For those who frequent Mandarin Gallery & enjoy exhibiting their artistic flair over a nice cup of Tea, ‘Arteastiq’ should sound very familiar to you. If it doesn’t, you have probably missed out on the best Boutique Tea lounge in Singapore where you get to appreciate both concepts of Art and Tea at the same time!
As much as M & I would love to pit our artistic talent against each other at the Art Jam Studio (situated right next to the Tea House), that night certainly wasn’t the best night for that! This is because we had an EVEN MORE interesting agenda installed for us: the ‘Arteastiq’s Menu Launch’ which comprised of an all new ‘High-Tea Set’ & a ‘4-Course Dinner’!
While waiting for the meal to be served, we couldn’t help exploring some of their popular ‘Fruit Teas’ which they are best known for! One of our favourite was their ‘Pomelo Tea’ served with deliciously-crunchy chocolate biscotti which is presented in an elegant fashion.
Its refreshing and mildly sweet taste woke both my palates and lethargic mind up after a day of hard work!
With that, we were all ready to embrace their new ‘High-Tea Set’ which is served in a dainty, bird-cage lookalike 2-teir platter. Forming the top teir is the ‘Sweet’ morsels while ‘Savoury’ for the bottom. All these are the creative ‘artwork’ of Artestiq’s very own Executive Chef, Chef Firdaues Nasir. Kudos to him!
Top Teir (Sweets): Matcha Cheesecake (served with Cookies crumb, Matcha Mousse and Mixed Berries Coulis), Pineapple Upside-Down Cake (served with Caramelized Pineapples, Vanilla cake & Maraschino Cherries), Chocolate Truffles (Valrhona Dark Chocolate Ganache, Chocolate powder & Macadamia Nut) and Salted Egg Macaroons (Coffee Macaroons shell and Salted Egg Custard)
Bottom Teir (Savoury) : Vol Au Vent (Mushroom Capers Pate, Extra Virgin Olive Oil & Arugula Spears), Panini Morsi (Toasted Brioche, Pommery Mustard & Foie Gras), Smoked Salmon (Fried Shallots, Cream Cheese Mousse & Micro Salad) & Viva Duck (Smoked Duck, Arugula Salad, Horseradish Mayo & Tortilla Wrap)
It was certainy hard to make a decision which teir was better!
But I shall be fair! The ‘Savoury’ satisfied my tongue (the palates) while the ‘Sweet’ did it for my sweet tooth! Lol! All in all, this constituted my happy grin that whole night~
One of the morsels that left a deeper impression in us was the ‘Matcha Cheesecake’! It may not look anything much like a typical cheesecake, but it sure taste better than most I have tried for far! The cheese and matcha flavours blended together nicely without seeking to overpower each other. In addition, this dessert also play around with our sense of hearing. Taking a bite upon the mixed berries coulis give that tingling, cracking sound as if you were chewing on rock sugar. Only much lesser sweeter! Not forgetting , the cookies crumb leave a nostalgic ‘oreo’ aftertaste at the end of it!
The portion may not look much for two but it did took our stomach by surprise! Both of us were almost full!
This ‘High-Tea Set’ which comes with 2 beverages (each cost approx. $10-11) and 2-teir platter worth of morsels cost $48++. It is definitely more than enough to last a couple for the whole afternoon of heart to heart talk!
Next came the ‘4-Course Dinner’ which comprises of…
..Alantic Dance – Octopus Salad. The highlight of this dish is its freshly- & well-sautéed octopus which is hearty yet light in palate! Furthermore if you think the ‘fireworks’ just ended with ‘Matcha Cheesecake’, then you are absolutely wrong! This dish came with a pinch of popping candies served at the side for those who prefer a hint of sweetness in their salad!
..Mermaid’s Blush – Pan Seared Snapper. The name says it all! Savouring this would just make anyone blush in excitement! This is probably the closest you can get to a Mermaid!
…& last but not least, my topmost favourite Savoury dish for the night! This is none other than their ‘The Fawn and the Wilderness – Venison Sirloin‘.
For those who does not know what Venison is, check up the dictionary!
*Hint: Doe a….., a female …..
This is my first encounter with Venison and I must say it is a All Love & No Hate relationship! This is despite the fact that the dish is more ‘bloody’ as compared to a typical beef steak. Reason being which, the deer spend more time jumping around and hence a more vibrant capillary system.
*Ops, did I just leak the answer?*
For those who love beef, you are definitely going to love this even MORE!
To finish off the ‘4-course Dinner’, we had what I called the ‘Lourve Musuem’ of Arteastiq or rather in Arteastiq’s definition, the ‘Mount Etna’s Peak’!
My love for premium dark chocolate just extended after having this sophisticated cocoa-based dessert! Cracking the crisps chocolate triangle revealed a hidden treasure lying within: An avalanche of Chocolate Mousse!
Feeling the *Cocoa-Rush* even upon the reminiscence of this dessert!
The ‘High-Tea Set’ and the ‘4 Course Dinner’ sure gave a breathe of fresh air to the family of Art & Tea! They are generally great sets to spend half your day off for!
For more information, you can visit them at https://www.facebook.com/ArteastiqSingapore
Arteastiq – Launch of New ‘High-Tea Set’ & ‘4-Course Dinner’
