The Langham Launches Blooming Afternoon Tea

Art month is in full swing in HK, with a whole host of creative concoctions on offer at various different hotspots across the city. 

The Langham, Hong Kong has wholeheartedly embraced the creative flow and launched their delightfully fun and frivolous Blooming Afternoon Tea menu. You may think you've seen it all when it comes to traditional afternoon tea sets, but The Langham has managed to reinvent the concept with the introduction of decadent designs and colourful textures to the pretty plates on offer.

Palm Court Lobby Lounge is the perfect setting for this whimsical experience and complements the classic yet luxuriously indulgent nature of the Blooming Afternoon Tea experience. As a live harpist strums in the background, the ambience is ethereal and transports guests a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of TST just outside.

The delicate dishes are – as expected – completely stunning and have all been conceptualised by Executive Pastry Chef Matthieu Godard. Chef Godard and his team have created a selection of five exquisite pastries designed as bouquet of blossoms with an abundance of flavours such as pistachio and white chocolate, strawberry and rose and classic chocolate. Savoury accompaniments include the 'pseudo' tomato patch with fillings of smoked salmon and cream cheese, chicken with Dijon mustard and green tea hummus with sesame paste.

The Langham also goes the extra mile with the addition of quirky touches such as the bespoke Garden Globe cocktail and an on-site illustrator to draw guests' portraits. The cocktail is a masterpiece in itself and a refreshing change from the usual glass of bubbles. Sheltered within an ice sphere, this creative concoction is made with elderflower, violet flower and blackcurrant liqueur, as well as fresh lime juice and egg white. This can be leisurely sipped while artist Tanya Bennet sketches a personalised portrait, ready to take home as a keepsake of a very memorable afternoon. 

The delicate dishes are – as expected – completely stunning and have all been conceptualised by Executive Pastry Chef Matthieu Godard. Chef Godard and his team have created a selection of five exquisite pastries designed as bouquet of blossoms with an abundance of flavours such as pistachio and white chocolate, strawberry and rose and classic chocolate. Savoury accompaniments include the 'pseudo' tomato patch with fillings of smoked salmon and cream cheese, chicken with Dijon mustard and green tea hummus with sesame paste.

The Langham also goes the extra mile with the addition of quirky touches such as the bespoke Garden Globe cocktail and an on-site illustrator to draw guests' portraits. The cocktail is a masterpiece in itself and a refreshing change from the usual glass of bubbles. Sheltered within an ice sphere, this creative concoction is made with elderflower, violet flower and blackcurrant liqueur, as well as fresh lime juice and egg white. This can be leisurely sipped while artist Tanya Bennet sketches a personalised portrait, ready to take home as a keepsake of a very memorable afternoon.

Palm Court, Lobby, The Langham, Hong Kong, 9 Peking Road, TST, 2375 1133, tlhkg.palm.court@langhamhotels.com

All images courtesy of The Langham Hotel 

Anantara Si Kao: The Andaman’s Best Kept Secret

Thailand is always top of my travel wish list: it ticks every box for any sort of getaway with its incredible beaches, varied activities, delicious food and lovely local people. On a recent trip to Krabi, I headed further south and off the beaten track to discover the Anantara Si Kao Resort. Admittedly, I was a little hesitant to venture away from my favourite spots on Railay Beach but, after four days of utterly blissful relaxation, I was won over by this serene hideaway – ideal for couples or families – in the mood for total tranquility.

Situated on the coastline of Trang, this retreat stands alone on 15km of pristine beach – perfect for a morning jog or afternoon strolls to burn off those holiday treats! The hotel is surrounded by lush greenery, enhancing the ethereal elements of the resort and setting it apart from the thronged tourist traps of Thailand.

Accommodation

The hotel holds 140 rooms and suites – for something extra special, you can splurge on a pool suite, complete with a private terrace and infinity pool. While the property does look a little tired in places, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay in a sea-facing room which was large, clean and comfortable – complete with a small balcony for evening sundowners.

Most notably, the staff were so pleasant and helpful and truly cared about the individual experience of each guest. I really appreciated the extra touches of afternoon deliveries of Thai sweets and handwritten notes from the Housekeeping Team, as well as a full pillow menu to ensure a sound night’s sleep. I think – with just a few minor tweaks – the Anantara Si Kao could be a supremely luxurious resort and I look forward to seeing it’s development over the next couple of years.

Restaurants

There are plenty of Thai and western options available at the resort’s two restaurants and pool bars. Every morning started at the Anantara Si Kao with an enormous buffet breakfast; brimming with an extensive assortment of pastries, cooked food, juices, teas and coffees. The hotel accommodated dietary requirements well and catered for all sorts of tastes and restrictions, offering both healthy and indulgent options.

For lunch and dinner, my absolute favourite foodie find was The Beach House restaurant which served up authentic Thai fare – the beef Masaman curry and fresh fish were absolutely outstanding. For a more romantic affair, we headed upstairs to sample the Italian fine dining offerings at Acqua, perched stunningly on the terrace of the hotel, overlooking the water. The Tom Yum Risotto is a must-try, trust me!

