First Class (SQ Suites,CX), Cities (HK, Guangzhou), Beach (Sanya) - A trip to China
Mar 9, 2017, 7:59 pm
#16
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: AY Platinum, UA Premier Platinum, OneWorld Emerald, VA Platinum
Posts: 558
Great TR, thanks.
btw... Your flight date is incorrect
Flight SQ25, JFK-FRA
Nov 25th, 2017 - 08:15p - 09:50+1
Airbus A380-800
First Class, Seat 2A
btw... Your flight date is incorrect
Flight SQ25, JFK-FRA
Nov 25th, 2017 - 08:15p - 09:50+1
Airbus A380-800
First Class, Seat 2A
Mar 13, 2017, 11:35 am
#17
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Hilton HHonors Gold
Posts: 2,863
Lufthansa Senator Lounge @ FRA
After being admitted at the lower floor entrance I proceeded to the lounge entrance upstairs. The Senator lounge is meant to be the Lufthansa First Class lounge for Star Alliance partner airlines. I had read many reviews online prior to my visit mentioning how the lounge was more a nice business class lounge than a first class one, so I did not have my hopes up too much. Yet, the lounge turned up to be better than I had expected.
Upon entering, you have a main desk on the left hand side of the lounge, staffed with two attendants. Behind it there is a spa (not complimentary) and the shower rooms.
The lounge has three sections: the first one, adjacent the entrance, is the restaurant area, with lots of dining tables (low and high). While there is no waiter service for dinner, the buffet (during breakfast hours at least) was pretty extensive, featuring a good array of continental, American, and German selections (I forgot to check whether there was any Asian food as well, since the lounge at the time was filled with Japanese businessmen waiting to board their ANA flight to Tokyo).
Then there was a central area, with dimmer lighting, sofas, and a nice bar area serving both alcoholic and espresso drinks.
Next to it, the third section of the lounge was a long, inviting seating area with great views over Frankfurt airport’s tarmac (and, at the end of it, a smoking area) and there was also a kid’s play area with various toys.
Overall, I found the lounge to be very inviting and well-designed, and while there were a lot of people it did not feel overly crowded.
I decided to use my layover to take a shower, so I proceeded to the shower lounge where I was immediately checked in by the nice front staff and offered some amenities (tootbrush, razor, etc). I believe there were 7-8 shower rooms, more than enough to avoid long lines. The room itself was quite large and comfortable (and not cold). There was a sink, a seating area, a toilet, and a large rainshower.
After refreshing myself I went back to the main area to grab some water and, of course, a pretzel with mustard, which I enjoyed while awing at the various planes on the tarmac (Air Canada, Qatar Airways, and Condor were all in front of the lounge).
Also, at some point I heard my name called through the speakers, and I was asked to go to the front desk. I was afraid I was late o board my flight, but in reality I had just forgotten my hair gel in the shower room and the staff had retrieved it for me – very much appreciated.
In any case, 35 minutes before departure time I made my way to the gate where boarding was already underway.
The Senator Lounge at Frankfurt Airport was certainly a good place for a hour-long layover. I do agree that it’s not on par with some good First Class lounges, but since it’s meant for LH partners flying in First Class I cannot fault Lufthansa for not investing more – althrough this is, clearly, a very good lounge and certainly better than your average business class lounge.
Upon entering, you have a main desk on the left hand side of the lounge, staffed with two attendants. Behind it there is a spa (not complimentary) and the shower rooms.
The lounge has three sections: the first one, adjacent the entrance, is the restaurant area, with lots of dining tables (low and high). While there is no waiter service for dinner, the buffet (during breakfast hours at least) was pretty extensive, featuring a good array of continental, American, and German selections (I forgot to check whether there was any Asian food as well, since the lounge at the time was filled with Japanese businessmen waiting to board their ANA flight to Tokyo).
Then there was a central area, with dimmer lighting, sofas, and a nice bar area serving both alcoholic and espresso drinks.
Next to it, the third section of the lounge was a long, inviting seating area with great views over Frankfurt airport’s tarmac (and, at the end of it, a smoking area) and there was also a kid’s play area with various toys.
Overall, I found the lounge to be very inviting and well-designed, and while there were a lot of people it did not feel overly crowded.
I decided to use my layover to take a shower, so I proceeded to the shower lounge where I was immediately checked in by the nice front staff and offered some amenities (tootbrush, razor, etc). I believe there were 7-8 shower rooms, more than enough to avoid long lines. The room itself was quite large and comfortable (and not cold). There was a sink, a seating area, a toilet, and a large rainshower.
After refreshing myself I went back to the main area to grab some water and, of course, a pretzel with mustard, which I enjoyed while awing at the various planes on the tarmac (Air Canada, Qatar Airways, and Condor were all in front of the lounge).
Also, at some point I heard my name called through the speakers, and I was asked to go to the front desk. I was afraid I was late o board my flight, but in reality I had just forgotten my hair gel in the shower room and the staff had retrieved it for me – very much appreciated.
In any case, 35 minutes before departure time I made my way to the gate where boarding was already underway.
The Senator Lounge at Frankfurt Airport was certainly a good place for a hour-long layover. I do agree that it’s not on par with some good First Class lounges, but since it’s meant for LH partners flying in First Class I cannot fault Lufthansa for not investing more – althrough this is, clearly, a very good lounge and certainly better than your average business class lounge.
