Binge - Afternoon Tea at The Ritz Carlton and Chef Pang's Stupendous Sweets

While tete-a-tete’s are taking the form of cocktails and tapas among the girls these days, it looks like the Afternoon Tea is still alive and kicking….But if there’s no boozy tipples on the menu, then the nibbles have got to a be really good too, to be picked up on our radar of Simply Fab stops.

One that more than meets our muster is the afternoon tea at the Ritz Carlton Millenia Singapore’s Chihuly Lounge. I have been here a few times, and even though it is pricier than many other spreads in town among the luxury hotels, this stands out for Chef Terence Pang’s creativity. The last one I tasted had a summer, beachy theme with pastries and cakes made out as sailboats and surfers. This November (until 28 Nov), his theme is ‘Indian Autumn’.

Tuck into chocolate almond sponge flavoured with spices, praline lemon tarts, and a super unusual pea mousse with wasabi cherry jelly. For a little action, pain perdu with maple is done a la minute. There are savouries of autumn produce too - scallop confit with green leek vichyssoise, Indian cheese tikki with grilled Portobello mushrooms, grilled beef rolls with bamboo shoots and chives as well as seafood gyoza with korma dressing. All this you eat off Bernardaud’s ‘Feuille d'or’ tableware, and accompnay with a mind boggling choice of 30 teas. How to choose?!

Spot the teensy little droppers next to each chocolate slice? Add your own syrup. Cute huh?

As for the good chef, let it be known that Chef Pang is one exceptional talent who has so far been underrated. Cheerful and unassuming, he doesn't seem to be given enough recognition and air time for his superbly artistic morsels. They taste as good as they look, and transport even adults to an idealised childhood candy moment. And pardon my gushing, they are some of the most creative and unique I have seen here in all my 20 years of being a food scribe. (The other guy is Exec Pastry Chef Christophe Grilo of the Hilton Singapore - but more on him on another post.) Here  eye candy of Chef Pang's edible 'artwork' (above and left) from an earlier Brunch on '78 at the Ritz Carlton (their super glitzy brunch that happened only once a quarter which I believe is now over).....see the pretty pictures and salivate! Let's see what we churns out for December!

Price: $42 per adult and $21 per child (6-12 years old) on Saturdays and Sundays from 2:30 to 5 pm.

Tel : 6434 5288 for reservations
- Ee Waun

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Binge - Father’s Day Eats

Father’s Day is round the corner, and for us in the ‘Sandwich Generation’, make sure you do spend time with good old dad and let him know he’s the best. Not all our dad’s are hale and hearty – count your blessings if he is – so spending time with him is the best thing you can do on Father’s Day…and for every opportunity you are given.

So what’s out there for fatherly indulgence? How about what is dubbed ‘the ultimate crab buffet’ (4-27 June)? The chefs at Ellenborough Market Café at Swissotel Merchant Court are rolling out a serious spread of over 20 sinful crab dishes that the food-loving fathers will definitely enjoy. Consider Teochew Style Cold Crab, Steamed Mud Crab with Shaoxing Wine, Salted Egg Flower Crab wok fried with salted egg yolks, Thai Crab Bee Hoon, Dungeness and Snow Crab cooked in Beer, Black Pepper Crab and Sri Lankan Chili Crab with Fried (not steamed!) mantou. With the rich flavours and even richer cholesterol count, this is surely an indulgence reserved only for special occasions. Father’s Day is definitely one such!

Available for dinner daily, and for lunch only on weekends. On Father’s Day weekend, all dining dads get a complimentary Tiger Beer. From $45++ for lunch, and $52++ for dinner. (For HSBC card holders, one dines free for every three paying adults.)

20 Merchant Road

Tel: 62391848

If Dad is into haute gourmet, fill up on foie gras at Ristorante Bologna at the Marina Mandarin Singapore. Chef Patron Carlo Marengoni weaves the flavours of foie gras into authentic Italian cuisine, such as Pan-fried goose liver with fig jam and Brandy sauce ($32++), Pan-fried goose liver with asparagus and Madeira wine sauce ($40++) and Porcini mushroom soup with diced Foie Gras and Truffle oil ($22++). Daily for lunch and dinner for the month of June. (closed Sundays)

Ristorante Bologna, level 4

Marina Mandarin Singapore

6 Raffles Blvd, Marina Sq.

Tel: 6845 1111

For the healthy dad, a meat fest is always a sure winner. Get it at Pan Pacific Singapore’s all-you-can-eat brunch at Global Kitchen on 20 June. Apart from the necessary crustacean counter and salads, there’s roasted carved meats, plus unlimited sparkling wine and beer. Price - $88++ or $108++ with sparkling wine, beers and soda; $28++ per child (6 to 12 years). If dad’s a little old fashioned, heave him up to Hai Tien Lo (37 flr) for the all you can eat brunch (20 June from 11.30am) at a happy $62++ per person $28++ per child (6 to 12 years). The spread includes up to 60 different highlights including dim sum, roasts, soups, noodles, seafood and dessert. But if dad prefers superior quality over quantity, take their set menus (from $78++; 14 – 20 June) of fine Chinese cuisines featuring dishes like Double-boiled ‘Buddha Jumps Over the Wall’ with Black Truffles and Steamed Sea Perch Fillet with Preserved Vegetables.

Pan Pacific Singapore

Hai Tien Lo, 37 Flr

Tel: 6826 8240

- BY EW

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