Concorde Hotel Singapore

Just a stone throw away from Somerset is Concorde Hotel Singapore. This may not look like the fanciest of hotels you would find on the Orchard belt, but definitely one that you will enjoy if you need a weekend getaway from the hustling and bustling of our hectic Singapore lifestyle.

We checked into the Premier Suite at Concorde with almost zero expectations but were greeted with a spacious room overlooking Orchard Road. The suite came with a sofa and work area, as well as a huge toilet with bath tub to offer. The bed was extremely comfortable and came with 2 different selection of pillows to ensure you get a good night's sleep!

The Premier Suite also comes generously stocked with minibar and snacks - boastings wines, beer  cans and soft drinks enough for you to throw a (mini) party if you invite a friend or two over. It's replenished daily so this is something you can expect to enjoy on a day-to-day basis while staying with them.

While you are staying in the Premier Suite, do remember to find some time to check out the Premier Lounge, a place that's exclusively for Club Indulgence guests. The lounge offers a selection of cocktails, wine and small bites and as. Premier Suite hotel resident, you also have the option of having breakfast there instead of Spices Cafe. We were greeted to a selection of fine cheeses and wine in the evening while we unwinded and sank into the lush comfortable sofas for the perfect 'chill' evening vibes.

Feeling hungry? Check out Spices Cafe that offers a great selection of local food at their Weekend Afternoon Tea Buffet. Be ready to savour some authentic local dishes such as freshly prepared Prata, Kway Chup and Laksa that promises to fulfil that craving of yours! Also remember to check out their selection of Nonya Kuehs made in-house that will leave you very satisfied. The Weekend Afternoon Tea Buffet happens on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays from 12pm - 4.30pm.

For dinner, we had a gastronomy adventure at Concorde's Harvest of the Sea buffet dinner that showcases an array of fresh seafood dishes including crabs done 4 different ways, lobsters and many other seafood dishes boasting freshly shucked oysters and pasta that's cooked to order! While you are there, be sure to check out the massive dessert counter doesn't disappoint - with a selection of pretty desserts that will leave you spoilt for choice. The Harvest of the Sea Buffet Dinner happens daily from 6.30pm - 10pm.

Before we checked out, we knew that we had to pay the newly revamped pool a visit to soak up some fun in the sun. And while you are there, be sure to grab a drink or two at the pool bar area that has some insta-gram worthy Victorian-inspired black and white tiles for that summer shot you won't want to be missing out on.

While Concorde Hotel Singapore doesn't seem like your typical staycation hotel you would be dreaming of from the exterior, the entire Concorde experience leaves a lot more to be explored. From checking in, all the way to the dining experiences we had. - we can only say that one would enjoy a staycation here as much as they would in a 5-star hotel. 

When you book direct at Concorde, you also enjoy complimentary late check-out till 6pm, F&B credits and a complimentary upgrade to the Premier Suite with a minimum 4-night stay. We couldn't agree more that Concorde is the place for that 'home away from home' staycation, while still being smacked in the middle of the city. Go ahead to book your room, you can thank us later.

Concorde Hotel Singapore

100 Orchard Road

Singapore 238840

+65 6733 8855

www.concordehotel.com.sg

This was an invited media session.

Brotzeit : Tastes of Summer

This summer, Brotzeit presents a summer menu specially curated for the season. Technically summer all year round here in Singapore but this menu only runs from now till 31 August 2018. With seafood offerings on the menu this time round, you won't be left with just meat choices (like how Brotzeit usually does it).

The Brotzeit Grillplatte is good for sharing, with a choice to order it for 3 pax or 6 pax. Expect to savour an array of meat served on the platter such as grilled pork fillets, snail sausages, chicken fillets, bacon strips and minced beef and pork skewers. While the pork and chicken fillets tasted pretty ordinary, the skewers had a nice fiery kick to it - something i was not expecting but ended up enjoying.

For the fish lovers, the 'not very Instagrammable' Grouper Fish with Almond Butter is good for two to share, or if you think you can handle an entire catch on your own - weighing almost 1kg. The fish was nicely seared without being overcooked and paired nicely with melted almond butter that took the entire dish to a whole new level. We ended up paring the aromatic almond butter with the grilled meats from the Grillplatte even, which surprisingly elevated the flavours.

If you are a fan of cheese cake, you wouldn't want to be missing out on the Gouda Cheese Cake Brûlée that's literally to-die-for. Think cheese cake in a slightly denser version, yet fluffy like cloud at the same time. It is served with nice fresh raspberries and mixed nuts oat cookies crumbled up for that extra crunch, as well as a vanilla sauce for that 'insta-worthy pour shot' that' makes this dessert worth raving about all over social.

Lastly,  remember to down a glass or two of their refreshing summer cocktails - Basil & Gin Cooler and Blushing Summer. I normally fancy my Gin but the Blushing Summer packed a nice punch of fruity taste from the Grapefruit juice and honey, even though mixed with Vodka - making it the perfect summer drink. The summer menu is available at all Brotzeit outlets.



Brotzeit 
Discovery Walk at 313@Somerset
313 Orchard Road, #01-27
Singapore 238895
+65 6834 4038
www.brotzeit.co


This was an invited media tasting.

The Masses : Gin & Brunch

A common question you often might get will be "where's a good place for Sunday Brunch?" Everyone knows The Masses for the affordable and quality food that they serve up, but Gin & Brunch is a new addition for their weekends that happens both on Saturday and Sunday from 10.30am - 4pm. That means whether you are an early bird or someone like me who snoozes till noon - brunch still applies!

