By doing an East versus West cuisine comparison, it would seem like I am taking apples to compare them against oranges, or even bananas. However, read on, and you'll understand why I'm using the comparison as the theme of this post.

My food-loving friends and I have a regular (almost) weekly meet-up over good food. Indeed, our love for food is probably one of our strongest friendship glue. In fact, we had recently joked that our list of places to visit was just growing too long. Just a couple of weeks back, we managed to knock 2 off that list. We visited 2 hotel-restaurant establishments. First the Opus Bar and Grill at Hilton Hotel (yup, the one which had the foyer ceiling collapse) and a week later, Jade at Fullerton Hotel.

By the end of the meal at Jade, we all unanimously agreed that Opus was no longer on our foodie list, while Jade had been promoted to the "Let's come back again" list.

Let's start with Opus Bar and Grill, henceforth just simply typed as Opus. Yeah, much easier to type and reference. Anyway, we were there on a Thursday, and I thought we might be fortunate to avoid the crowds on a mid-week evening. Wishful thinking. While we were one of the earlier groups, as the evening/night wore on, the crowds got a hell lot nosier (no doubt helped along with alcohol).

Ordinarily, I wouldn't have minded the crowds that much if not for the poor service. Yeah. Surprising right. From a well-established hotel and restaurant, poor service?

As I mentioned earlier, we were one of the earliest groups who were seated. As some of us were shopping earlier, we were also laden with a lot of shopping bags. Well, lets just say the floor around us was littered with our shopping bags. My friend hence asked if there was a basket or an extra chair where we could place all our shopping bags. 5 minutes (ok, this is an estimate since we were all busy discussing menu options) passed, and no one got back to us. My friend hence asked a second waitress the same question, and added on that she did not get a reply from the first waitress. This time round, we finished ordering, were offered complimentary bread and all, and still no one got back to us. We tried a third waitress and only got a reply on the fourth attempt. Yup. You read that right. Fourth attempt. And you know what they said? The reply was that if we were to add an extra chair, it would take up space.

I guess what they were trying to say was that we might feel uncomfortable or cramped if an extra chair was to be added. I could be mean and add that yes, we were aware that a chair took up space. I didn't think their chairs came from Hogwarts and had magical properties that made them float or take up no space. But honestly, the poor reply was not what irked us. It was that we had to ask FOUR times just for someone to reply us. I don't think I'm unreasonable when I think that it wasn't acceptable.

That left a pretty bad taste, and we just didn't feel comfortable with the service. It was difficult to get their attention even though a couple would keep walking around. Their only saving grace was the sweet girl working alone at the deli when we went to grab some cakes. She was attentive, gave very helpful advice, and even asked us to return to our seats in the restaurant while she packed up our orders and delivered it to us in the restaurant. All alone and serving 4 customers (ok, granted there were 2 of us, but the other 2 were strangers!) equally and with a smile!

In comparison, we had pretty decent service while at Jade in Fullerton Hotel. Nothing spectacular to shout about. It was the usual "polite, prompt and I'll keep refilling your teacups whenever it's half empty but otherwise, I'll leave you pretty much alone" kind of service standard. However, when put into context (and in comparison), I'll think that it could be considered pretty good. While we were there, Jade happened to be hosting several tables of delegates and a private room of (whom I assumed, since there was a camera dude) were VIP guests. 

Plus, when I asked a question to clarify on my pre-ordered Peking duck, while the waitress was not able to provide a confirmation, she immediately went to get her manager (who was in that private room) to answer us. At least we weren't made to feel like shabby customers.

Food wise, it was also a disappointment for me and my friends at Opus. 

We first started with their complimentary onion and cheese bread with butter at the side. Now, despite the earlier statement, I'll have to say that this was one of the best cheese and onion bread I've had. Fragrant and soft, plus the butter went very well with the bread. 

I had also ordered the foie gras for appetizer. This was the only other dish that I enjoyed really. Well-cooked and tasty. The passion fruit and foie gras also went very well with the side toast.

With these first 2 dishes, I guess I was being set up for a huge subsequent disappointment.

Some of my friends and I added the seafood bisque to our set dinner. One of my friend enjoyed the raw seafood taste to the broth. However, the texture of the seafood foam and that raw taste was too much for me. I guess this was one of those dishes where you'd either love or hate it, no in-between.

My main disappointment though came from the meat I ordered. In fact, we all ordered. Honestly, that was the main highlight for me, and hence the biggest disappointment. I'm not even going to bother describing which cut of meat I ordered, not when half of my table had our meat over-cooked. Which was honestly surprising for me.

We had also ordered some side sides, including aparagus, mac and cheese plus some fries. Tired and flat - descriptors that keep popping up in my mind when I think back to them. Honestly, it was as if they had a harder day at work than I did. 

