~Invited Session~
One of the best kept secrets in town is the A Raffles Heritage Evening at the Raffles Hotel which serves up a beautiful array of local flavours.
The sharing platter of Asian style tapas (think dim sum but for the evening!) with Singaporean Chili Crab Cake (must try!), Spicy Tiger Prawns, Sesame Shrimp Toast, and Spring Rolls is a great way to start of the evening.
Expect lots of crunchy textures and savory flavors, and even if your spice tolerance isn’t exactly high, don’t worry, the spice levels here are tastefully pleasant.
I had the pleasure of trying of both main courses, though I am told that the set allows for 1 choice of main course. The Hainanese chicken rice is a perennial favourite and an all-time classic disc in Singapore (the PR lady even told me that chicken rice is one dish she can eat for every single meal, an opinion readily concurred by my dining companion who nodded furiously and we all started rattling on about our favourite places for chicken rice). This version certainly does not lose out to that from a famous chicken race restaurant just a street away and is a very competent choice. Expect delicious savoury chicken goodness with a perfectly gelatinous skin (perfect for skin lovers like me).
The other choice for the main course is the laksa. It comes in the non-spicy version (you are given sambal chili to adjust the heat yourself), and I enjoyed this. The noodles are done just right according to my preference (slightly more than al dente), and the soup is nourishing without being overbearing with the coconut flavors.
Now. Dessert. This was something to behold. First, I had the sweet potato pastry (in the shape of a swan) that was one of the best sweet potato dessert pastry I have ever had in a while. Deceptively savoury with the usual hint of sweet potato sweet flavours at the end, I swear that this would have served just as well as a starter or as a dim sum dish at a top-notch dim sum restaurant. The coconut tartlet was also a refreshing end to the meal, tasting of freshly grated coconut and with none of the sickly-sweet flavours that you tend to get from coconut flakes.
The ondeh-ondeh was divine! It far outshoned the pandan kaya roll and the kueh lapis. If you only had stomach for one type, then ondeh-ondeh it is. The other 2 are perfectly competent though at this point my stomach was already protesting at the amount of food I was consuming.
But there is even more! There is a bowl of chendol to come along with the desserts and you get the works. I was so full at this point but I still manage to put it all into my mouth and worry about the calories tomorrow. You do get a lot for what you pay for, though I must say, this $68 set meal is heavy towards desserts and dim sum and so if that is your tune, go ahead and sing it.
Raffles Hotel is also running a ‘3+1’ Promotion! From now till 30 September 2020, guests can enjoy a special ‘3+1’ group dining offer at The Grand Lobby. Applicable for the Raffles Afternoon Tea set at S$78++ per guest, New York Afternoon Tea set at $78++ per guest, and the Heritage Evenings set at $68++ per guest.
Opening Hours: Breakfast at The Grand Lobby: 7.00am to 10.30am
Classic Afternoon Tea and The New York Afternoon Tea*: Monday to Friday: 1.00pm to 5.00pm, Saturday and Sunday: 12.00pm to 6.00pm Dinner: 6.00pm to 10.00pm (Heritage Evenings Menu is exclusively available from 6.30pm to 9.00pm)
Writers Bar Handcrafted Cocktails will be served from 5.00pm daily
Reservations for The New York Afternoon Tea must be made a day in advance.
Where: The Grand Lobby, Raffles Hotel Singapore, 1 Beach Road, Singapore 189673
Dresscode: Casual Chic (No shorts and slippers) Website: http://www.rafflessingapore.com/restaurant/the-grand-lobby/
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