As the name says it, you are not going to be missing out on any Gin at The Masses for brunch. Select from a couple of choices including Hendricks, Geranium, Botanist or even their very own infused House Gin. Prices are extremely wallet friendly, and they even have free flow that happens from 2 - 4pm, offering you all the different types of Gin you can find in a cart parked in the middle of their place for 90 minutes.

To start, the C&C&C Pasta, which basically refers to the pasta tossed with generous and fresh chunks of crabmeat, surrounded by juicy and plump clams and topped off with a load of caviar - making up the 3 C's. The pasta, served cold, comes in 2 different sizes. We recommend the bigger portion if you are going to share, or even if you are not - just because it is good enough and worth every calorie (and cent).

For the mains, The Masses re-invented a traditional classic - Chee Cheong Fan. Their version comes with pulled duck confit stuffed in silky smooth rice sheets, with picked cucumber on the side and an aroma of scallion oil that hits you with your first bite. It also comes with some sambal chilli on the side which was full of umami flavour.

To share, the Wild Mushroom Toasties with Truffle Scramble is a good choice. The humongous portion is served with a creamy goodness of assorted wild mushrooms, perfect fluffy truffle scrambled eggs sandwiched between a danish loaf that resembles croissant but isn't quite shaped like one. The Crab & Avocado Smash is also one not to miss, with different flavours and texture coming together from the sourdough bread, two variations of pear william (roasted and pickled), topped with runny poached egg and slight-citrusy blood orange hollandaise.

Gin & Brunch happens every Saturday and Sunday at The Masses, a place that has nice cosy and chill vibes. And while you're at it, don't forget to end your meal off with some freshly made Homemade Ricotta Hotcakes! We hear that tables run full (and yes, we experienced that when we were there), so it's best to make a reservation to avoid disappointment. And yes in case if you need reminder again - the free flow Gin happens between 2 - 4pm. Go ahead, make your reservation, you can thank me later.



The Masses
85 Beach Road
Singapore 189694
+65 6266 0061
www.themasses.sg


This was an invited media tasting.

Myo Restobar

New kid on the block Myo Restrobar wants to introduce Kia Hiang's recipe of traditional Cantonese cuisine. With a contemporary and modern ambience smacked right in the middle of Singapore's CBD, the last you would expect is a place that serves up some authentic home-cooked Cantonese dishes that might bring back a bit of nostalgia. Myo Restrobar is an affiliate of Kia Hiang Group of Restaurants.

A star dish that you have to order where you are at Myo is the Kia Hiang Claypot Spring Chicken. Served piping and bubbling hot, the spring chicken is extremely tender and soaks up every bit of the savoury, tasty sauce. It has been slow-cooked for a couple of hours under low-heat to ensure that every bit of goodness of chicken and stock is retained.

We also tried the Good Fortune Prawns in Wasabi Sauce and Prawns in Butter & Salted Egg Yolk Sauce. They were good, but nothing much to shout about as the prawns weren't exactly huge in size for the price tag that you'll be expecting to pay. The wasabi sauce was also a little too clumpy for our liking as well.

If you like your dim sum, they offer quite a selection at Myo. Something unique that you don't often get will be the Flaky Angus Beef Pastry that's filled with premium beef with a slight peppery kick and a golden-brown crumbly pastry on the exterior. There's also the Gold Foil Dumplings filled with Assorted Mushrooms if you are all for the gram, and just because everything gold aesthetically looks better. Taste wise however, it was quite forgettable.

The Young Coconut Stewed with Peach Gum and Egg White dessert is something not to be missed. It has to be ordered at the start of your meal as it requires at least 30 minutes to prep. Think warm and super silky soft egg custard in a fresh coconut husk - the perfect way to end a meal, if you ask me.

While there are some hits and misses on the menu, some of the signature items originally from Kia Hiang such as the Kia Hiang Claypot Spring Chicken did indeed live up to its tradition and name. The rest as we would put it - felt a bit like tze char dishes with a slightly heavier price tag, and with very inconvenient parking. Nevertheless, it is a place to go to if you want to experience authentic Cantonese food in a modern setting, or maybe if you want to go for a slightly fancier meal to impress your in-laws.



Myo Restrobar
Oxley Tower (Lobby 1), #19-01
138 Robinson Road
Singapore 068906
+65 6931 1247
www.myo.sg 


This was an invited media tasting.

Happy Bunch : Simple. Affordable. Flowers

The idea of sending flowers may seem expensive, but the peeps at Happy Bunch are here to make it a lot more affordable. At just $35, you can now send flowers (and love) someone's way! The concept at Happy Bunch is simple - a new bouquet is launched every evening and you can order it for delivery on the next day.

They also have an option for an upsized bunch, which means you can get a fuller, bigger bouquet - just in case the occasion calls for one! The option allows you to double, triple, quadruple or even quintuplet your bouquet, with the regular ones starting at just $35! If you are all in for surprises, you can even pre-order a bouquet (not knowing what kind of florals you'll be getting), and have it sent to that special someone! 

Their floral arrangements change from day to day by picking the freshest seasonal flowers and putting them together. They are all wrapped in a rustic burlap for that extra-Instagram worthy look! I love how they use seasonal blooms and how they never repeat what they have put out before. The freshness of the bouquets are also guaranteed - they sent two to me previously and both of them lasted for more than 4 days! 

(Picture: Happy Bunch)

This Valentine's, you can send a bouquet paired with Truffle Chocolates, with pre-orders starting at just $79 - pretty affordable for Valentine's Day in my opinion. For more information, visit www.happybunch.com.sg or follow them on Instagram at @happybunchsg!


This was a media drop from Happy Bunch Singapore.