Mar 17, 2017, 2:06 pm
#20
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FRA-SIN on SQ Suites (SQ F A388)
After checking my boarding pass I was let through and I made my way to the Suites entrance. No escort this time.
Upon entering the plane I was greeted by the full Suites crew and escorted to my suite, 2A. While the seat was the same as before, it had been thoroughly cleaned and freshened up – and a card mentioning exactly that was left on the console table to the seat’s side.
I will not report on the suite again, as even the plane was the same, but I will try to focus here more on the service and on the food.
A couple of minutes after sitting down the purser and the flight attendants came by to greet me and to wish me a good flight. My FA asked me if I wanted anything to drink, and I opted for some Dom.
I was offered newspapers and magazines and, also, a pajama – but no new amenity kit. I might not have mentioned it previously, but the pj’s was of great quality and very comfortable, as was the amenity kit from Salvatore Ferragamo which had a generous sample of men’s Eau de Toilette. When flying First I believe airlines have to justify somehow the price tag they put on their tickets, and small touches like this certainly help the cause.
The First Class cabin filled up quickly, and I counted at least 7 guests (but probably more) on this flight. This would affect service a bit throughout the flight, as the crew had to take care of more customers.
I liked my suite 2A because the configuration of the suites is slightly staggered, and so I couldn’t see (unless I tried hard) the people sitting next to me in the center suites. Also, the suites doors of SQ are open, with no windows but built in screens that can be pulled up or down and that provide more or less privacy, depending on the situation.
Take off happened on time, and the captain announced a smooth ride to Singapore that would land us there slightly ahead of schedule – a welcome new given that I only had 1h30m connection and that I wanted to check the private room but also had to pick up some duty free items I had bought through ishopchangi.com before leaving home (Singapore airport offers excellent value on some cosmetics brands – think SK-II for instance).
Once airborne, drinks orders were taken, together with lunch ones. For this segment I had not pre-selected anything from Book the Cook, as I wanted to see how the onboard offerings would stack against it. The menu on this flight was designed by Italian Michelin starred chef Massimo Cracco from Milan, and featured some interesting Northern-Italian selections. Here’s the full menu.
After taking the order, the flight attendant came back with a glass of Dom Perignon and satay as amuse bouche, and 15 minutes after the table was set.
The satay were alright, but honestly nothing special. There was something odd with the taste of the meat – not the meat itself but rather its seasoning. The table presentation was, once again, very nice.
I decided to skip the caviar on this flight and to have the stracciatella soup instead. TO be honest, I had never heard of this Italian dish, and so I was not sure what to expect. This is what I was delivered.
It was a burrata-like cheese with a chilled, almost jelly tomato soup.
It tasted great, and I my gamble not to have caviar this time paid off.
To follow I had the pumpkin soup, which ended up being extraordinary.
It was not as creamy as its North American or North European siblings – this Italian version was a lighter soup (almost a broth) with chunks of pumpkin in it. It was really good and it reminded me that soups ought to be light and flavorful.
Then, it was the main dish’s turn. I had selected another chef’s suggestion, the prosciutto-wrapped veal.
This main was not from book the cook, and in fact it wasn’t anything special. As the picture shows, it looked (and tasted) rather bland, and it just demonstrated that book the cook is the way to go on Singapore Airlines!
Next, some cheese.
The selection included Gambozola, Brie, and a German hard cheese – good overall.
It was served with a red wine sorbet and red wine sauce – and the ensemble was well executed indeed.
Overall, I enjoyed this meal. Dish presentation was very good, service impeccable as expected, and quality was great with the exception of the main which was mediocre. What really stood out was as in my previous flight the crew, which while not as attentive was still incredible.
While dining I had started watching a Chinese movie – Night Peacock – as I wanted to see where the Middle Kingdom cinema was heading. This love story set between Chengdu and Paris was actually pretty good from a cinematography and photography perspective – the storyline was perhaps a tad expected and the acting not superb, but I enjoyed it nevertheless and showed me how much China is investing in its movie industry.
While enjoying the movie I asked the crew to make up the bed for me, and while I changed into my pj the flight attendant obliged. While the suite is a bit “odd” compared to more modern first class suites (with the bed coming down from the wall and the whole thing shifting) the bed is very comfortable and the suite remains pretty spacious even while in bed mode).
I really wanted to be sleepy and rest on this flight, but I knew it was not going to happen. Not even a glass of Hennessy XO helped…
The suite felt really private while closed and hardly any noise could be heard.
Since sleep was not going to happen I just listened to some classical music (the IFE selection of classical music was extensive) and read my book while browsing the internet, which was reasonably priced and fast enough for browsing.
After about three hours, believe it or not, I was hungry, and so I called the flight attendant to order some food. I am not sure why, but even though I pressed the button twice nobody came in, so I took a restroom break to just ask for some noodle soup and a glass of Dom, which were delivered around 15 minutes later on a beautiful bed tray. Snack in bed – I can get used to that (this was much better than the awkward tray used on Etihad, for instance).
The noodle soup – with shrimp and fungus – was absolutely a winner. Nothing better than enjoying some good Chinese food while watching some tv if you ask me! 🙂
After finishing eating I kept reading my book on China, and I walked around the cabin a bit to stretch my legs…
Eventually we got around ninety minutes before landing, and the flight attendants came by to prepare the table for breakfast.
