I know that the famous Michelin Star dim sum Tim Ho Wan has arrived in town. But if you are unwilling to beat that looooooooooooong queue at Plaza Singapure, may i suggest another comfortable alternative- Bosses at Vivocity.

While it may not be 1 star quality, prices are affordable, location is convenient, ambience isn't too shady and the dim sum are generally quite consistent. I was first introduced to it by a girlfriend because the 30% discount at tea time seemed quite appealing to us. Available from Mon to Sat from  2.30pm to 5.30pm, this is a pretty good deal for what is usually priced at $4-6 per box of little bites. And we were not disappointed. I've eaten here a couple of times following that first visit and it satisfies this hungry tummy.    

Appetizer of fried fish skin. I know it looks eeeky and all and i have always avoided this dish until my recent trip to Bosses. The auntie server convinced me that it's great with the sweet chili and well.. it didn't turn out as bad as i've imagined. It's just like keropok aka fish crackers. 

One of my usual orders at Bosses is their Salted Egg Yolk Custard Bun or Liu Sha Bao. The skin of the steamed bun is soft and fluffy and the golden sauce inside was of the right level of saltiness and viscosity. There was also a light coconut perfume that i can never seem to place but anything goes as long as it's tasty. This is one of the better ones around in Singapore.

Fat juicy and flavorful prawns in my Har Gow. I would like the prawns to be a little bouncier but i wouldn't say that the mix is too powdery. My twin's seafood/prawn craving was satisfied.

 The meat dumplings, Siew Mai, was also topped with pretty butterflied prawns. I love how the meat wasn't too minced up that they lose their chewiness. Very substantial unlike the regular steamed siew mais in lesser establishments. The meat was also well marinated and fragrant. 

The steamed gyoza or dumpling was quite good too even with all that vegetables in them. :P

Not sure what's this. I forgot what it was, only that it was quite delicious. I believe it's some beancurd skin with stuffed prawns and then wrapped with the the thin sheets of chee cheong fun (steamed rice flour rolls). Like i said before, the prawn filling never fails to satisfy and this is one cool alternative to the regular chee cheong fun. 

If you happen to be shopping in Vivocity, Bosses is a good option for a late lunch or tea. 

Bosses
1 HarbourFront Walk
#02-156 / 157 Vivocity
Tel: +65 6376 9740
Mon - Thu & Sun: 10am - 10pm
Fri - Sat: 10am - 10.30pm

[Media Invite] 

It's been a while since my last leisurely afternoon tea. Once a fixture in my weekend plans, this relaxing activity has been shoved to the bottom on my weekend to do list because it takes up quite a fair bit of time. :( I almost forgot how enjoyable it is till my little Gourmet High Tea buffet at Pan Pacific Orchard Singapore. 

I'm never a fan of buffet because it promotes gluttony. I don't believe in gorging myself silly just to get my money's worth. Give me quality over quantity anytime. Pan Pacific Orchard and i share the same sentiments on buffet and it shows through their tapas concept high tea in its newly rejuvenated Lobby Lounge. 

There is a nice spread of pastries, cheeses, little sandwiches and plenty of desserts. It's a perfect place to catch up with girlfriends over little quality bites that complements rather than take the attention away from the company.

High tea is available daily but during weekends, guests get to relish in three of their most popular and well received Plates of Pleasures, including the recently Global Hotel Alliance-Awarded Famous Peddlers Char Kway Teow, prepared à la minute. Chef Andy’s recipe was selected from more than 160 recipes submitted
by chefs from Global Hotel Alliance member hotels such as Marco Polo, Kempinski and Pan Pacific across 56 countries.

I love that the noodles are not oily like the usual black char kway teow. This is also not as cloyingly sweet. The fragrant dried shrimps and huge prawns had me at the first bite. I must say Penang Char Kway Teow is my thing.

The Assam Laksa packs in the acidity and though the udon-ish rice noodles is quite unlike the chewy and transparent one that i had in Malacca, it was rather appetizing. For the additional flavor, mix in the pungent fermented prawn paste served by the side.

The Prawn Noodles was also quite delicious with pork belly served instead of pork ribs. This gives the soup a tinge of sweetness. Truth be told, when i first read about these Asian dishes in the press release, i didn't quite see how they would fit into the gourmet high tea concept. But you see, presentation is everything and you can see how hearty food is served in a chic black pot. 

These dishes are a la carte and are prepared when you order them. Feel free to order more after you've finished them. I would go for seconds and thirds of that fried kway teow. Yums.

