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Pollen (Afternoon Tea)
my own impression of high tea is a very English-styled activity that has a cottage or a garden somewhere in the backdrop to complete the overall ambience. so when we discovered that there's a place at Gardens by the Bay that offers good afternoon tea, and inside the air-conditioned confines of the flower-dome no less, we thought it'd be worth a shot.
The restaurant is called Pollen, pretty apt since it occupies 2 storeys within this flower dome. an afternoon-tea dining session also earns you a free buggy ride from the main entrance, and also free admission into the dome. the inside is air-conditioned, to preserve an optimal environment for plants to cultivate and having tea in this setting certainly makes you feel like you're in European spring. 
With each afternoon tea set going for S$38++, the food portions at Pollen turned out to be just right. with 2 servings of savoury and another 2 platters of sweet dishes, we didn't feel the overkill that tends to be the case for some famous high teas. there's also a free flow of flavoured tea selections and gourmet coffees to choose from, making the whole package real value-for-money. we particularly liked the above savoury set that came with hummus dips and dukkah spices over toast, as well as the ice-cream cone shaped chicken-liver parfait. 
for the sweet servings, the lemon meringue tarts are simply fantastic. topping that off with some banana tea cake, brownies, macaroons and hot scones, this made a pretty hearty yet not overly-filling combination. i don't know about you, but at high-teas, i usually get killed by the scones, yet that is the hallmark of a typical English tea. the scones at Pollen are not too hard, not too large and has a nice buttermilk taste that went well with the jam and cream. 
in all, considering the prices for hotel high-teas nowadays, the whole package at Pollen makes it a very good deal. it is a perfect way to spend an afternoon catching up with friends, people-watching and enjoying the wide selection of teas and coffees. including the entry to the flower-dome and the overall environment, a trip to Pollen would mark a full day of activities that you're not likely to do on a daily basis. 
Pollen Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay 18 Marina Gardens Drive, #01-09 Singapore 018953 Opening Hours Mondays to Thursdays: 11 am to 9 pm Fridays to Sundays (including public holidays): 9.30 am to 9 pm Afternoon Teas: 3 pm to 5 pm (closed on Tuesdays) Epicurean journey of unique gourmet offerings.. Kai Sushi & Robatayaki
good Japanese food prides itself on the freshness of its ingredients, particularly for those that are prepared raw. while maybe commonplace on the streets of Japan, good sashimi and robatayaki could be quite hard to find locally. for those that also come at value-for-money prices would really be a gem.
Kai Sushi & Robatayaki opened at Plaza Singapura recently. located on the fourth storey of the extension wing, the creators behind this concept are the folks who ran Ishinomaki at Palais Renaissance. most of the dishes are prepared only upon ordering and you can see the sushi chefs at work behind the bar counters. we started off with a serving of Cha Soba or Japanese buckwheat cold noodles, that was served with seaweed, and a very fragrant bowl of shoyu. 
many patrons come here for their sushi and sashimi, primarily because they are served fresh and at very affordable prices. this succulent Chirashi bowl costs only $23. the serving of sashimi is generous and comes in ample varieties, accompanied by sweet and flavourful Japanese rice. for those who'd just like a small serving of sashimi to go with their mains, there is also a small bowl going at $3.80 each. 
but of course, the signature of this restaurant would be their robatayaki. Japanese grilled skewers may be popular street food in Shinjoku, but not many serve up really good ones here. we went for their recommendation of this Hotate Kushi Yaki, essentially scallops grilled and dripped into teriyaki sauce. the meat was tender and didn't leave a strong aftertaste. other skewers that are regularly ordered here include the Enoki Bacon Maki, grilled asparagus wrapped with bacon, as well as the Tebasaki or flame grilled chicken. 
all the robatayaki come in bite-sized skewers and are perfect for sharing amongst a small group. Kai Sushi & Robatayaki also serve a good range of beers and sake, which would certainly go well with grilled food. the food quality and reasonable pricing makes this one place that we would love to visit again. If you are looking for a good Japanese fix at good value, do drop by Plaza Singapura to check out this hidden gem. 
Kai Sushi & Robatayaki 68, Orchard Road, #04-68 Plaza Singapura (extension wing) Singapore 238839 Opening Hours 11 am to 10 pm (daily) prepared with the freshest ingredients and lots of love.. |
..ThE lEgEnD..
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