I started with some orange juice, water, and a decent Bloody Mary. I say decent because I still have to have a good one on a plane. These drinks were promptly followed by some much-needed fruit.
To follow, I ordered some muesli – given we were flying from Germany I figured the muesli must be good, and I was right. I like how creamy and flavorful this typical German breakfast dish is!
As main, I had asked for some scrambled eggs served with pancakes, and this is what the crew came up with.
right!
I had my breakfast with some drip coffee, which was good. This plane catered also Blue Mountain coffee from Jamaica, which I had mid flight and which was definitely very good – not sure the taste justifies the price tag, but this was enjoued on a plane, hence it might actualy be even better on the ground.
After breakfast I went to the lavatories to shave and freshen up and change before landing. I really liked SQ amenities in the bathroom, including lotions, razors, and real towelettes.
As it was still dark I did not have the chance to take any picture of Singapore upon landing, but we did end up arriving at our gate about 15 minutes earlier as promised. I was the first customer to leave the plane, and in doing so I was bid farewell by all the First Class crew.
Overall, this was another excellent sector on Singapore Suites Class. The attention to detail and courteousness of the crew is truly unmatched! Still, the flight wasn’t as memorable as the JFK-FRA segment, mostly because as this flight was fuller I felt like the crew couldn’t dedicate as much attention to each single customer.
Now, on to Changi airport!
Upon entering the plane I was greeted by the full Suites crew and escorted to my suite, 2A. While the seat was the same as before, it had been thoroughly cleaned and freshened up – and a card mentioning exactly that was left on the console table to the seat’s side.
I will not report on the suite again, as even the plane was the same, but I will try to focus here more on the service and on the food.
A couple of minutes after sitting down the purser and the flight attendants came by to greet me and to wish me a good flight. My FA asked me if I wanted anything to drink, and I opted for some Dom.
I was offered newspapers and magazines and, also, a pajama – but no new amenity kit. I might not have mentioned it previously, but the pj’s was of great quality and very comfortable, as was the amenity kit from Salvatore Ferragamo which had a generous sample of men’s Eau de Toilette. When flying First I believe airlines have to justify somehow the price tag they put on their tickets, and small touches like this certainly help the cause.
The First Class cabin filled up quickly, and I counted at least 7 guests (but probably more) on this flight. This would affect service a bit throughout the flight, as the crew had to take care of more customers.
I liked my suite 2A because the configuration of the suites is slightly staggered, and so I couldn’t see (unless I tried hard) the people sitting next to me in the center suites. Also, the suites doors of SQ are open, with no windows but built in screens that can be pulled up or down and that provide more or less privacy, depending on the situation.
Take off happened on time, and the captain announced a smooth ride to Singapore that would land us there slightly ahead of schedule – a welcome new given that I only had 1h30m connection and that I wanted to check the private room but also had to pick up some duty free items I had bought through ishopchangi.com before leaving home (Singapore airport offers excellent value on some cosmetics brands – think SK-II for instance).
Once airborne, drinks orders were taken, together with lunch ones. For this segment I had not pre-selected anything from Book the Cook, as I wanted to see how the onboard offerings would stack against it. The menu on this flight was designed by Italian Michelin starred chef Massimo Cracco from Milan, and featured some interesting Northern-Italian selections. Here’s the full menu.
After taking the order, the flight attendant came back with a glass of Dom Perignon and satay as amuse bouche, and 15 minutes after the table was set.
The satay were alright, but honestly nothing special. There was something odd with the taste of the meat – not the meat itself but rather its seasoning. The table presentation was, once again, very nice.
I decided to skip the caviar on this flight and to have the stracciatella soup instead. TO be honest, I had never heard of this Italian dish, and so I was not sure what to expect. This is what I was delivered.
It was a burrata-like cheese with a chilled, almost jelly tomato soup.
It tasted great, and I my gamble not to have caviar this time paid off.
To follow I had the pumpkin soup, which ended up being extraordinary.
It was not as creamy as its North American or North European siblings – this Italian version was a lighter soup (almost a broth) with chunks of pumpkin in it. It was really good and it reminded me that soups ought to be light and flavorful.
Then, it was the main dish’s turn. I had selected another chef’s suggestion, the prosciutto-wrapped veal.
This main was not from book the cook, and in fact it wasn’t anything special. As the picture shows, it looked (and tasted) rather bland, and it just demonstrated that book the cook is the way to go on Singapore Airlines!
Next, some cheese.
The selection included Gambozola, Brie, and a German hard cheese – good overall.
It was served with a red wine sorbet and red wine sauce – and the ensemble was well executed indeed.
Overall, I enjoyed this meal. Dish presentation was very good, service impeccable as expected, and quality was great with the exception of the main which was mediocre. What really stood out was as in my previous flight the crew, which while not as attentive was still incredible.
While dining I had started watching a Chinese movie – Night Peacock – as I wanted to see where the Middle Kingdom cinema was heading. This love story set between Chengdu and Paris was actually pretty good from a cinematography and photography perspective – the storyline was perhaps a tad expected and the acting not superb, but I enjoyed it nevertheless and showed me how much China is investing in its movie industry.