Another highlight of the weekends is the two live stations serving Swiss Cottage Melting Raclette and Spanish-Bred Iberian-Cured Ham. Love the grilled zucchinis and baby asparagus that lovingly accompanied them.

If you love cheeses, you'll love the tea here. My favorites are the Long Clawson Chili and Lime, Black Pepper Cheddar and the Wensleydale Cranberry. Just eating these are enough for me.

Desserts are delicately prepared. I enjoyed the Blueberry cheesecake served in the form of a Chinese Pau. The brownie and the coffee soaked sponge layers in the Opera were also delightful. Sip on the free flow Pacific coffee or TWG teas. Change your drinks when you feel like it. The signature Iced Apple Tea was very soothing to the tummy as well.
The Gourmet High Tea Buffet is available daily from Monday to Friday ($28++) and Saturday and Sunday ($38++). From 1 February until 30 March 2013, Pan Pacific Orchard Singapore is having an opening promotional offer of one dines free for every two paying adults everyday. Now how about some tea party with the girls?

Pan Pacific Orchard, Singapore
10 Claymore Road
Tel: +65 6831 6685
Daily Afternoon High Tea Buffet: 2 - 5pm

An English wave recently hit our sunny shores and had caused a tsunami of people to appear in a matter of minutes when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited. While i do like Kate and her impeccable work dressing pretty much, poor people like us are actually too busy at work and we hardly have the time to exercise in the park. Especially not so when the sun is blazing hot at 3pm.

Anyway, for those of you who are still hung up over the fact that you have missed the Royal Couple, here is a spot of English Afternoon tea to cheer you up. Introducing the Mandarin Oriental's Axis Bar & Lounge.

There are many things to love about 3 tiered English Afternoon tea. 1. It's very royal and dainty. 2. Butter, sugar and flour are my best friends 3. A pot of Earl Grey soothes all tension and stress. I'm sure the Duchess would approve of this wonderful English tea at the Axis Bar.

Being a mega tea fan, i've tried most of the noteworthy afternoon tea sets in Singapore- Ritz Carlton, Regent, St. Regis, Fullerton, Fullerton Bay etc. But i've always remembered this to be one of the better, if not the best all rounded tea place in Singapore.

Located on the 4th floor of Mandarin Oriental, Axis Bar provides a great view of the Marina Bay/Civic District (that's what they call the CBD area on our tourist maps). It's very idyllic and soothing, knowing that you are not stuck in a cubby hole working like bees. My little eye also spotted the F1 tracks from my comfy plush seat. Great place to hang out for the upcoming F1 Weekend!

Tea started off with some savory puffs. It's weird that they only gave 1 item each for sharing among 2. On hindsight, it's a thoughtful gesture because we wouldn't have been able to finish our tea set otherwise. The pastries were well executed. I love the quiches here and they rotate the flavors daily. The Potato Bacon and Spinach quiches had the right filling to puff tart ratio and the centre was moist and flavorful.

One thing that irks me about Afternoon Tea sets in Singapore, is the lack of attention paid to the savory items such as the sandwiches. How is it ok that the mass produced and common place items like off-the-shelf white bread and Kraft cheese are used when one is paying premium price for them? (Hello Regent, that's you.) Axis Bar trumps most in this aspect. I love the mini muffins that they use for the Roast Beef and Truffle Egg Mayonnaise sandwiches. Rye crispbread was used as a base for the Smoked Salmon Cheese bite and premium cheese for the simple Ham and cheese sandwich.

The sweets were a mix of light and intense flavors; crisp and smooth textures. They were delicately made and incredibly tasty. We could hardly find fault with any of them. I especially enjoyed the Chocolate and Orange tart and was surprised at how the rich dark cocoa could be so light.  Worthy of mention is also the Salted Caramel Macaron, even though the texture is a tad too soft.

The Mango Kallis Lime creme was a great spread on the Scones. My friend accidentally discovered that combination when she mistook it for the preserves.

The Home made Raisin Scones were to die for. These are probably the most delicious mini scones in Singapore. The other mini scones that i know of at Marmalade Pantry were too dry for my liking. These were moist and dense in the middle and the yellow sun dried raisins lent a light sweetness to the buttery flour. Goes best with the rich clotted cream that we couldn't get enough of.

For S$38 each (or S$65 for 2), you'll be able to enjoy the daily tea set. I would say it's the more reasonably priced hotel tea sets around. Free flow coffee or a pot of TWG tea (refillable) is provided, or if you wish, the champagne option is also available.

More on the other tea places soon!

