Remember those early school days when one of the most common essay topic was "What do you want to be when you grow up?". So I wrote about some politically acceptable professions, but secretly, what I really wanna be is a... tai tai (wealthy lady of leisure)! Come on, which girl wouldn't dream of spending days not slaving away at a workdesk, but indulging in luxury spas or lavish high teas? Fast forward to year 2014: I'm not a tai tai yet, but I imagined myself to be one when I escaped for a few hours from reality into a sumptuous English afternoon tea buffet experience at L'Espresso at Goodwood Park Hotel, Singapore.
Established since 1968, L'Espresso has earned a reputation as the destination for elegant teatime pursuits. Not just for tai tais of course, the hotel café has attracted numerous visitors who seek a relaxing time and enjoyment of dainty sandwiches, salads, savouries, pastries, desserts, chocolate fountain and traditional English scones.
Recently, the menu is updated with even more delightful nibbles while keeping the popular signatures like scones and finger sandwiches. What we can expect includes the new charcuterie selection featuring flavoursome cuts such as German Black Forest Ham and Rosette Salami, as well as Duck Rilette and Homemade Mushroom & Tomato Dip which are perfect with the freshly baked Focaccia and Ciabatta bread.
Caprice, Blue, Comte, Boursin, Brie Cheese are also lined up for you cheese lovers out there.
The English afternoon tea spread was nothing short of dazzling! I was seduced in maxing out the capacity of my tummy as I walked down L'Espresso's gastronomic aisle, and my hands did the needful duty of reaching out for those tempting mini Open-faced Sandwiches.
Poached Prawn with Pineapple & Avocado! Smoked Salmon with Beetroot Mousse & Caviar! Roast Beef with Cornichons! Foie Gras Terrine with Coated Pistachios & Cranberry Compote! Nicoise Tartlet with Tuna Tataki! Brie with Grape on Maple Crostini! These pretty creations were not only aesthetically pleasing, but deliciously satisfying too.
We were definitely spoilt for choice with so many well-loved favourites. The Honey Roasted Ham & Cheddar Cheese Croissant and Prawn & Egg Croissant were one of them, alongside with a delectable range of Finger Sandwiches with tantalizing fillings such as Smoked Pork Kassler with Melted Onions, Tuna Mayonnaise with Celery, Egg & Tomato with Swiss Bacon, Turkey Ham with Dried Pear & Celery, Spicy Crabmeat Salad with Tobiko and Chicken Ham with Portobello Mushroom.
Not to be missed are the much-raved Scones! Freshly baked in the open-concept kitchen behind the buffet counter, these treats were warm and crumbly, sufficiently moist with an ideal density. There were blueberry and raspberry flavoured ones, but just the plain Scones with a simple pairing of Devonshire clotted cream and butter worked wonders for me. I wouldn't have asked for more.
The Hot Savouries include the slow-roasted Tomato Tart with Thyme Crumbled Feta and staples such as Beef Shephard's Pie and Lasagnette with Ratatouille. My friend love the deep-fried items - Mini Fish Goujons with Goma Dressing, Chicken Karaage and Squid & Cheese Croquette - so much that he helped himself to second helpings!
The Braised Kurobuta Pork with Hungarian Sweet Parika Brioche was a comforting dish that warmed my heart. The tender pork simmered in delish gravy has a rustic homecooked feel to it and I would gladly have gone for more servings of it had not my sweet tooth told me to keep some space for desserts, especially the.....
..... new Chocolate Corner! Dedicated to all things chocolate, highlights include a Chocolate Fountain with seasonal fruit skewers and marshmallows, a trio of Chocolate Mousse, Dulcey Chocolate Brownie, Chocolate Crunchy Hazelnut Dome as well as Assorted Pralines and Truffles.
Complete the L'Espresso English high tea experience with signature desserts such as Bread & Butter Pudding with Vanilla Sauce, Crème Brûlée, Silky Vanilla and Orange Panna Cotta, Chestnut Cherry Slice, Earl Grey Cake, Passionfruit Meringue Tartlet and Orange Chiboust Frangipan, but also look out for the new series of confectionery such as Tiramisu, Mango Yogurt Dream and Sago Gula Melaka.
It's a buffet, enjoy all you want! My friend and I certainly did!
Sitting at my indoor table with comfortable sofa seat, breathing in therapeutic view of the alfresco area and poolside through the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, pampering my tastebuds with the splendid treats, sharing catch-up time with my friend, enjoying the excellent service rendered by the servers, I really did feel like a tai tai during that lazy 2 hours (in fact we were really surrounded by lots of Japanese tai tais!). It was time and calories well-spent :)
The English Afternoon Tea Buffet is priced and available as follows. Reservations are highly advised.
- $45 (adult) / $22.50 (child) with 2 servings of coffee or TWG tea
- $65 (adult) with 2 servings of coffee or TWG tea and a glass of Laurent-Perrier champagne
- Mon-Thu: 2pm - 5.30pm
- Fri-Sun & Public Holidays: 12pm - 2.30pm (1st seating) / 3pm - 5.30pm (2nd seating)
Child price is for children 6 – 11 years of age. Prices are subject to 10% service charge and prevailing government taxes. Discounts are not applicable and not valid with other promotions or vouchers.
L'Espresso, Goodwood Park Hotel Singapore
Address: 22 Scotts Road, Singapore 228221
Contact: +65 6730 1743
Website: http://www.goodwoodparkhotel.com/dining-en.html
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoodwoodParkHotel
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