While enjoying the movie I asked the crew to make up the bed for me, and while I changed into my pj the flight attendant obliged. While the suite is a bit “odd” compared to more modern first class suites (with the bed coming down from the wall and the whole thing shifting) the bed is very comfortable and the suite remains pretty spacious even while in bed mode).
I really wanted to be sleepy and rest on this flight, but I knew it was not going to happen. Not even a glass of Hennessy XO helped…
The suite felt really private while closed and hardly any noise could be heard.
Since sleep was not going to happen I just listened to some classical music (the IFE selection of classical music was extensive) and read my book while browsing the internet, which was reasonably priced and fast enough for browsing.
After about three hours, believe it or not, I was hungry, and so I called the flight attendant to order some food. I am not sure why, but even though I pressed the button twice nobody came in, so I took a restroom break to just ask for some noodle soup and a glass of Dom, which were delivered around 15 minutes later on a beautiful bed tray. Snack in bed – I can get used to that (this was much better than the awkward tray used on Etihad, for instance).
The noodle soup – with shrimp and fungus – was absolutely a winner. Nothing better than enjoying some good Chinese food while watching some tv if you ask me! 🙂
After finishing eating I kept reading my book on China, and I walked around the cabin a bit to stretch my legs…
Eventually we got around ninety minutes before landing, and the flight attendants came by to prepare the table for breakfast.
I started with some orange juice, water, and a decent Bloody Mary. I say decent because I still have to have a good one on a plane. These drinks were promptly followed by some much-needed fruit.
To follow, I ordered some muesli – given we were flying from Germany I figured the muesli must be good, and I was right. I like how creamy and flavorful this typical German breakfast dish is!
As main, I had asked for some scrambled eggs served with pancakes, and this is what the crew came up with.
right!
I had my breakfast with some drip coffee, which was good. This plane catered also Blue Mountain coffee from Jamaica, which I had mid flight and which was definitely very good – not sure the taste justifies the price tag, but this was enjoued on a plane, hence it might actualy be even better on the ground.
After breakfast I went to the lavatories to shave and freshen up and change before landing. I really liked SQ amenities in the bathroom, including lotions, razors, and real towelettes.
As it was still dark I did not have the chance to take any picture of Singapore upon landing, but we did end up arriving at our gate about 15 minutes earlier as promised. I was the first customer to leave the plane, and in doing so I was bid farewell by all the First Class crew.
Overall, this was another excellent sector on Singapore Suites Class. The attention to detail and courteousness of the crew is truly unmatched! Still, the flight wasn’t as memorable as the JFK-FRA segment, mostly because as this flight was fuller I felt like the crew couldn’t dedicate as much attention to each single customer.
Now, on to Changi airport!
Apr 5, 2017, 3:12 pm
#21
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Hilton HHonors Gold
Posts: 2,863
Private Room at SIN
After this long marathon on SQ First, I finally arrived in Singapore. Upon deplaning I made my way through the connection hall where I caught a bus to the main terminal, where my flight to Hong Kong would depart from. I had around 1h30m before my next flight, and I needed to pick up some duty free items (SK-II lotions – much cheaper at Changi than anywhere else!) that I had previously bought online before making my way to the lounges.
The terminal is really impressive. As you might have read online, Changi offers a host of amenities ranging from a swimming pool to free city tours for in-transit passengers, and it’s consistently rated #1 airport in the World by Skytrax; if you pass through it you will easily see that this honor is highly deserved.
After picking up my lotions I headed to the SQ lounge area, located upstairs from the main concourse. At the reception desk I had to show my boarding pass, and then an attendant escorted me all the way to the back of the lounge, past the First Class section, where the Private Room is located.
I had read two major complaints about this lounge: it’s small; it’s boring. Both are true. I am glad I had only 30 minutes to spend there, because the area is so quiet and secluded that anything longer would feel like a waster of time.
In any case, the look and feel of the space is very classy, and the sit-down restaurant top notch. The area is big enough to accommodate all the guests that might visit the lounge at once (I assume), and the decor is luxurious.
I had (yet another) breakfast – Roti Prata (which was delicious) and cappuccino (which was alright).
After my quick breakfast, I walked around the lounge a bit. Nothing much to see.
I also checked out the restroom, that was impeccably immaculate.
At T-40 I started packing to leave the lounge to head to my gate. I was able to glance into the business class lounge (and first class one), which looked busy but nice.
A short walk delivered to my gate, where I would catch my final final to Hong Kong.
Overall, I liked the Private Room for its ambiance and decor; however, the size and lack of real entertainment options doesn’t make it stand out as one of the top lounges out there.
The terminal is really impressive. As you might have read online, Changi offers a host of amenities ranging from a swimming pool to free city tours for in-transit passengers, and it’s consistently rated #1 airport in the World by Skytrax; if you pass through it you will easily see that this honor is highly deserved.
After picking up my lotions I headed to the SQ lounge area, located upstairs from the main concourse. At the reception desk I had to show my boarding pass, and then an attendant escorted me all the way to the back of the lounge, past the First Class section, where the Private Room is located.
I had read two major complaints about this lounge: it’s small; it’s boring. Both are true. I am glad I had only 30 minutes to spend there, because the area is so quiet and secluded that anything longer would feel like a waster of time.