Axis Bar & Lounge

5 Raffles Avenue, Mandarin Oriental

Singapore 039797

Tel: +65 6885 3098

Daily Afternoon Tea: 3pm–5pm

Media Invite

I guess people must have picked up on my love for caffeine and my afternoon tea indulgence. Well Gryphon Tea Company sure did! Was invited by FoodNews to learn more about the Gryphon Tea and FIJI Water partnership on their new Grand Cru Collection. Fine tasting tea and fine tasting water? Count me in.

The collaboration doesn't come as a surprise to me. The quality of water as essential in brewing a good pot of tea as are the leaves, which have to be fresh and of high quality.“The leaves need to be brewed with water that enhances and not overpowers the delicacies of its natural flavour. FIJI Water, with its clean taste and finish is the perfect water for tea brewing,” says Lim Tian Wee, founder of Gryphon Tea Company.

The Grand Cru Collection includes 10 new single origin tea harvested from the world's best tea regions i.e. China, Japan, and India. The collection is for sophisticated and worldly tea connoisseurs and novices alike. If you would like to learn more about the different teas, get the collector's set (S$390 excluding GST) which consists of 36 different teas in 15g tins. Each section has a short descriptor on the flavor of the tea housed in the sleek tin above it. The box makes a good jewelry case too, as suggested by Tian Wee:)  

The session was held at the Gaggenau Showroom, which was elegant and comfortable. It was almost like fine dining but the main courses were water and tea. This has got to be the healthiest tasting i've attended to date. We started with a water tasting conducted by Ava, representative of FIJI Water and we compared FIJI to spring and distilled water. 

I've always loved FIJI Water for a reason unknown to me till the tasting itself. It's not just the iconic square bottle that appeals to me (Women...), it's really the taste and mouthfeel of the water. The texture is soft and easy on the throat and the balanced mineral content and pH value gives it a light sweetness that isn't overpowering.

Next, Tea master/blender and Director of Gryphon Tea Company, Tian Wee, led us through an insightful lesson on tea appreciation. This is one really humble guy who is passionate about tea making, brewing and drinking. Tian Wee is constantly trying to find out about people's perception of the taste of the tea as everyone will notice different notes in the flavor. He is always on the look out for interesting flavors and blends which he develops based on his travels and experiences, with the latest being the Black Forest Blend created for Gaggenau.

We tried 5 teas from the Grand Cru Collection- Silver Needle (China White tea), Gyokuro Pearl Dew (Japan Green tea), Dan Cong Magnolia (China Oolong tea), Darjeeling Margaret’s Hope 2nd Flush (India Black tea) and Vintage Pu'Erh (China Black tea).

There are several steps to go about appreciating the tea. Things to note would be the appearance of the dried leaves, the scent of the brewed tea leave, as well as colour and and taste of the liquor.

Love the lightness in the Silver Needle White tea. I think i'm in the White tea phase right now. Gryphon tea could be enjoyed at many cafes and the Grand Cru collection could be savoured in true opulence at The Knolls, Capella Singapore (had tea there once, read about it here).

Thanks again to Gryphon Tea Company and FIJI Water for inviting me to the tasting!

Note: All views expressed are personal opinions of the writer and objective in the sense that she's not influenced by anyone. What's the point in writing in something that i do not believe in right? If i think something sucks, i would definitely voice it. So be cool about it people.

Gryphon Tea Company
Gryphon Tea Company will provide a personal doorstep delivery service to each client for an exclusive period. Prices range from S$38 for White Peony tea to S$78 for a Iron Goddess of Mercy tea. Each tin holds 40-80g of premium quality single terroir loose leaf teas.
Tel: +65 6779 2948 (for orders)
Email: grandcru@gryphontea.com

FIJI Water
FIJI Water is now available in 4 sizes in leading supermarkets and selected convenience stores: 1500ml (suggested retail price - S$3.50), 1000ml (suggested retail price - S$3.00), 500ml (suggested retail price - S$1.60), 330ml (suggested retail price S$1.25).

I knew all along that there are some cafes/bakeries along Killiney Road but i was always too lazy to explore the area. That was till S dragged me over to Freshly Baked by Le Bijoux one afternoon before yoga. That was when i realized how much i've been missing out on this whole time! Freshly Baked does a good quality brunch at a central but yet low key location and at a ridiculously reasonable price. I guess that's the end of my loyalty to Wild Honey (nah.. kidding).

The Bakery Cafe has been opened since late 2007 and it offers a variety of Artisan Breads, cakes and pastries. Audrey, Chef/Owner of "Freshly Baked" is a baker who is not much into style but more into substance and that could be seen by the really simple decor and fuss free dining space at FB.

