Intimate moments from a great height.
This is exactly the catch-phrase that hit me when I was thinking of something to surprise my lovely wife. A romantic night in Singapore. I wanted to give her an extraordinary dining experience, something that we haven’t done before. And giving the world’s first full-butler sky dining a try was the perfect fit for what I call the “ultimate dining experience.”
First Impressions
While on our way, my wife doesn’t have any clue where the dinner will be. Yes, she knew that we were going to dine somewhere and that is all. When we arrived at the Singapore Flyer she was amazed by its majestic beauty. But then again, with a handful of specialty restaurants around the area, she just thought that it would be another casual dinner. Imagine her astonishment when a crew from the Singapore Flyer approached and provided us with VIP tags. The look on her face was simply priceless.While we were being escorted to the lounge she keeps on pinching me on my side which was a sign that my “mission” was a success. If you knew my wife, she hardly gets surprised as she has this gift of sensing something fishy within an area of a 50-meter radius.
Here are some quick facts about the Singapore Flyer. Standing at a height of 165 meters (approximately the height of a 42-story building) it is currently the world’s largest Giant Observation Wheel surpassing the records of both the Star of Nanchang and the London Eye. Its design has been inspired by icons such as the Eiffel Tower and the London Eye and is set to be one of Asia’s biggest tourist attractions.
Singapore Flyer and the Cityscape - Photo Credit
The Staff
I planned and made the booking online. A funny story about it was that there has been a problem with my mobile tethering connection when I purchased the dining package. During the procedure of validating my credit card, the VISA authenticator concluded the process was a success. However, the booking system response failed after the web page reloaded. I was worried that if I redo everything, my account will be charged double. So I called their customer service who routed me to their manager. The manager assisted me in verifying my purchase and made sure that no further dispute will arise out of this situation. So at the end of the day, everything went fine and hassle-free.When we were on the grounds of the Singapore Flyer, the Welcoming Crew has been very accommodating to our needs and were courteous. A staff ushered us to the Journey of Dreams which is an engaging multimedia attraction about the story of the Singapore Flyer. This is inclusive of the sky dining package I took.
Inside the capsule, the butler assigned to us was highly trained and friendly. In the initial course of the flight, she made a short induction and facts about the Singapore Flyer. She also mentioned the itinerary of when our food will be served so everything will be in order as expected.
The Service
The kind of service I received from the manager when my online booking flopped, was outstanding. The Welcoming Crew made us feel like celebrities. They were like bodyguards ushering us to VIP entrances singling us from other visitors. The only thing missing in this picture would be the paparazzi.The foods were meticulously tucked in special compartments to keep them nice and warm. The butler was very accommodating to special requests. She makes sure that foods were served on the right schedule. When asked about small details with regards to the food or the Singapore Flyer, wow, she really knows how to answer.
Even the staff after the flight demonstrated a terrific service of offering us back to the lounge for coffee and tea.
The Experience
This is a section that I would like to add specifically for this post to highlight the sky dining experience. The capsule we’re in was like a small world of exclusivity matched with the breathtaking backdrop of the Singapore cityscape. The flight was filled with romantic music as if serenading us on those special moments.From the inside, we can oversee other capsules and catching a glimpse of people looking at us murmuring something like “They actually have fine dining services here?” Once you’re on the top you can feast your eyes on the awesome and inspiring views of Singapore. It’s like a time warp where you can witness the city skyline when the sun is starting to set. You can see how the horizon changes its color as time flies by and how everything seems to glitter when the night comes. No words can express that momentous experience. As the wheel turns you can spectate historical landmarks from Marina Bay to the Singapore River, Raffles Place, and the Merlion Park.
The table setting and ambiance can be matched with 5-star dining. Complete with assortments of table décors and comfortable cushion chairs the atmosphere was romantically marvelous.
The Food
Our welcome drink for that evening was the ginger ale. It was golden, bubbly, cool, and sweet with a slight “kick” of ginger.
Summer Berries in Ginger Ale
The entrée was an array of garlic bread topped with salad, special dressing, tomatoes, and olives. The bread slices were slightly toasted adding the perfect crisp in every bite. At the side was a basket full of loaves of wheat bread.
Appetizers
Grilled Hokkaido Scallop
On the second rotation, I got myself a Baked Australian Lamb Rib. These were a couple of prime lamb ribs simmered with special herbs and baked to perfection. Both were topped with melted Padano cheese (which is a semi-fat, hard, and pasteurized milk cheese) that fused with the flavor of the soft and tender meat. When dipped with the special gravy the fusion of flavors bursts altogether. Crusted mushroom and other herbs were sprinkled to add aroma to this delectable dish.
Baked Australian Lamb Rib
My wife enjoyed the Confit Chicken Sous Vide so much. Obviously, this scrumptious dish has been prepared with French cooking techniques. It’s a generous portion of chicken leg slowly cooked in its own fat and simmered with Burnoise vegetables. Then with all the ingredients mixed together, it was sealed and cooked under a vacuum to preserve the flavor and integrity of the ingredients. The moment it was served you can straightaway sense the smell of scented lemon and special herbs. The sauce was so rich and flavorful that she managed to finish the dish with the plate sparkling clean. I can imagine my wife pinching me again after she’s able to read that line.
Confit Chicken Sous Vide
The dessert was a tempting treat. It was a slice of mousse with chunky portions of coconut in the middle layer and sweet-tart underneath. You have to admire its artistic presentation. It was lightly covered with chocolate powder. A single piece of date was adorned on top with a wedge of white and brown chocolate sheet stuck in it. Slicing it down and indulging with the complete layers in one bite gives you a tingling sensation so good you would want the taste to linger a bit more in your mouth.
When the dinner and the flight were over, we were asked if we wanted to relax at their Flyer Lounge. They serve cocktails, coffee, and tea while you chill at the alfresco area overlooking Marina Bay. We got ourselves some coffee and tea while chatting under the full moon.
Coconut Mousse with Tart and Exotic Fruit
When the dinner and the flight were over, we were asked if we wanted to relax at their Flyer Lounge. They serve cocktails, coffee, and tea while you chill at the alfresco area overlooking Marina Bay. We got ourselves some coffee and tea while chatting under the full moon.
Post-Flight Coffee and Tea
Post a Comment