loved about the fishball noodles were, of course, the super soft and springy fishballs which, I swear, were among the best I had ever eaten. With a bountiful of ingredients (mushrooms and a truckload of meat! *slurps*), I must say that it is really a steal and especially so for a household name like Ming Fa. Sadly, this doesn’t come in soup version (which is a big boo-boo for me because as a half-Cantonese, I love my noodles to be immersed in piping hot soup, even for bak chor mee).

Apart from their signature dish, there are also minced meat noodles (S$4.50) and laksa (S$4.50) to choose from but seriously, why bother? Just go for the fishball noodles!

Popiah (1 roll for S$3, 2 rolls for S$5) at Good Chance Popiah

Popiah (1 roll for S$3/ 2 rolls for S$5) at Good Chance Popiah

Stationed next to Ming Fa Fishball was Good Chance Popiah which specialises in Hokkien-style ‘Wrap-It-Yourself’ popiahs at its 149 Silat Avenue outlet. You will not get to create your own popiah at the fair (for obvious reasons) but you can be rest assured that your popiah would come packed with a variety of fresh ingredients such as beansprouts, shredded carrot, omelette, lettuce and turnips. The skin was thin enough to enable a large chunk to be bitten off without having everything falling apart. My spicy popiah (non-spicy option available) tingled my tongue a bit but it was still bearable.

My only gripe was the absence of meat (therefore making this very vegetarian-friendly) which I thought was a shame because adding meat such as prawns would definitely give a richer and more succulent flavour (though the popiahs were already quite tasty on their own).

Kueh Pie Tee (4 for S$2) at Red Lips Kueh Pie Tee

Kueh Pie Tee (4 for S$2) at Red Lips Kueh Pie Tee

Kueh Pie Tee (4 for S$2) at Red Lips Kueh Pie Tee

Kueh Pie Tee (4 for S$2) at Red Lips Kueh Pie Tee

Made from an original Peranakan recipe, this set of four Kueh Pie Tee were nothing short of delicious. Laced with sweet chilli sauce for an added kick, the crusty cups were proportionately filled with shredded turnip,  omelette and garnished with coriander leaf and crushed groundnuts which combine to give a mouthful of robust and hearty flavour. It’s also worth noting that these Kueh Pie Tee cups come in frozen packs of 15 as well to satisfy your craving, available at most Cold Storage outlets in Singapore (or you can buy a few boxes directly from their booth at SFFV).

Handmade Smoked Salmon Chee Cheong Fun with Tobiko (S$4) at Da Chang Jin

Handmade Smoked Salmon Chee Cheong Fun with Tobiko (S$4) at Da Chang Jin

Handmade Smoked Salmon Chee Cheong Fun with Tobiko (S$4) at Da Chang Jin

Handmade Smoked Salmon Chee Cheong Fun with Tobiko (S$4) at Da Chang Jin

I’ve seen its stall at Holland Drive Market and Food Centre a couple of times during my 6-month internship but I didn’t get to buy from it because on the day I had finally snapped out of my craving for sliced fish soup (which happened to be my final day at MOE), it had decided to close. I guess fate brought me to SFFV last Friday so that I could try their famed Chee Cheong Fun!

But it turned out to be rather disappointing. The smoked salmon was cooked right through when it wasn’t supposed to and I also couldn’t taste the smoked seasoning at all. The sauce was nothing to rave about either 😦

Ondeh Ondeh Churros (S$5 for 3 pieces) at Churros Factory

Ondeh Ondeh Churros (S$5 for 3 pieces/ S$9 for 6) at Churros Factory

A true example of when East meets West, this snack combines the main elements of one of my favourite Malay kuihs and comfort foods to create a new type of crunchy dough pastry that’s guaranteed to take the Singapore street-food scene by storm if it is ever going to be popularised. Garnished with grated coconut and drizzled with gula melaka syrup (in place of cinnamon sugar), these Asian-themed churros exude a pleasantly fragrant pandan aroma that’s incredibly inviting.