In any case, the look and feel of the space is very classy, and the sit-down restaurant top notch. The area is big enough to accommodate all the guests that might visit the lounge at once (I assume), and the decor is luxurious.
I had (yet another) breakfast – Roti Prata (which was delicious) and cappuccino (which was alright).
After my quick breakfast, I walked around the lounge a bit. Nothing much to see.
I also checked out the restroom, that was impeccably immaculate.
At T-40 I started packing to leave the lounge to head to my gate. I was able to glance into the business class lounge (and first class one), which looked busy but nice.
A short walk delivered to my gate, where I would catch my final final to Hong Kong.
Overall, I liked the Private Room for its ambiance and decor; however, the size and lack of real entertainment options doesn’t make it stand out as one of the top lounges out there.
Apr 6, 2017, 1:54 am
#24
Join Date: May 2015
Location: ATL/MCO
Programs: Costco Executive, RaceTrac Sultan of Soda, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 5,660
Apr 7, 2017, 10:50 am
#27
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Hilton HHonors Gold
Posts: 2,863
SIN-HKG on SQ First (A388)
Flight SQ860
Nov 27th, 2016, 8:25a – 12:25p
Airbus A380-800
Seat 2A, Suites Class
Upon boarding the whole First Class crew was at the door greeting passengers. I was quickly escorted to my suite – 2A once more; 2A started to feel a bit like my home, I wish I had tried another seat just to compare.
Within minutes, all the Suites crew came by introducing themselves – quite a parade of people! Given the short flight no amenity kit/pj’s were offered, which was of course fine. Some Perrier to start the journey right.
The first hot towel of the flight ensued. It’s amazing how many towels SQ dispenses on each flight – something truly over the top but much appreciated as the feeling that a wet towel brings while on a plane is priceless.
The cabin was quite full for such a short flight, I would say 8/12 seats were taken. We pushed back on time, and we were quickly airborne flying over Singapore.
Service quickly started, and orders were taken from the following menu.
I had pre-ordered the beef rending for this leg, one of my absolute-favorite dishes out there. This was a brunch service, which meant that a mix of breakfast and lunch options were offered. I started with some fresh fruit.
That was followed by some yogurt (served with honey) and a toast (served with jam and butter).
I had a cup of Black Tea from the excellent tea menu – it didn’t disappoint. As in the two previous flights, I found catering and service absolutely top notch.
Then, my main arrived.
Beef rendang is a staple of Indonesian and Malay cuisine – slow cooked beef with peanuts and spices. The meat is supposed to be tender and flavorful, and I was curious to see how would SQ execute this dish. To my delight, both the stew and the rice were excellent – and the whole dish was gone within minutes (thanks to some Krug as well). In my experience, Indonesian is one of the most underrated cuisines out there (together with Hungarian), and I urge anyone seriously into food to venture out to try some Indonesian food sooner rather than later – you won’t be disappointed by this eclectic mix of South East Asian, Dutch, and Indian flavors.
To conclude the meal, I had the lavender pudding, which was fantastic.
The flight proceeded uneventfully, and after a cup more of tea (and two more glasses of Krug) we landed in Hong Kong right on time.
What an epic journey on Singapore Airlines this has been! The airline truly lived to my expectations, offering a classy, sophisticated, and seamless experience from the moment I stepped into JFK to the moment I landed in Hong Kong. While the hard product is not the most cutting-edge out there, the seats and beds were very comfortable and the quality of IFE was great. Yet, soft service is what really made the difference, as SQ went above and beyond to attend to my every need and quirks.
105,000 KrisFlyer miles for this journey feels like a steal; I can’t wait to fly Singapore Airlines Suites class again soon!
Nov 27th, 2016, 8:25a – 12:25p
Airbus A380-800
Seat 2A, Suites Class
Upon boarding the whole First Class crew was at the door greeting passengers. I was quickly escorted to my suite – 2A once more; 2A started to feel a bit like my home, I wish I had tried another seat just to compare.
Within minutes, all the Suites crew came by introducing themselves – quite a parade of people! Given the short flight no amenity kit/pj’s were offered, which was of course fine. Some Perrier to start the journey right.
The first hot towel of the flight ensued. It’s amazing how many towels SQ dispenses on each flight – something truly over the top but much appreciated as the feeling that a wet towel brings while on a plane is priceless.
The cabin was quite full for such a short flight, I would say 8/12 seats were taken. We pushed back on time, and we were quickly airborne flying over Singapore.
Service quickly started, and orders were taken from the following menu.
I had pre-ordered the beef rending for this leg, one of my absolute-favorite dishes out there. This was a brunch service, which meant that a mix of breakfast and lunch options were offered. I started with some fresh fruit.
That was followed by some yogurt (served with honey) and a toast (served with jam and butter).
I had a cup of Black Tea from the excellent tea menu – it didn’t disappoint. As in the two previous flights, I found catering and service absolutely top notch.
Then, my main arrived.
Beef rendang is a staple of Indonesian and Malay cuisine – slow cooked beef with peanuts and spices. The meat is supposed to be tender and flavorful, and I was curious to see how would SQ execute this dish. To my delight, both the stew and the rice were excellent – and the whole dish was gone within minutes (thanks to some Krug as well). In my experience, Indonesian is one of the most underrated cuisines out there (together with Hungarian), and I urge anyone seriously into food to venture out to try some Indonesian food sooner rather than later – you won’t be disappointed by this eclectic mix of South East Asian, Dutch, and Indian flavors.