What is really good here is their breads. They are so addictive; they were all i could think about after dining here the first time. I just wanna eat bread all my life if they were this good.

Sandwiches, breads and cakes are available all day (till they run out and they do run out fast). There are 3 Brunch Sets (S$10.90-12.90).  but i'm not sure what time they end. The most popular order is the deli corned beef from Huber’s Butchery paired with baked beans, a fried egg and burger bag bread. While i was there, i tried the Fresh deli Salami served with Emmental cheese, scrambled eggs and olive oil bread (S$12.90).

Even though the scrambled egg was more like omelette (and a little bland), the bread was faultless. It's kinda like an English muffin with the slightly rough exterior but it's moist and dense on the inside and yet it still maintains the slightly fluffiness. I suppose the salami is also from Huber's. I tried stuffing all the ingredients into the bun but failed because there's too much of everything (not complaining)!

Ham and Cheese Sandwich (S$7.50) It looks very dry and hard but in fact it's so fluffy! The Walnut Raisins bread is airy and light and squishy! The towering 10cm tall sandwich is daunting at first but every bite was a juicy delight. The light sweetness of the raisins complements the savory ham shavings really well. Perfect sweet and savory sandwich. Absolutely delightful!

The Cranberry Scone (S$2.80) is a winner. The crumbly exterior breaks apart to unveil a moist and buttery center. I love how much cranberries are added to it. I still love WH's scone but this is cheaper and an almost-as-good substitute. Spread it with the silver of salted butter and you would have arrived at scones heaven.

The Mocha was so so. Could hardly taste much of the chocolate though.

All the breads are made without any preservatives and thus they only have a shelf-life of 2 to 3 days. It really wouldn't last that long anyway because they are so good! Don't the Banana walnut and Chocolate loaves look so alluring? Just wanna eat 'em all!

Bought home the Chocolate custard buns (4 for S$5.50) which were not bad. They were gone in less than a day. The chocolate taste is quite rich but if you have a sweet tooth, this is not gonna satisfy you. It is also lacking in the custard filling too.

Verdict- Recommended! My current favorite Bakery.
Food: 4.5/5
Service: 3/5 The person in charge (not Audrey) was quite the no nonsense sort. I felt rushed into having to place my order. Z felt equally uneasy as well. Not sure if this would stop me from going again but the people really need to be friendlier.
Atmosphere: 3.5/5 Fuss free dining

Freshly Baked
57 Killiney Road #01-01

(Just a 2min walk from Orchard Central, farther down from KPO)

Tel: +65 6735 3298
Weekdays: 8am – 7pm
Weekends: 8am – 4pm

Put 2 skinnyfat girls together and you'll usually wind up with a food crisis because they would eat so much despite not having planned for it. That was exactly what happened yesterday. Z and i headed to the CBD area with all intention to check out some cafes that we would usually miss out on the weekdays. The first was Black (i tried it at Triple One and it was BAD) and i dissuaded her from going in. Dimbulah is available at Robertson so it wasn't of pressing nature to visit. Then it struck my mind and i absolutely had to bring her there! Just across the street at Fullerton Bay Hotel was one of the best  Afternoon Tea that i have had in Singapore and it was The Landing Point.  

Once you step into the Hotel, you will be welcomed by the perfumed lilies. I love lilies and i think natural flower fragrance is the best way to freshen up the space. The spacious interior decorated with colonial and modern elements was welcoming more than overwhelming, though Z was quite confused by the mixed of oriental cabinets with colonial high backed arm chairs. From our vantage point above the 13-metre long bar, we could look out to the outdoor waterfront terrace (and of course the waters). Nice beginning to a wonderful afternoon.

Other than for Afternoon Tea, they are also open for breakfast, lunch and light refreshments throughout the day. I heard that the bar does some interesting bespoke cocktails of 3 different themes- The Clifford Collection (Contemporary); The Anderson Collection (Timeless vintage) and The Old Fashioned Cocktails (Customized 19th century drinks) You can enjoy a selection of typical bar food e.g. Wagyu Burgers (or not so typical) and other sandwiches and Asian delights.

S first brought me to the Landing Point early last year (knowing how much i love my Afternoon Tea) and i thoroughly enjoyed myself. I could still remember certain canapes and the explosion of taste in my mouth. I was raving about the food to Z. She had seen the pictures before and wanted to give it a try but i guess we both forgot about it. We sat back in the plush plum and aqua green couches which nicely enveloped our petite behinds and prepared us for the goodies to come.