Chilli Crab Mantou (S$8 for 6 pieces) at The Quarters

Chilli Crab Mantou (S$8 for 6 pieces) at The Quarters

Duriancanboleh (S$7 for 1/ S$12 for 2) at The Quarters

Duriancanboleh (S$7 for 1/ S$12 for 2/ S$30 for 6) at The Quarters

Duriancanboleh (S$7 for 1/ S$12 for 2/ S$30 for 6) at The Quarters

Duriancanboleh (S$7 for 1/ S$12 for 2/ S$30 for 6) at The Quarters

The Duriancanboleh (or durian crème brûlée) was the star of the night. Served in a palm-sized aluminium cup, the fusion dessert is topped with a warm layer of scorched sugar crust that cracks upon impact with the spoon to unveil a perfectly creamy and fluffy custard underneath. The decadent custard, infused with durian essence, was cold and sweet but not too overpowering. It was so gratifying and addictive it had me gagging for more!

Assorted Crisps/Peanut Candy (S$3.50 per packet) at Thye Moh Chan

Assorted Crisps/Peanut Candy (S$3.50 per packet) at Thye Moh Chan

Tau Sar Piah at Thye Moh Chan

Tau Sar Piah at Thye Moh Chan

Tau Sar Piah at Thye Moh Chan

Tau Sar Piah at Thye Moh Chan

Tau Sar Piah at Thye Moh Chan

Tau Sar Piah at Thye Moh Chan

If you feel that your stomach is going to explode from overeating, you can always drop by Thye Moh Chan to get some of their packed to-go munchies. 70-year-old Thye Moh Chan (now run by BreadTalk) is known for its authentic handcrafted pastries such as the famous Tau Sar Piah above which is generously filled with smooth and sweet mung bean paste and encased in a thick and puffy layer of flaky pastry.

What went down my tummy that day

What went down my tummy that day (but obviously these were shared haha)

With so many mouth-watering food to choose from, it’s highly advisable that you go in groups and with an empty stomach so that you can get your hands on all the different types of food while maximising your stomach space. Seats are also very limited so you’d definitely need a partner to hold the table while you get the food.

Also, do note that the stalls only accept cash. You may also want to dress in light, comfortable clothing because it’s gonna be a little stuffy at the fair (and also to hide that bulging tummy after all the binging).

And finally, here’s a floor plan to help you breeze through the final two days of the Singapore Favourite Food Village (you’re welcome):

sffv-2015-floor-plan

[CLICK TO ENLARGE] Breeze through the food village with this handy guide (trust me, you will need it), specially drawn up for you by yours truly

Thanks for reading!

Singapore Favourite Food Village 2015

24 July – 2 August 2015
5:00pm – 11:00 pm
Read Bridge @ Clarke Quay (near Boat Quay)
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (exit C)
Free Admission
Website | Facebook | #SFFV2015

Durian Fiesta 2015 & Taiwan Porridge Buffet @ Goodwood Park Hotel

/ Fiona Seah / 3 Comments

Hey everyone!

It’s the time of the year again when the familiar pungent smell of durians fills the air of Geylang and many neighbourhood centres. Lovers of the world’s smelliest fruit crowd around durian stalls island-wide, looking to sink their teeth into the creamy, sweet (or bitter, if you’d like it to be) and fibrous flesh. Many businesses have also joined in the craze by incorporating the king of fruits into their menu – typically in buffet style – to entice durian lovers like myself who want to try something different. However, prices for such durian feasts tend to be on the high side so I had to narrow my choices down to one. And after much deliberation (RWS’ durian buffet looks really tempting too but is unfortunately way beyond my budget), I decided to give Durian Fiesta at Goodwood Park Hotel a go!