To conclude the meal, I had the lavender pudding, which was fantastic.
The flight proceeded uneventfully, and after a cup more of tea (and two more glasses of Krug) we landed in Hong Kong right on time.
What an epic journey on Singapore Airlines this has been! The airline truly lived to my expectations, offering a classy, sophisticated, and seamless experience from the moment I stepped into JFK to the moment I landed in Hong Kong. While the hard product is not the most cutting-edge out there, the seats and beds were very comfortable and the quality of IFE was great. Yet, soft service is what really made the difference, as SQ went above and beyond to attend to my every need and quirks.
105,000 KrisFlyer miles for this journey feels like a steal; I can’t wait to fly Singapore Airlines Suites class again soon!
Apr 10, 2017, 10:34 am
#28
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: DFW
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum, Hilton HHonors Gold
Posts: 2,863
Hong Kong - Zhejiang Heen and Yan Toh Heen (1* and 2* Michelin)
There are few places in the World like Hong Kong. Asia’s World City is a melting pot of cultures and lifestyle, a place where people flock to find fortune and riches; while the area of this semi-independent area is small, it houses seven million people who mostly live in tall buildings and tiny apartments. Hong Kong, the center of Cantonese culture, the place (together with Singapore) where East meets West, was certainly the perfect place to start our trip.
While both Thuy and I had been to Hong Kong before, we had visited this city separately and mostly on a budget. This time, though, we had enough money to afford to stay at a nice hotel – the beautiful InterContinental – and to eat at two Michelin-starred restaurants.
In a way, the fact we had already been here before made our visit easier and more enjoyable. No stress due to having to see a lot of things, just time to ourselves to enjoy what we really wanted to do. The shear number of luxury hotels in Hong Kong is stunning, yet it’s no surprising given that the city is such a global business hub. I have always been fascinated by the luxury hotels of Central and Wan Chai – from the Four Seasons and its infinity pool overlooking the straight to the Island Shangri-La; and the InterContinental has always been one of the hotels, together with the original Peninsula, that captured my imagination, mostly because of its stunning location in Kowloon with sweeping views of the island’s skyline.
Hotels really are the center of the social expat life in Hong Kong (as in much of Asia); from glitzy bars to World-class restaurants, it’s hard to beat the hotel scene here. This is a reminder of bygone days when, during the British Colonial times, hotels really were the places to be and be seen by aristocrats and adventurers alike. So why shouldn’t we embrace this trend, albeit only for 24 hours?
I mean, look at the view from our Deluxe room, both during the day and at night…
It was absolutely the best hotel view I have ever enjoyed so far, and one to remember. The picture-perfect Hong Kong skyline was the perfect backdrop to a fantastic, large room that featured a very comfortable bed, a large bathroom with shower and deep-soaking tub (and lots of amenities), and complimentary tea prepared and delivered directly to your room. The service was excellent as well – we were offered the room that we exactly requested and we were given a complimentary bottle of red wine because they could not do turn down service (because we forgot to take off the “do not disturb” sign…!). These things are hard to beat.
The hotel also had a very nice gym overlooking Kowloon – it came handy given how jetlagged we were. Cardio equipment and resistance machines plus free weights ensured a good workout. Oh, and did I mention that the hotel had a very nice infinity jacuzzi overlooking Hong Kong Island? Believe me, nothing can beat the feeling of hot water while enjoying such a view.
But enough with hotels, we were in Hong Kong mostly to eat – to enjoy some Cantonese cuisine at its best. The number of highly-rates restaurants in Hong Kong varies from simple eateries where to enjoy roasted goose to World Class luxury establishments where to enjoy the best Western and Eastern cuisine. We settled on a bit of both. First, we went to Zhejiang Heen, a one-Michelin-star restaurant in Wan Chai that had the decor of your neighborhood Chinese restaurant in the Bay Area but the flavors of the best Shanghainese cuisine can offer. (Before that, we had tried a local pub in Wan Chai (Oolaa Petite) that had some good “fat fries” and some decently-priced prosecco at happy hour). At dinner, we had some Szchuan hot beef stew, diced chicken, stir fried noodles, and rice.
The flavors were so amazing, that having Chinese food outside of China will now be hard. No, really, it was that good – especially because the bill came out at U$40 including a good jasmine tea. Beat that.
Yet, feeding the body is only part of the equation – you need to feed your soul as well. Before dinner we went to Mass, the first Sunday of Advent, at the Church of Mt Carmel in Wan Chai. The liturgy was very similar to the one in the West, but there were some notable differences mostly due to the fear of germs pervasive in this part of the World: no one would shake your hand and no one would drink from the same chalice (they would dip their host in it instead). That was very interesting, as it was the church, which was located in a generic, non-descript building.
Ok, food is great, but I feel the real highlight of Hong Kong are the various views you can get around the island. I mentioned earlier our stunning day view from our hotel room. Well, this was the night view.
I mean, isn’t this stunning?? One of the advantages of staying at the InterContinental is that the famed Avenue of the Stars is only steps away, and nowhere in Hong Kong you can probably get a better view of the island’s skyline – but take my advice, go there early in the morning for the best lighting!
