Carnival-Themed Afternoon Tea at 1864 at Sofitel Singapore City Centre

In the mood for some fun, I popped by with the kids for the Carnival-Themed Afternoon Tea at 1864 at Sofitel Singapore City Centre. For those who are unsure, Sofitel Singapore City Centre is conveniently located beside Tanjong Pagar Mrt Station. 

An interesting highlight about this high tea was how it swapped the savory and sweets. My boy calls it a hearty joke. As we were pretty game, we didn't refer to the menu which listed the ingredients and ate our way through. Most were great surprises and my boy had a lot of fun pranking his sister and the husband. 

Priced at S$68++ per pax (minimum 2 to dine), which is quite standard for most high teas, you get to enjoy the high ceiling and posh area of the Sofitel Singapore City Centre. One thing that stood out was the impeccable service. My girl was fussing a lot and a staff quickly came over to offer them coloring tools. My girl broke into a smile again and my day was saved. 

The whole set doesn't shortchange anyone in terms of taste. Unlike the norm where it was defined strictly either sweet or savory, each item was a nice combination of the 2. Thus, it was not very surfeiting and we could finish everything in a sitting. Psss... book via Klook for best price. Only from now till 15 June from 2pm to 5pm. 

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Carnival-Themed Afternoon Tea: https://www.klook.com/en-SG/activity/54049-1864-bar-lounge-reservation-sofitel-singapore-city-centre/

** To get additional discounts, you can use the discount code "BABYNFAMKLOOK" when you book through Klook for a 5% Discount. Applicable to All Klook Activities with min. spend of SGD50. Discount capped at SGD15.

Pacific Emporium - Festive High Tea

We have been to their high tea before and really enjoyed it. Usually, we would go in the weekdays because it is easier to get a "spaceship". This is the first time we tried a weekend slot and I really enjoyed the "buffet style". Unlike before where we will basically be served one of each item, there was no cake tower and we could more of the items we really liked. 

Because it was the Christmas season, we got to enjoy special treats such as the beef wellington, roasted turkey breast and pork roulade. To be quite frank, I never quite fancy these dishes. But maybe it is because I never tasted anything astonishing. The serving here was so good, I ended up having 2 plates of them. 

For those who are particular about presentation, you might be slightly disappointed because there is no fancy cake stand. But I think the quantity of food really make up for it. It is a high tea that fills you up. Also, I love that they had a stand that served prawn noodle soup to warm the tummy. It was actually a great way to chill, and catch up during the festive season. If you want an more affordable buffet, this is a nice place to check out. 

S$78++ per person

S$39++ per person

Wishing all my readers a very blessed and wonderful Christmas!

Pacific Emporium - Peranakan Afternoon Tea

Back at our favourite tea-place - Pacific Emporium. We have been there once and couldn't stop telling how nice the place was and good the food was to the husband (who didn't join us previously). So, it was only fair to experience it with him this time round so he doesn't feel to left out. Pacific Emporium is truly one of most guarded gems of Singapore. 

For ambience, you get a private cubicle (the kids to love to call it a space ship) and it is surrounded by water, giving you the waterside vibes. If you look up, you get to enjoy skylight and a gorgeous low-angle view of the place's architecture. Every time I am here, I just can't help taking different angled shots.

The tea menu was Peranakan-inspired (my favourite!) For those who enjoy the savoury food, you would love that this set comes with 2 mini local delight mains. There were 4 options and we picked the Nonya Laksa and the Babi Pongteh. Both were really good even as standalone dishes themselves. As a whole, this could totally serve as a late lunch. Even with the 2 kids to help with the nibbles, we still ended up bringing home leftovers. 

This set came with 2 set of beverages each, which keep you well hydrated throughout. For families of 4 (with young children under 12 year old), this works well because everyone can have a drink. This time round, it comes with an additional welcome drink - Nonya Bloom which my daughter really loved. 

The treats were super beautiful as always. The "Fish Tank" jelly was particularly beautiful and tasty too. The Hazelnut Praline Puff was quickly gobbled up by my children. The savory treats were slight fusion, but not too much such that it lost its Peranakan roots. I particularly love the Nyonya “Kerabu” with Baby Abalone. Yums. 