Incepted in 1983, the Durian Fiesta returns annually to much fanfare. This year, to commemorate Singapore’s 50th year of independence, it has also introduced 6 new creations made with D24 durians to the line-up of the durian-centric goodies, twice as many as usual. They are the Instagram-worthy Durian Rainbow Ice Cream Cake, Durian Carrot-Walnut Cake, Mini Durian Chocolate Wafer Rolls, Durian Macarons, Durian Egg Tartlets and “Mao Shan Wang” Horn which can be purchased at the hotel’s Deli starting from 16 March 2015.

The highly-anticipated dessert buffet with durian pastries was only available from 30 May during dinner and lunch at the Coffee Lounge. It was so popular that tables on the first week were fully snapped up when I tried to make my reservations. I had to wait ’til the following Friday to successfully get one :\

For S$35.80++ per person (or top-up S$28.80++ for Dessert Buffet with Durian Pastries with any a la carte main
course order), patrons would be treated to a nice selection of food at the buffet table, including some of the new creations that can be quite expensive if bought à la carte (à la carte prices in brackets).

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Durian puffs, one of the signature items offered at the buffet (U.P. S$8.55 for 2 pieces; S$21.40 for 6 pieces; S$51.35 for 20 pieces)

A signature at Goodwood Park Hotel, these pretty puffs have lavish swirls of creamy D24 durian carefully wedged between fluffy choux pastry cases.

I loved the thick and intensified durian puree and it’s such a fun pastry to eat because you can easily pop a few of these into your mouth due to its small size! But I felt that the puffs would be a lot nicer if they were refrigerated. Those I had were kept in room temperature for some time so it kinda lacked the shiok factor.

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Durian Mousse Cake (U.P. S$11.75 per slice; S$68.50 for 1.3kg cake; S$128.40 for 2.5kg cake; S$176.55 for 3.5kg cake)

The star that launched the inaugural Durian Fiesta in 1983, this legendary cake is ultimate indulgence with generous lashings of pulpy D24 durian mousse.

Probably the main highlight of this buffet, the cake scores high on presentation (love the little cubes of durian pastry studded on it) and taste. Described by my boyfriend as thick, moist and delicious, the cake was 100% pure rich durian which can be quite gelat (Singaporean slang for flavour overdose caused be having something overly sweet, salty, spicy and etc.) after a while so unless you’re obsessed with durians, you wouldn’t want to go beyond one slice.

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Durian Cappuccino Cake, back by demand after a 3-year absence (U.P.  $11.75 per slice; $62.05 for whole cake weighing 1 kg)

Back for the first time since its inception in 2011, this alluring cake is a 30cm-long stack of cappuccino
mousse, lush durian mousse and chocolate sponge ensconced in yellow-gold crumbs of vanilla sponge.

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Durian Macarons (U.P.  S$22.45 for 6 pieces)

Given a local slant are these French confections comprising creamy, pulpy durian sandwiched between crisp dark chocolate shells – simple, but satisfyingly decadent.

As a macaron lover, I was really looking forward to the durian macarons at the buffet! But they left me rather disappointed because I didn’t think that the (mild taste of) dark chocolate complemented well with the durian center. Boyfriend, on the other hand, felt that he was overdosing on sugar. You know, as boring as it may sound, I seriously wouldn’t mind if the macarons were made entirely of durians. Wouldn’t that be awesome?! 🙂

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Durian Wafer Roll (U.P. S$32.10 for 10 pieces)

Delicate in size but brimming with flavour, these thick wafer cylinders curled around pulpy durian cream are blanketed in dark chocolate and finished with chopped nuts for extra crunch.

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Making of Durian Crêpe

Making of Durian Crêpe

Making of Durian Crêpe

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Durian Crêpe (U.P. S$9.65 per piece; S$68.50 for 8 pieces)

Featuring creamy durian pulp neatly enveloped in ultra-thin crepe, this stellar dessert makes for a simple yet satisfying treat.

The mini durian crêpe was prepared in full view of the patrons and regularly replenished because they ran out so quickly. But we personally felt that they were nothing short of ordinary. The palm-sized crêpe was thin and not crispy at all (the chef could perhaps leave them on the pan for a little longer). Its only saving grace was the generous amount of durian puree wedged in the middle.