Or what about the view you get from the Peak, the 800-something meters high mountain that sits behind Central? While it’s windy and cold up there, the sight is spectacular and the tram ride to get there just as fun!
Oh, wait, did I mention that my favorite thing ever in Hong Kong, though, is the Star Ferry? This century-old steamer is simply the best way to cross the Strait – period! And the view you get from the ferry – with the gentle sea breeze – is another unforgettable highlight.
You know, Hong Kong Island is such an intriguing place. I particularly enjoy Central and SoHo, with their bustling roads and narrow alleys.
In one of those alley we found the perfect place for a true Hong Kong breakfast – don’t get too excited, that simply means macaroni in chicken broth with toppings – eggs and beef in this case. Have them with a mango bread roll – stuffed with a big chunk of butter – and some milk tea, and you’ll look (well, almost) like a local…!
With all the hustle and bustle, the island manages to pack some green space, too!
I mean, Hong Kong boasts an impressive array of peaks and forests and hiking trails, and I am pretty sure that living in Hong Kong offers actually outdoor opportunities aplenty. For instance, an easy trip for the center is Po Lin monastery on Lantau Island, which – while we did not visit it during this trip, is a sensational Buddhist temple with one of the biggest statues of Buddha in the World.
Ok, all this sightseeing made us hungry again, so how could you beat a tasting lunch with wine pairings at Yan Toh Heen, a two Michelin stars restaurant within the InterContinental Hotel? Probably you can’t.
This was the menu.
Let me tell you in advance that the service was nothing short of outstanding. The waiters were very polite, professional, and knowledgeable. Our glasses never went empty. As tradition in upscale Chinese restaurants, the tea menu was big, and a tea sommelier was ready to recommend us the perfect tea pairing for our meal (we set on some Oolong tea from Fujian which was exceptional).
Some nibbles were taken out, and then our fantastic tea followed.
We started with the dim sums:
As you can probably tell from the pictures, the presentation was outstanding – and the flavor was wonderful as well. The texture and the subtlety of these dim sums really made them stand apart.
Then, the soup came. This was a sort of sweet corn soup – something popular in Chinese cuisine. I enjoyed it.
To follow, the steamed sachet with Abalone sauce were brought out.
This was my favorite dish of the meal – I do not know how to explain it – the tofu sachet were soft and tender and the abalone sauce gave everything a great flavor.
The pork was next.
I wanted to add that we decided to go with the wine pairing – at HKD250 per person we said “why not”? We were glad we did, as we got champagne, sake, and Chianti. Not bad at all!
After the pork, it was the turn of the stir fry noodles – enjoyable as well.
To finish, we had two excellent desserts.
A perfect, semi-sweet ending to one of the most amazing meals to date.
Yan Toh Heen really delivered a great experience, and it was the perfect ending to this short but fun 24 hours in town. Hong Kong is a great place, no matter what. There is something for everyone – one of the reasons why I love this city so much. I am glad I got to spend some time here with Thuy, and we definitely look forward to come back sometimes in the near future.
While both Thuy and I had been to Hong Kong before, we had visited this city separately and mostly on a budget. This time, though, we had enough money to afford to stay at a nice hotel – the beautiful InterContinental – and to eat at two Michelin-starred restaurants.
In a way, the fact we had already been here before made our visit easier and more enjoyable. No stress due to having to see a lot of things, just time to ourselves to enjoy what we really wanted to do. The shear number of luxury hotels in Hong Kong is stunning, yet it’s no surprising given that the city is such a global business hub. I have always been fascinated by the luxury hotels of Central and Wan Chai – from the Four Seasons and its infinity pool overlooking the straight to the Island Shangri-La; and the InterContinental has always been one of the hotels, together with the original Peninsula, that captured my imagination, mostly because of its stunning location in Kowloon with sweeping views of the island’s skyline.
Hotels really are the center of the social expat life in Hong Kong (as in much of Asia); from glitzy bars to World-class restaurants, it’s hard to beat the hotel scene here. This is a reminder of bygone days when, during the British Colonial times, hotels really were the places to be and be seen by aristocrats and adventurers alike. So why shouldn’t we embrace this trend, albeit only for 24 hours?
I mean, look at the view from our Deluxe room, both during the day and at night…
It was absolutely the best hotel view I have ever enjoyed so far, and one to remember. The picture-perfect Hong Kong skyline was the perfect backdrop to a fantastic, large room that featured a very comfortable bed, a large bathroom with shower and deep-soaking tub (and lots of amenities), and complimentary tea prepared and delivered directly to your room. The service was excellent as well – we were offered the room that we exactly requested and we were given a complimentary bottle of red wine because they could not do turn down service (because we forgot to take off the “do not disturb” sign…!). These things are hard to beat.
The hotel also had a very nice gym overlooking Kowloon – it came handy given how jetlagged we were. Cardio equipment and resistance machines plus free weights ensured a good workout. Oh, and did I mention that the hotel had a very nice infinity jacuzzi overlooking Hong Kong Island? Believe me, nothing can beat the feeling of hot water while enjoying such a view.