By the time it came to desserts, I just couldn't bother anymore. While I refrained though, my friends were glad to report that it was at least the saving grace to the lackluster meal. Hilton is rather famed for their cheesecakes afterall. By the time I dug into them (I bought some home) the next morning, I was regretting not ending the dinner with them and not getting more.

Still, got to watch the waist a little.

On the other hand, Jade impressed with their consistency in the yum factor. Since it was an ala-carte buffet (plus we really ordered a lot), I'm just going to highlight some of our favourites and put up some pictures. 

I have no idea what happened to the pictures in my phone, so these were all off my friend instead.

Fried tofu with salt and pepper. This was a huge hit with us. We ordered 2 bowls and were fighting for the last piece.

Salted egg yolk prawns. Nowadays, everything seems to have a salted egg yolk version. This was decent.

Siew bak aka roasted/cripsy pork belly. Another hit.

Peking Duck. The main reason why we headed to Jade. We wouldn't mind a return trip either.

I wasn't too impressed with their soups, but considering that this was buffet style, ok lah. 

Other stuff that landed on our table: Sweet and sour pork with a strawberry twist,

Beef done 2 styles; in black pepper plus the ginger and spring onion pairing.

Siew mai (pork dumplings) which was pretty normal. The har gao (prawn crystal dumplings) was sold out, so now I really want them.

And the host of desserts that we ordered. 

Finally, my last comparison and the one that really sealed the nail shut on Opus' coffin - price.

Now, (and not to sound like I'm bragging because that's really not the intent) my friends and I don't mind paying for food, especially when it's good food. Well, of course we do have our limits on budget, but in general we don't mind forking out a bit of good money for a good meal.

However, when we compared Opus and Jade, we could not help but feel like Jade was the better deal, and not because it was a buffet. Instead, it was because we felt that Opus wasn't worth the money we paid.

At Opus, each of us shelled out almost a hundred each.

Jade - the Peking duck was at a promo price of $48 (which was divided by the 6 of us) and price per pax for the buffet was $58 +++

In the end, we agreed that we would rather fork out the sum for steak at Lawry's or even Morton's. At least, we would not be disappointed by the steaks.

And at least, we now know that Jade's pretty decent for a Chinese ala carte buffet.

Weekend Hi-Tea at The Tea Lounge, The Regent Hotel

The Weekend Hi-Tea buffet at the Tea Lounge, Regent Hotel is a favourite haunt for me and my friends. Every once in a while, we would head over to the Tea Lounge for an afternoon of gluttony pleasure.

In fact, in a recent short span of 4 weeks, I've been there twice with them. Yup, I was that desperately in need of "food therapy". And yes, we really do enjoy our times at the Tea Lounge.

 

 

 

The Tea Lounge is tucked away at the side of the Regent's lobby. It's quite hard to miss really; the buffet spread just beckons as you approach. There are options for seats; sofa seats with wooden coffe-tables or the regular table-and-chairs setting. So if you do have a particular preference, do state them upon making your reservation.

 

In comparison to some other buffet spreads, the spread at the Tea Lounge would initially seemingly pale in comparison. That is, until you realise that they have cleverly utilised the limited space they have. Each time we visited, food was also replenished regularly, so you don't have to worry that a favourite dish would run out.

 

The Tea Lounge also boasts of a pretty decent drinks menu. While the tea options are not as extensive as what you get at the Rose Veranda at Shangri-La, but here you get 2 refillable drinks of your choice: hot/iced coffees, hot/iced chocolate, and your choice of a pot of tea. Personally, I'm a sucker for their iced chocolate. It's rich and creamy. Plus I can go a few glasses without feeling stuffed (or sick) on sweetness.

 

 

 

 

Finger sandwiches and dips

 

 

 

Cheese and crackers

 

 

 

The sushi section

 

 

 

Salads. If you're particular about your veggies, you can DIY your salad too.

 

 

 

More breads. I tend to avoid this section, but the tom yam focaccia is worth a try.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now this is my favourite section of the entire buffet. The savoury; local Asian on one end and Western at the other. Most of my favourite items come from this section of the buffet, so you can just imagine the number of times I went back for second and third helpings. Ok, fourth and fifth too.

 

Highlights you shouldn't miss from this section include the roast beef and the salmon. The salmon was roasted with XO sauce on the first, and cooked with yuzu sauce on the second visit. From the local Asian side, I would never fail to pick up a couple of the fried wings as well as the satay. However, what really stole my heart (or more like, my tummy) is the king prawn congee and the chili crab soup with the fried man-tous.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part one of the dessert section. A complete joy to take pictures of. All those colours and textures. Pink ombre cakes the first round and rainbow cakes the next.