Afternoon Tea is served daily and presents an array of delightful light bites! From the top tier to bottom (left to right)- Creme Brulee, Chocolate Tart, Cucumber sandwich, Brie on Biscuit, Parma Ham Mini Bagel, Truffled Egg Mayo, Smoked Salmon sandwich, Lobster horn, Mini Ham and Cheese Quiche, Duck confit in Crepe, Kueh Lapis, Canele, Tarte Citron and Chocolate Éclair. Any tea is incomplete without English Scones of course and they were served with Strawberry Jam and Clotted Cream (YAY!). A fine selection of fresh tea and infusions by TWG is available e.g. Eau Noir Tea, Honeyed White Tea, Tea Party Tea etc. 

Most Afternoon tea at hotels usually fail in one department, either the sweet or savory or worst, both. The Landing Point however excelled in most of their bites! The only thing we would find fault with was the use of certain supermarket quality breads for the sandwiches. I left my cucumber sandwich alone and ate the fillings of the other sandwiches. 

First up- Savories. The Parma Ham bagel was light and had a pillowy centre. Truffled egg Mayo was not bad, i mean it was simple to make. Smoked Salmon was so so as well. I'll now introduce you my favorites!

The Lobster horn- Fragrant sesame pastry roll with sesame oil mayo lobster filling. Chunky pieces of meat (not too sure if they were really lobster meat but it couldn't be crab or prawn), juicy and succulent. You can taste the sea in your mouth. The use of the sesame oil seems to suggest some Japanese influence but it's a great choice nonetheless.

Duck confit in crepe- moist, buttery and salty paste with shredded duck meat. Z thinks it's more like a pate but i beg to differ. It doesn't have the paste-like quality and dryness of a pate and was more like a blended confit paste. The crepe reminds me of the Chinese Peking Duck dish. Another "fusion" of sorts.

All the pastry tarts were faultless. Crisp, crunchy and buttery goodness. If only the ham and cheese quiche were bigger. The egg center is moist and flavorful, unlike many of the disappointing quiches available around. These were so yums we went for seconds (you can get refills! Ala Carte buffet style). This is O so awesome! 

Now on the sweets. They were all very thoughtfully made and the quality was superb. The Canele is the best in Singapore (as claimed by Z. Her second best would be Antoinette's). Anyway, this brought Z back to France, onto the cobbled stones along Champs-Élysées). Nicely burnt caramel crunch on the outside and a moist interior. Authentic ones would have a hint of rum in it. We weren't sure if that was present though.

The Creme brulee in chocolate tart was perfectly executed. There was a lingering chocolate taste from the crunchy base and a smooth and light egg center. Mine had the caramel sauce dripping all over my fingers while i ate. The Caramel Chocolate tart was also a surprise- sea salt flakes to complement the light chocolate filling with a kinder surprise caramel centre. YUMS.

I have to say their scones are one of the best, perhaps only second after Regent's. A raisin and a plain scone were served and both were buttery and dense with a moist center. I love both of them! Z prefers the plain one because it tastes more scone-ish (no raisins to distract her from the taste).

I love their clotted cream, i could have it on any bread. The jam was not too cloyingly sweet and went well with the clotted cream. Z made hers swirl before popping them into her mouth.

The Lemon tart is out of this world! The refreshing tangy curd helps to break the monotony and heaviness of the other bites and cleanses the palate. We could so eat more after a bite of this. Fantastic tart to curd ratio. Wobbly and liquid center with the right amount of flow. The curd simply melts into a lemon jus after sending it into your mouth. And that perfumed fragrance that embraces and lingers on was just so uplifting.

I had too much tart (and carbs) by then so i resorted to slurping the lemon filling from the pastry shell. How ingenious!

So here you go! The superb Afternoon Tea at the Landing Point. CBD folks who are tired of working or are looking for an excuse to chill, you can always "bring a client out for tea" at the Landing Point. We have seen some working types at tea time before. Enjoy!

Food: 5/5 See how i was raving about it? AWESOME.
Service: 4/5 Attentive but not particularly warm.
Ambience: 4/5 Comfortable but it was really quite cold. The tea became cold after a while.

We paid about $50 per pax. It's a little pricy but the food is too nice to be missed!

Wanna have a tai tai day out? This is the place for you. Some people watching too, I spotted Jade Seah the first time i was here. Highly recommended by the one and only ms-skinnyfat. :))

The Landing Point
The Fullerton Bay Hotel
80 Collyer Quay
Tel: + 65 6597 5277