Leisure and Activities

The resort is over an hour’s drive from Krabi airport and is quite isolated. However, there were plenty of activities and excursions on offer that kept us entertained. Guests can avail of complimentary yoga, Thai boxing, water aerobics, basketball and tennis facilities and a kid’s club. For something slightly less strenuous, you can relax in the spa or, lounge by one of the two pools on site. There is a separate shaded pool for children under 12 which is a fantastic option for families and leaves the other pool peaceful for couples and singles.

There is a daily boat shuttle to the Anantara Si Koa’s private beach club, built on the powdery white sands of Koh Kraden, just about 20 minutes away from the mainland. Koh Kraden is total tropical island paradise and we spent the day snorkelling and swimming in balmy waters before a long, leisurely lunch. The hotel provided a huge range of excursions to Trang town to sample local dim sum and to various outlying islands and caves, as well as cooking classes and entertainment options. We also took kayaks into the nearby mangroves and paddled around for hours in search of the wonderful wildlife that inhabits the area.

The Anantara Si Kao is certainly not Party Central but, it’s not trying to be. If you’re in the mood to escape the madness and switch off for a couple of days – cocktail in hand –  this is a stellar option. For the stunning surroundings, super service and wealth of facilities, the rates are reasonable, in my opinion. The location would also be a fantastic space to host a team building event or off site, and the hotel regularly caters for such corporate events. With the short, direct flight from HK to Krabi, it’s easier than ever to explore the hidden gem of The Andaman Sea.

Details

Room rates vary according to seasonal demand but presently, a standard deluxe double including breakfast will set you back approximately $1400 per room, per night. There are numerous deals available on the hotel’s website too.

Anantara Si Kao, 198-199 Moo5, Had Pak Meng – Changlang Road, Changlang Beach, Maifad, Sikao, Trang, 92150, Thailand, +66 75 205 888, www.sikao.anantara.com

Original article appeared on Sassy Hong Kong. All images courtesy of Taking Hong Kong. 

Intercontinental's #852TAILS Menu is Dynamic and Distinctive

The Lobby Lounge at the InterContinental is 'the' place for cocktails, where every mover and shaker can be seen sipping effortlessly on something fabulous. Set against the iconic backdrop of Victoria Harbour and that skyline, this Hong Kong classic has got a whole lot of wow factor. 

To compliment the splendour of the surroundings, the InterContinental has just launched an extensive new cocktail and appetiser menu in the Lobby Lounge that is reflective of the dynamic and compelling energy of HK itself. Despite the fact that the hotel is situated in busy TST, the Lobby Lounge still manages to retain an ambience of chic, old Hollywood glamour that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the city.

With seven alcoholic cocktails and five non-alcoholic varieties, there is something for everyone on this long list of creations. While I do love an old reliable, I often find drink menus repetitive, and it can be difficult to discover innovative mixology. Rest assured that the curators at the Lobby Lounge have blended these beverages with a great splash of creative thought – there's not a cosmo or mai tai in sight! The elements of each drink – from the name to the ingredients – are intrinsically linked to aspects of local history and culture, taking the diner through a snapshot of storytelling with every sip. 

One of my favourites was the New Territories, a refreshing blend of gin, tonic, citrus, cucumber and bitter melon – a contemporary interpretation of a standard G and T. This would be ideal for cooling off during the summer season or as a light aperitif before dinner. On that note, Tea Time, inspired by the bo lo bao (pineapple bun), also had a tropical tang of buttered rum, pineapple, local honey and citrus. I was apprehensive that this could be a little too sickly, but it turned out to be the perfect sweet treat. For a different flavour, I loved the spicy, heady notes in From Condiment to Confection, a mix of bourbon, citrus, local honey, ginger and bitters; this is a great winter warmer for the colder snap. 

The appetisers that accompany these indulgent cocktails are a combination of festive features for the Lunar New Year (say hello to the best turnip cake ever) and firm favourites like the breadcrumbed fish and chips and the scrumptious Wagyu beef balls. It was the chilli plate that – quite literally – tickled my taste buds, though, as the snack selection ranged from one to five on the spice-ometer. For those a little shy of spice, the chilli cheese nuggets and stuffed jalapeños pack just the right amount of punch. If you're feeling like a bit more fire, the crispy octopus with piri-piri mayo and king prawns with chorizo are unforgettable. 

The Lobby Lounge features live entertainment nightly from 6pm–12:30am, with one of Asia's leading jazz singers, Jennifer Parlor, performing every Thursday from 9:45–11:45pm. With this sublime soundtrack, this is the only place to marvel at the harbour light show or simply enjoy an #852TAIL with a view. 

Lobby, InterContinental Hong Kong, 18 Salisbury Road, TST, 2721 1211

All images courtesy of The Intercontinental