 

If I had anything to complain about the weekend hi-tea buffet at the Tea Lounge, it would be this section really. I'm not particularly impressed with their cakes and tarts. I often find the cakes too dry and the fruit tarts overly sweet. The chocolate mousse tended to be the safer option usually.

 

Since it was a quick one-two in a span of 4 weeks, I completely skipped this section at the second visit. Saved the tummy for my trusted favourites instead.

 

 

 

 

 

If you really need a sweet to end off the buffet, my recommendation is to come over to this side of the dessert instead. Scones, waffles, crepes and churros. Seriously yummy. One of the best scones too in my opinion. Plus, it comes with a really wide variety of toppings and sauces; from blueberry jam to lemon curd (to-die-for) and the requisite chocolate sauce. With the exception of the scones, the rest can also be freshly made on the spot.

 

Some close-ups of what wreaked my (perpetual) diet:

 

 

 

 

This is the flavourful king prawn congee that everyone in my party went back for at least a second helping. The prawns, dried scallops and wolfberries combined to give a sweet broth. The chef at Tea Lounge also had the foresight to keep it simmering in a claypot.

 

 

 

 

Chilli crab soup with fried man-tous. To be honest, I might already have been biased toward this particular dish. I love my man-tous, be it fried or steamed. Then my family and friends all know I'm a seafood fanatic, in particular, crabs.

 

Having said that, this chilli crab soup is really quite good. The chef certainly did not scrimp on the crab meat and egg. The spicy level went up a notch during the second round though, so I guess unfortunately, the consistency isn't there. Nevertheless, spicy-ness isn't a big issue for me. In fact, I though it was super shiok.

 

 

 

 

The laksa is also another item that my friends and I would never fail to pick up each time we visit the Tea Lounge.

 

In fact, the last round I paired this with a really yummy scallop-chilli condiment. Ooh la la. I honestly didn't know which was the highlight, the laksa or the chilli condiment. I just know it was an awesome pairing.

 

 

 

 

Salted egg custard bun a.k.a. Liu Sha Bao. Another weakness of mine. My friend and I devoured a few buns between us to get this shot. Not that I was complaining. Heh. Ok, my grouse was that the buns should have more of the salted egg custard filling, that would certainly have made the shot easier to take. Besides, the mark of an awesome Liu Sha Bao is to have the custard filling oozing out when you break/bite into it. But I certainly was not complaining about the yumminess of it. Cholesterol be damned.

 

 

 

 

The mandatory gathering-of-the-desserts shot. I'll be honest though, I didn't like more than half of what there in this picture.

 

 

 

 

Chocolate ice-cream and Mango sorbet. Very thick and full of flavour. Absolutely worth the calories. Another pairing that is heavenly; dump a scoop of that chocolate ice-cream on top of a freshly made waffle. Or crepe. Add a dollop of whatever jam or sauce you prefer. The perfect end to a satisfying buffet.

 

 

 

 

Really. Rainbow cakes make for a really pretty picture.

 

Another plus for the Tea Lounge: it is not just the food and cozy ambience that makes it pleasant to spend an afternoon there. The staff are pretty amazing as well.

 

You would expect most hotel staff to be polite, helpful, etc. That is kind of an industry standard, especially amongst the big-name hotels. However, the staff at the Tea Lounge seemed to have taken this standard a step further. Despite a full crowd, the staff did their jobs professionally and cheerfully. Our plates were promptly cleared. They were very quick to arrive whenever we signalled for help. And all this with a smile. In fact, one of their staff (Sheila, I believe) cracked  a joke and made my friend laugh while clearing our plates. I have to say, most hotel staff I've interacted/experienced have been professional, but that level of cheer? Nope, not everyone has it and that makes a huge difference.

 

What amazed me also, was their level of attentiveness despite a full crowd (with many running children to boot). A couple of them actually noticed what we had on our tables. The few times when they thought our bowls of chilli crab soup was sitting too long on the table, someone walked over and asked if we would like a fresh, hot bowl. When my friend dropped her fork on the floor, one was produced and we hadn't even had to ask for it yet! Ok, to be fair, the wait staff was nearby when he heard the fork drop. Nevertheless, the speed at which he signalled us that he would get a replacement and then deliver it to the table is really worth a mention.

 

And having been there several times already (even before starting this blog), this service was something that seemed consistent. Its actually what made me decide that I should have a staycation one day at the hotel. Yeah, I told my friends that one weekend, I'm going to check myself in. Then spend the afternoon at the buffet at Tea Lounge and then head back to my room to sleep. The ultimate decadent life.

 

Staff working at the Tea Lounge, kudos to you guys. You are really a credit to the hotel.