Story and photos by Dr. Michael Lim The Travelling GourmetTM
All rights reserved
All food photos are of real food with no photoshop
The irrepressible and debonair Travelling Gourmet goes to discover dark, devilish and decadent pleasures at…
MARVELLOUS Choctober Festival Buffet in Concorde Hotel! While other hotels and restaurants are celebrating Germany’s Oktober Fest with Wurst (sausages) and beer, Concorde’s avant-guarde Executive Chef Sunny Goh is featuring for the whole month of October…a buffet with sweet ans savoury dishes all infused with Chocolate flavours and sauces! Dynamic GM, Leo Llambi explained, “I would like to position ourselves as a hotel that is willing to embrace innovation, encouraging and always supporting new ideas from our employees.” I like people who can think out of the box so I went to sample the chocolatey dishes and…My verdict : they were jolly good! The ancient Aztecs and Mexicans today love to eat savoury Chicken with Mole Pibiano which is a sauce made with chocolate!
For an unusual appetiser, try Smoked Salmon dipped in White chocolate and BBQ Unagi (eel) with Sweet Soy Sauce and Bitter Chocolate. The sweet-savoury Chocolate sauce replaces the more mundane Teriyaki that is usually used.
Smoked salmon dipped in White Chocolate
There is also Ocean Prawns and Avocado with a light Chocolate Mayonnaise and Roulade of Smoked Duck Breast with Peach Dip and dark Black Chocolate.
As a bonus, indulge in complimentary Abalone with Shitake and Broccolli or half a Lobster served a la minute. Mon dieu! J’adore the whole Abalone! Adorable Abalone has aphrodisiac qualities…
Crab lovers take note! There are 5 types of crab for your dining pleasure. I love the spicy Thai Style Crab with Basil and the Chilli Crab. Crab with salted Duck Egg Yolk is good too! I saw a horizontally challenged lady scoffing umpteen helpings of crab with gusto! the Crab Claw crackers and special fork are provided.
I also like the Chocolate Festival a la Carte Menu…especially the King Kong-sized Roast Rib Eye of Beef with a sexy Chocolate Red Wine Jus served with crunchy buttered Broccoli, Capsicum, Squash and Carrot plus Baby Roast Potatoes. The beef was nice and pink in the middle and simply fabulous with the sauce. Chocolate and red wine always goes hand in glove.
Carnivore’s Delight! When you want a great big BITE!
Or how about that classic bayerische (bavarian) dish of Crispy Schweinshaxe (Pork Knuckle) with Green Apple, White and Brown Chocolate Sauces?
With the tempting offerings, indulge in some intoxicating Cocktails! I liked the Minty Way in a Martini glass, with its stimulating menthol and medicinal flavours and velvety texture on my palate.
It is concocted with White Creme de Menthe, Bailey’s Irish Cream liquer and Brown Creme de Cacao. You will enjoy coffee and coconut nuances in the White Forest Cocktail. This is blended with Pernod, White Creme de Cacao, Coconut Milk and Kahlua, the Mexican liquer. Turquoise Dream has a a sky bly colour due to the Blue Curacao, Milk and White Creme de Cacao. It is like an alcoholic milk shake!
The diabolical Chocolate inspired desserts are absolutely fabulous! Chocolate Lava Cake with Raspberry and Chocolate Deco, White and Brown Chocolate Brownie with Vanilla Ice Cream, Bitter Chocolate Mousse with Brandy Berry and lots more…The usual Chocolate Foumtains only have fresh fruits like Kiwi and Strawberries and Honeydew Melon but here there are also preserved dried Papaya Batons, dried Mango and Persimmon and Chinese Plums too. Most delicious dipped in the bubbly Chocolate Fountain.
Cheese lovers can taste an assortment of Cheeses including Roquefort Blue Cheese with Apricots and Walnuts and big Raisins.
Scientific research has shown that if you want to be happy…eat CHOCOLATE! That is because eating chocolate stimulates the brain to produce Endorphins. Endorphins make us feel good! According to Adam Drewnowski of the University of Michigan, “We want chocolate in times of stress, anxiety, pain and so on. Chocolate is a natural analgesic, or pain killer.” Phenyl-ethylamine (PEA) isin Chocolate. It occurs naturally in the brain and naturally reaches peak levels during the big “O”! Administering PEA increases dopamine levels, stimulating the pleasure centers…Chocolate also has aphrodisiac effects…
Need I say more? The best way to deal with temptation is to…give into it. Come and try Concorde Hotel’s Choctober Buffet and leave with a happy smile! 🙂
Choctober Harvest of the Sea Buffet Dinner
Mon – Thu > Adult $50++, Child $20++
Fri, Sat and Sun, Eve of Public Holiday and Public Holiday > Adult $54++, Child $20++
Spices Cafe
Concorde Hotel
100, Orchard Road
Singapore 238840
Tel: +65 6733 8855
Hours: 6.30pm to 10pm
The Travelling Gourmet 