For weekend, it is S$68++ and kids under 6YO dine for free. 2 seatings at 1pm and 4pm. So you can do a late lunch or early dinner. I personally prefer the 1pm slot. 2 hours is a pretty good timing to set aside so that you can chill and soak in the good vibes <3

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** To get additional discounts, you can use the discount code "BABYNFAMKLOOK" when you book through Klook for a 5% Discount. Applicable to All Klook Activities with min. spend of SGD50. Discount capped at SGD15.

Most Scenic Afternoon Tea - Pacific Emporium

 

Check out their atrium of Pan Pacific, can you believe it - we had our afternoon tea at the floating pods. This must be the biggest secret of afternoon tea history. The 2 toddlers joined and called the pods the spaceship. :P They spent a good deal of time walking across the bridge and coming back to the mothership for their beverage or snacks.

As a parent, sometimes I do get affected when others give us "the glare" when the children misbehave. The beauty of these pods was that it provided a private space. Also, sound don't really travel from one pod to another.  You can have good conversations without fear of disturbance - either from others or to others. 

Like other tea sets, each set comes with 3 tiered. If you have been following my tea journey, you would know that I prefer tea sets are less surfeiting. In terms of aesthetics, the set at  Pacific Emporium was delicately made, each worthy of a photo of its own. You will be pleased to hear that each piece is as tasty as it looks. I love all but was particularly impressed with the Singapore Chilli Crab Meat in Egg Custard with Mini Bun and Coconut Bandung with Chendol.

As we went on the weekday, we had the exclusive Raspberry Sakura Red Velvet and Pulut Hitam Brûlée Mousse. Weekday sets are cheaper priced at $68++ per person. However, if you are into a more "buffet-like" tea session, you may want to consider going on a weekend. For an extra $10 per pax, you can get to enjoy 5 live stations serving our local favourites, such as prawn noodle, assam laksa, rojak etc. 

Not because we are self-obsessed but because of the gorgeous ambience, we ended up taking a lot of photos as well. I am baffled why this isn't the top place to enjoy afternoon tea because this place just top my charts. The floating pod is definitely one-of-a-kind and the food was really good. As we couldn't finish all, we ended up bringing some back to share with the rest of the family. The food still maintained its standards. Even the pickiest in our household gave the affirmation nod. 

If you like local food and is looking for some fusion or a twist, do try this out. For tea, it is quite reasonably priced. And with the floating pod experience, it is an absolute bang for your bucks. I don't usually say this but you must check it out!

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** To get additional discounts, you can use the discount code "BABYNFAMKLOOK" when you book through Klook for a 5% Discount. Applicable to All Klook Activities with min. spend of SGD50. Discount capped at SGD15.

Tea - Not just for 2

Not every group comes in pairs or even numbers, that's my grouse when it comes to tea. Was pretty please with Rose Veranda at Shangri La. Unlike other tea experience, this is per person at S$68++ which means you could come in groups of odd numbers. Extremely value for money, it comes with the savories, a main (yes you didn't read me wrong) and even free-flow desserts!

To get a bigger bang for your bucks, I would suggest having this as lunch instead with your group. Just having a tiny morsel of each item at the desserts buffet is bound to fill you up. I love how this tea session did not shortchange us in any way. The items served at the desserts bar were of quality and good to be served on its own. They were not just "tummy fillers" or food that was just pretty to the eyes. 

Like typical Asians, we decided to try different mains on the menu. We tried the Grilled Angus Hanger Steak, Herb Crusted Confit Salmon and Marget Duck Breast. In terms of taste, the steak was the best. But if you are a guy and needs something that can fill you up more, I would suggest the salmon. There was also the vegetarian version - Honey Carmelised Baby Carrots for your vegetarian friends. 

If you are a scone-person like me, you will be happy to hear that their scones is probably one of the best I have tasted in Singapore. For the desserts bar, my favourite was the sinful chocolate cake. It was those rare moments which I indulged in a whole slice. Oops. 

The Rose Veranda at Shangri La is truly a delightful place. Every inch it is instagrammable. Even my Mum wanted a model shot. LOL! My kids preferred the seat which you could look down and watch the Kois swimming around. This table is near the entrance so it may lack a bit of privacy. It will be available from Friday to Sunday from 12pm to 5pm. If you don't have any lunch plans in your calendar yet, do make a date there. Remember, tea is more than a thing for 2. *Winks*

Shangri La: Inspire Inclusion High Tea Review

It is international Woman's Day and it is no better time to celebrate my mother (and myself). After becoming a mother myself, I have learnt to appreciate my own mother more. My Mum never stops mothering. Even now as a grandmother, she will be seen "mothering" my children so that I can take a breather, achieve career goals and basically stay sane. 

