lavanderblues

Friday, February 23, 2007

a berrylicious chinese new year!

this post is rather backdated, considering that it's already the 6th day of the lunar new year today. but ah well, i've been busy attempting to study for next week's CAs, and enjoying the "festivities", or whatever little of it i have here.

the first day of cny was rather quiet, save for a surprise visit from the behind-house-neighbour's son which i shan't comment upon here (i think many of you would have already heard stories from me).

and so, my restless food-loving father suggested that we (the 3 of us) go for high tea at the ritz carlton. now, ive been to the high tea buffets here quite a number of times, and im constantly impressed by their inventiveness with their menus. every few months or so, they'd revamp the theme of the whole buffet, and out comes a whole new array of food and desserts. and they'd all conform to a similar theme or concept. the one that got us hooked last year was their chocolate theme - my dad the chocolate lover, naturally lapped it up like a baby. then there was the honey theme, which we avoided because we felt it'd be too sweet, and now, berries!

sweet, plump, juicy, tangy berries in all sorts of concoctions - homemade jam for the scones bursting with berry-goodness, tarts, cakes and pastries, trifles, a cute strawberry cupcake that i couldnt resist, homemade ice cream simply overflowing with the good stuff, even fresh ones for you to dip in the chocolate fountain they've got going there. many different types of berries were featured - the quintessential strawberry, fresh plump juicy blueberries, raspberries, and blackcurrants like i've never tasted before, there were even deep dark sweet cherries (which technically is a stone fruit and not a berry, but who really cares when its just so good).

the savoury stuff didnt disppoint either. butter poached lobster? seared tuna sandwiches, amazing fried balls with mushroom and other good things i didnt remember, scones with homemade jam and fresh cream, smoked salmon rolls with pickles and capers, really wonderful scallop "har gows" etc. im salivating now.

there was even a honey buffet, a whole section with about 12? (i didnt count) different types of honey, deep dark acacia, raw, infused with cinnamon, and many others i didnt particularly take note of. the thing that puzzled me most about this part of it was - what do you eat the honey with? save from simply licking them off the spoon, there didnt seem to be anything that i could have had to compliment it, or even any media for gastronomic tasting or delivery. i had to ask the chef, who gave me a pretty dubious answer (after a long hesitation might i add)- eat it with fruits (wouldn't it be super sweet?) or alone. ultimately i just decided that it was there to plump up the spread, and to make the whole thing seem more refined and experimental.

but they needn't have. with the elegant string quartet playing tunes from our favourite musicals, sipping tea (orange pekoe for me and camomile for mum) from fine bone china - notice the gorgeous intricate design that i couldnt help but admiring for extended periods of time, and the gracious service it was surely refined enough an experience for anyone.

my full and happy parents =)

- am amazed i did an entire post on the buffet experience itself, woah. more on the cny back in malaysia later!

lin~*
6:12 pm