The above pastries pretty much constitute more than three-quarter of the durian dessert buffet. As you can see, not all the much-hyped new creations were included in the buffet. The food choices were indeed very limited too (in fact I was kinda astounded to see the limited selection of food the first time I entered the restaurant) and I wouldn’t recommend paying close to S$40 (seriously, with that kind of price for a substandard buffet, I’d rather spend it all on a few kilograms of 红虾 durians) for it despite the presence of regular sweet treats to make up for the shortcoming. Don’t expect to leave the place with a satisfied tummy if you’re merely there for the dessert buffet.

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Other food items available: Chocolate Banana Cake

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Sour Sop

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Rocher Roll

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Cheesecake, if my memory doesn’t fail me. It’s actually not bad!

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Ang Ku Kueh

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Kueh Lapis Sagu

Knowing that the dessert buffet wouldn’t fill us up, Boyfriend and I had opted for the Taiwan porridge à la carte buffet which is also inclusive of the dessert buffet with durian pastries. Although slightly more costly at S$49.80++ per person, the price difference of S$14++ gives you full access to free flow of sweet potato porridge and classic dishes so that you can eat to your hearts’ content. Furthermore, each guest also gets to enjoy 1 serving of D24 Durian Ice Cream with Rainbow Bread, created in celebration of the nation’s golden jubilee. Without a doubt, this buffet steals the limelight with its much wider variety and bigger portions of food as compared to the dessert buffet and it would be foolish not to settle for this buffet option when you’re there. After all, it’s what Goodwood Park Hotel is well-known for!

All dishes were freshly prepared in the kitchen and served to our table. Here’s what we ordered:

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Taiwanese Sausage (appetiser)

Apart from Taiwanese sausages, there were also Salted Fish with Salted Egg, Baby Squids in Sweet Oyster Sauce, Fried Taman Fish with Sesame Seeds and Shredded Bamboo Shoots with Chilli Oil that you can order for appetisers.

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Fried Omelette with Prawns and Onions

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Fried Omelette with Chye Poh

“When in doubt, choose both.” Hence, we got two different types of fried omelette because we simply couldn’t choose. Both were good and loaded with generous servings of prawns and chye poh. The omelette itself was thick and perfectly golden too!

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Wok Fried Beef with Black Pepper

Tender and tasty, the beef slices were sublime with the right chewy texture and I enjoyed it thoroughly. It would be better if more black pepper was sprinkled onto the beef though.

Another beef dish on the menu was Wok Beef with Spring Onions and Ginger which sounds absolutely mouth-watering, I know. I would order that as well if my stomach hadn’t filled to maximum capacity. 😐

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Stir Fried Kai Lan with Oyster Sauce

I ordered some greens to complete the meal and to hopefully relieve some of my body heat (from eating too much junk food recently). The Kai Lan was fresh and super crunchy. I loved it so much that I even called for a second serving.

Not a fan of Kai Lan? No worries. There are also other vegetable dishes to choose from including Stir Fried Broccoli with Garlic, Stir Fried French Beans with Dried Shrimps, Stir Fried Bean Sprouts with Salted Fish, Stir Fired Eggplant with Minced Pork and Stir Fried Kang Kong with Sambal. With so many varieties to choose from, you’re bound to find something you like or excites your palate 🙂

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Sautéed Chicken with Dried Chilli (宫保鸡丁)

Soft and savoury, the diced chicken glistened with the tangy coating sauce. The dried chilli also gave it an added tinge of spiciness. Yummy! 🙂

Also available are Sautéed Chicken with Spring Onions and Ginger, Fried Chicken with Prawn Paste (虾酱鸡) and Stir Fried Chicken with Black Beans. The menu also includes pork dishes such as Muy Choy with Pork, Steamed Minced Pork with Prawn Paste, Braised Pork Belly with Dark Soya Sauce and Shredded Pork with Preserved Vegetables.