But enough with hotels, we were in Hong Kong mostly to eat – to enjoy some Cantonese cuisine at its best. The number of highly-rates restaurants in Hong Kong varies from simple eateries where to enjoy roasted goose to World Class luxury establishments where to enjoy the best Western and Eastern cuisine. We settled on a bit of both. First, we went to Zhejiang Heen, a one-Michelin-star restaurant in Wan Chai that had the decor of your neighborhood Chinese restaurant in the Bay Area but the flavors of the best Shanghainese cuisine can offer. (Before that, we had tried a local pub in Wan Chai (Oolaa Petite) that had some good “fat fries” and some decently-priced prosecco at happy hour). At dinner, we had some Szchuan hot beef stew, diced chicken, stir fried noodles, and rice.
The flavors were so amazing, that having Chinese food outside of China will now be hard. No, really, it was that good – especially because the bill came out at U$40 including a good jasmine tea. Beat that.
Yet, feeding the body is only part of the equation – you need to feed your soul as well. Before dinner we went to Mass, the first Sunday of Advent, at the Church of Mt Carmel in Wan Chai. The liturgy was very similar to the one in the West, but there were some notable differences mostly due to the fear of germs pervasive in this part of the World: no one would shake your hand and no one would drink from the same chalice (they would dip their host in it instead). That was very interesting, as it was the church, which was located in a generic, non-descript building.
Ok, food is great, but I feel the real highlight of Hong Kong are the various views you can get around the island. I mentioned earlier our stunning day view from our hotel room. Well, this was the night view.
I mean, isn’t this stunning?? One of the advantages of staying at the InterContinental is that the famed Avenue of the Stars is only steps away, and nowhere in Hong Kong you can probably get a better view of the island’s skyline – but take my advice, go there early in the morning for the best lighting!
Or what about the view you get from the Peak, the 800-something meters high mountain that sits behind Central? While it’s windy and cold up there, the sight is spectacular and the tram ride to get there just as fun!
Oh, wait, did I mention that my favorite thing ever in Hong Kong, though, is the Star Ferry? This century-old steamer is simply the best way to cross the Strait – period! And the view you get from the ferry – with the gentle sea breeze – is another unforgettable highlight.
You know, Hong Kong Island is such an intriguing place. I particularly enjoy Central and SoHo, with their bustling roads and narrow alleys.
In one of those alley we found the perfect place for a true Hong Kong breakfast – don’t get too excited, that simply means macaroni in chicken broth with toppings – eggs and beef in this case. Have them with a mango bread roll – stuffed with a big chunk of butter – and some milk tea, and you’ll look (well, almost) like a local…!
With all the hustle and bustle, the island manages to pack some green space, too!
I mean, Hong Kong boasts an impressive array of peaks and forests and hiking trails, and I am pretty sure that living in Hong Kong offers actually outdoor opportunities aplenty. For instance, an easy trip for the center is Po Lin monastery on Lantau Island, which – while we did not visit it during this trip, is a sensational Buddhist temple with one of the biggest statues of Buddha in the World.
Ok, all this sightseeing made us hungry again, so how could you beat a tasting lunch with wine pairings at Yan Toh Heen, a two Michelin stars restaurant within the InterContinental Hotel? Probably you can’t.
This was the menu.
Let me tell you in advance that the service was nothing short of outstanding. The waiters were very polite, professional, and knowledgeable. Our glasses never went empty. As tradition in upscale Chinese restaurants, the tea menu was big, and a tea sommelier was ready to recommend us the perfect tea pairing for our meal (we set on some Oolong tea from Fujian which was exceptional).
Some nibbles were taken out, and then our fantastic tea followed.
We started with the dim sums:
As you can probably tell from the pictures, the presentation was outstanding – and the flavor was wonderful as well. The texture and the subtlety of these dim sums really made them stand apart.
Then, the soup came. This was a sort of sweet corn soup – something popular in Chinese cuisine. I enjoyed it.
To follow, the steamed sachet with Abalone sauce were brought out.
This was my favorite dish of the meal – I do not know how to explain it – the tofu sachet were soft and tender and the abalone sauce gave everything a great flavor.
The pork was next.
I wanted to add that we decided to go with the wine pairing – at HKD250 per person we said “why not”? We were glad we did, as we got champagne, sake, and Chianti. Not bad at all!
After the pork, it was the turn of the stir fry noodles – enjoyable as well.
To finish, we had two excellent desserts.
A perfect, semi-sweet ending to one of the most amazing meals to date.
Yan Toh Heen really delivered a great experience, and it was the perfect ending to this short but fun 24 hours in town. Hong Kong is a great place, no matter what. There is something for everyone – one of the reasons why I love this city so much. I am glad I got to spend some time here with Thuy, and we definitely look forward to come back sometimes in the near future.
Apr 11, 2017, 7:52 pm
#29
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NYC
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Posts: 1,181
Great trip report! With the litany of Michelin-starred restaurants in Hong Kong, just curious why you went with two Chinese meals?
Also minor nit, but the literal translation of the breakfast bun is a pineapple bun.
Also minor nit, but the literal translation of the breakfast bun is a pineapple bun.
Apr 11, 2017, 7:59 pm
#30
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Original Poster
Join Date: May 2009
Location: DFW
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Posts: 2,863
Well, we figured that while in Hong Kong, we needed to have the real deal! We did not want two Cantonese meals, so we settled on Zhejiang Heen which offers - well - Zhejiang food. Very happy with the choice!