This Woman's Day, we brought her to the Inspire Inclusion High Tea for Two Persons at Shangri La. The portion is definitely good for 2, but we brought along 2 more mini humans because their company bring more joy to my Mum than me. LOL. 

One of the other reason why I was confident enough to bring 2 kids on my own to meet my mother there is because Shangri La is quite a spacious hotel and has plenty of room for my kids to roam about. Also, I know the hotel well enough to find scenic spots to entertain my children (even without Buds) and the toilets locations for emergency diaper changes :D

The Inspire Inclusion High Tea was held at the Lobby Lounge and the high ceiling diffuse the loud voices of my children. (No discreet stares from others.) The High Tea itself ranks high on my list. It was not surfeiting and it was easy on the palette. We finished every single morsel. We also appreciate the effort the chef made to make most items in the shade of purple, in line with the colour of their partnering non-profit organisation United Women Singapore (UWS).

The set cost S$98+ and for every set purchased, S$5 goes to UWS and support their causes. The Inspire Inclusion High Tea will be available till 31 Mar 2024. Personally, I think this is a tea set that gets both our tummies and heart and is an awesome place to bring a woman that inspires you to. Just to break the notion that kids are not welcome at tea time. Here's a place which you can embrace your children should you bring to bring them along. 

The savory items on the tea menu is less suitable for the children, but they are bound to love the sweet stuff and scones. Top it up with some fruit juice, their day is made. We even drop by the bakery to get something special, but we will save that for our next post :P

Food Tour 24: Tea Time Special

Decided to consolidate a post dedicated to tea-time because this girl here loves coffee, tea and her sweet treats. 

1. Cedele Afternoon High Tea Set ($58 for 2)

The Afternoon High Tea Set is only available at Cedele MBS. Personally, I don't find it as value for money as raved by many. The food is decent, was a bit bummed by the fact that there was no refills and the portion was not enough to be lunch. (Yes, I wanted to have it for late lunch).

It was also quite understaffed that day so it was difficult for me to just catch the attention of any service person. My kid was nonetheless happy, attacking the fires and chocolate pastries. 

2. Bacha

I came across the fancy store not knowing that they are more known for their coffee and took away some nice-looking pastries. The packaging is impeccable. They even gave a card folder like thing for the receipt. In terms of taste, the pastries taste pretty good but are rather small. And maybe it is just me, I still prefer the pastries from Tiong Bahru Bakery. My FIL (a home baker) explained that both croissants are made from different methods and hence the different textures but both are very exquisite. 

Update: We tried the coffee and I didn't like it. Too fancy for me maybe? 

3. Hvala

I might have saved the best for last because this is my favourite teahouse. I have tried their matcha products and seasame ice-cream and always leave feeling so satisfied. It might just be my life goal to try all their selection one day. I have even went a step further and purchase tea leaves from them. Guess you can tell how much I like their products. You can also join their tea appreciation experiences should you be keen :)

It's tea time!

 I really miss going out, I truly do. To make myself feel better, I sort of brought the nice high-tea deliveries to the comfort of my own home. Surprisingly, I enjoy feasting in my pjs and being a messy eater, no need to be pretentious! I even turned on a movie and the air-con. Luxurious without breaking my pocket!

If you are a coffee lover, you have to check this out! Aroma Coffee released a set of 6 tea-infused coffee beverages ($42). You can't pick and choose but it is a nice set to share within the family. Flavours include the traditional Dirty Earl, Perky Peppermint and Creme Caramel. Special shoutout to the Summer Blossom (blend of fruits and white tea) as well as Mellow Melon, you probably can't find anything similar outside!

Each bottle contains a double shot of the specialty Espresso and fresh milk so you can still taste the coffee. The flavouring in no way overpowers the coffee and does enhance the taste and experience. Do try if you are looking for some pampering and indulgence. 

If your pockets are filling full, you can also order Conrad's Language of Flowers Afternoon Tea ($85.60) to go with your coffee. It is a very pretty and intricate set for sure. Top up to $100 and you can save $23.90 of delivery fees. We ended up getting the waygu and foie gras burger set ($22) so that we could get free delivery. The burgers were not fantastic though. 