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Steamed Sea Bass with Crispy Bean Paste

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Steamed Sea Bass with Crispy Bean Paste

The highlight of the meal, we had our money’s worth out of this steamed Sea Bass. The fish was reasonably big for 2 people and had incredibly fresh and tender flesh. The layer of fried garlic enhanced the overall flavour of the fish and gave it an extra crunch (saying this even though I absolutely detest fried garlic because I accidentally took a bite of the fish with some fried garlic and actually liked it!).

Unfortunately, fish dishes are only limited to one order per table so we didn’t get to try the other fish item on the menu – Deep Fried Pomfret with Black Soya Sauce. However, you get to enjoy unlimited serving of the Sautéed Prawns with Dried Chilli which is also on the seafood menu.

As we were already partially satiated from the durian buffet, we didn’t have the stomach space for more porridge dishes such as beancurd (boyfriend’s favourite). Beancurd lovers would be ecstatic to know that there are 4 different types of beancurd dishes to choose from namely Chilled Beancurd in Japanese Soya Sauce and Pork Floss, Braised Beancurd with Minced Meat, Braised Beancurd with Chicken and Salted Fish and Home Styled Tofu.

Towards the end of the meal, we were served the D24 Durian Ice Cream with Rainbow Bread but to our disappointment, it turned out to be entirely different from what we had expected.

We got this:

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

D24 Durian Ice Cream with Rainbow Bread (S$7.50++)

..when we were actually expecting this:

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

Durian Rainbow Ice Cream Cake (S$11.75++)

Imagine our surprise when we were served the actual Durian Ice Cream with Rainbow Bread. I couldn’t help but feel slightly cheated. 😦

Granted, it was probably our fault for misreading the name but surely Goodwood Park Hotel could have done a better job at coming up with a more distinctive name for the rainbow bread, right? Or perhaps, place a picture of the product somewhere on the menu to avoid confusion (especially) among first-timers like us because I’m sure we weren’t the only ones being misled.

But anyway, we tried the one with the rainbow bread (a scoop of D24 durian ice cream sandwiched between bread) and subsequently bought a piece of the Durian Rainbow Ice Cream Cake (a layer of vivid-coloured cake hugging the core of the D24 durian ice cream) before we left the restaurant. Countless photos of the latter have been making the rounds on various social media platforms so it was absolutely necessary to try it or my durian buffet experience would be incomplete. Both of them contain luscious D24 durian ice cream but of course, the one embedded in the Durian Rainbow Ice Cream Cake was bigger, richer and more satisfying which tasted a lot like the actual fruit. For S$11.75++, you’re actually paying for the novelty. It’s delectable but a little too expensive for a cake slightly bigger than the size of my.. palm? Still, I’d recommend durian lovers to give it a try 🙂

On the overall, the dessert buffet with durian pastries was a hit or miss and definitely not worth the price tag. But the Taiwan porridge à la carte buffet was commendable and certainly warrants a second visit.

Durian Fiesta Price Options (16 Mar 2015 – 2 Aug 2015)

– $35.80++ per person (Dessert Buffet with Durian Pastries only)
– $28.80++ per person (Top-up of Dessert Buffet with Durian Pastries with any a la carte main course order)
– $49.80++ per adult, $24.90++ per child (Taiwan Porridge A La Carte Buffet, inclusive of Dessert Buffet with Durian Pastries)

Dine-in prices are subject to 10% service charge and prevailing GST. Child price is for children aged 6 – 11 years

That’s all I have for this review!

Thanks for reading ❤

Goodwood Park Hotel
22 Scotts Road
Singapore 228221
Durian Fiesta: 16 March 2015 – 2 August 2015
Deli operating hours: 9:00am to 9:00pm
Coffee Lounge operating hours: 12:00pm to 2:30pm (lunch),
6:00pm to 10:30pm (dinner)
Tel: 6737 7411
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Reservations