Some of pieces were hits in the tea set while others were misses. I partially value a good scone and was rather upset that it wasn't up to expectation. I have a sweet tooth so I can finish up my own portion my husband felt surfieted halfway through. The good thing about having it at home...you can save it for later and share with other family members :D More bang for your bucks/ lesser waste!

HK High Tea: Yum Cha at Marco Polo Hotel

When most people are in Hong Kong, you are bound to "yum cha" aka drink tea. But after yumming so much tea, we really wanted to try out the English High Tea. Yes, I am quite a fan of high tea now since the last one we had in NZ (you can read more here!

If you are in Hong Kong from 21 May to 31 Aug, check out the British Wardrobe Afternoon Tea. Inspired by Phase Eight and elements of Britain, the talented pastry chefs at Marco Polo Hotel have created the stylish afternoon tea with nine sweet items and four savoury teatime treats to showcase a gorgeous ‘wardrobe’ .

I am not kidding when it is a whole wardrobe. And do drop by on an empty stomach as the set is substantial. We totally had difficulty munching down everything because of its sheer volume and aesthetics. Everything is so pretty you will start off the whole journey feasting with your eyes, your phone then your mouth.

Every piece is so intricately made, it seems to do such injustice to the chef if you don't capture each and every one of them. I have to admit, half the time I was playing with my phone, arranging it left and right and trying out different combination (Sheepish).

On the whole, the taste of the pastries also come with an element of surprise, particularly for the savory one. There is more dimension to the taste, so you may not like all that is being served. Nonetheless, they provide a good break in taste to the rest of the sweet delectables. For the sweet pastries, they are generally at a good level of sweetness and in no way fall into the category of "surfeiting".

My personal favourites are the New York Cheesecake with Blueberry, Strawberry Roll and Raspberry Cupcake. The Hubs thought their mango tarts were really good. Go in pairs for the tea and you will get to enjoy it at a discounted rate of $488 for two persons (Psss it cost $368 for one person). Although I am not sure if the hubs was the right partner to go with, because this tea set definitely appeals to the ladies more.

A huge shout-out to the tea itself, cos the selection was amazing. Instead of trying the usuals, I opted for a rose tea which pleasantly surprised me. It was so good. I think I slurped down 3 pots of it. And the ambience is amazing (though the dim lights is challenging for photography). There was a pianist in the background. After long walks on the unfriendly, wet streets of Hong Kong, it felt so good to sink in the couch and just...chill.

And because I was so comfy, I was in the mood to take tons of selfies. Oh yea here's a photo of me devouring a headless white chocolate figurine (comes with the tea by the way). I swore not to eat it and really wanted to tabao it home...but erm everything must try right and you know what it tasted really good, I shouldn't have saved it for last.

Best of Dunedin: Larnach Castle

Honestly, Dunedin was one of my least favourite cities in New Zealand. But if you happen to pop over there for whatever reason, the one place you should really consider going is Larnach Castle. It is one of the only two castles in New Zealand.

For our package, it came with the high-tea. Though it not very cheap, it was definitely enjoyable acting wealthy. Haha. The sandwiches and pastries were yummy and it came with a pot of tea each. I can totally understand why the royalties love their tea time...relaxing and tranquil.

The refurbishment of Larnach Castle is a private project and I was really impressed with the dedication and effort put in by the Barker family. From a worn-down place, the family have re-built the gardens and restored the house to its former glory. Please do save some time to explore the house and gardens because it is really different from other castles we have seen elsewhere.

And that's because...the castle is rather spooky. The previous owners of the house met lots of unfortunate event, suicides, murders, backstabs...You are basically allowed to enter every room, and every crank, so it feels real and not curated. So real, you never feel truly alone. Gulp.

Also, the current owners have made tremendous effort to bring back the items used by their previous owner. Rusty tubs, old baby cots....all these brings chills down my spine. If I were to come at night, this place might scare the shit out of me. But if you manage to survive all the way to the top, you will be rewarded with a beautiful sight.

It is quite a beautiful place. If you have the opportunity, you should also book a night to stay in its refurbished stable. Give the high tea a miss if need be, but don't skip the gardens and the castle!