Amp Up Your Afternoons With Treats by a Famed Singaporean Chef at Solaire This Week

(SPOT.ph) Afternoon snacks, or merienda as we Filipinos call it, are a staple in our dining culture. People often dig into bread, sweets, or anything relatively lighter than a full meal paired with a cup of tea, coffee, or a cool glass of juice to keep their tummies happy 'til dinnertime. If you want to give yourself an afternoon snack you won't soon forget, head on over to Solaire Resorts and Casino this week to enjoy a special treat-yourself version courtesy of renowned Singaporean chef Justin Quek.

From September 20 to 25, enjoy Afternoon Tea with a Justin Quek twist at Solaire's Oasis Garden Cafe. Specially designed by chef Justin, diners will be treated to a mix of savory and sweet bites paired with a glass of white wine—talk about a luxe merienda.

Also read: These Hotel Buffets in Manila Are Worth the Splurge

Here's what to expect from Solaire's latest afternoon offering:

Priced at P2,288 per set, this afternoon tea set is good for two people. The degustation starts with a serving of dim sum: A Truffle Xiao Long Bao and Siu Mei Stuffed with Molten Quail Egg. The Truffle Xiao Long Bao's soupy interior, with its earthy and fragrant truffle flavor, is an excellent and warm start for your tummy. Follow that up with a careful bite of the siu mei, topped with truffle cooked in mushroom butter. We say careful because you would want to savor the molten egg center and have its richness gently fill your palate. Bearing clean flavors with no overpowering aftertaste, these bites are a great start to your journey. 

Next, you'll be served a bowl of JQ Spicy Noodle Soup, one of the most requested items in chef Justin's arsenal and a testament to his ability to balance heat and savory flavors. This spicy dish is reminiscent of the Korean jjampong, but don't be fooled by its seemingly simple appearance. This bowl packs lots of flavors and a textural punch. The pork and shrimp work together to form a delectable broth that is worth powering through despite the creeping heat from spices. Meanwhile, bits of crisp pork rinds swimming in the broth, along with fish cakes and thin slices of meat, make this soup a textural experience worth remembering.

Last but certainly not least, a wheel of savory and sweet bites punctuates the lineup of dishes for the afternoon. Meant to be consumed in a clockwise direction, this selection of nibbles is curated in a way that aims to help diners to better appreciate the flavors of each item.

The wheel consists of Housemade Seaweed Crackers, Truffle Croque Monsieur, Durian Puffs, Odeh Odeh, Chendol Crème Brûlée, Jasmine Tea Jelly with Lychee and Osmanthus Flowers, Salted Almond Tulle, freshly-baked Financiers, Calamansi Tarts, and Kampot Black Pepper Praline. It's easy to feel overwhelmed by all the food in this wheel of delight, but in true light-snacking fashion, each item is portioned just right, leaving you satisfied.

Notable snacks in the wheel include the Housemade Seaweed Crackers, perfect for fans of nori. Aside from the seaweed flavor, this treat is crunchy and addictive without the overbearing briny flavor. Going into the sweeter side of the menu, durian fans are bound to appreciate the light and creamy Durian Puffs, which keep the natural creamy taste and texture of durian sandwiched between two layers of light and airy choux pastry. The real treat for us is the Odeh Odeh, a lightly sweetened layered sponge with grated coconut, coconut milk, pandan, and plum juice sugar. Odeh Odeh reminds us of the Filipino suman latik in flavor but with a light and moist cake base. Onto the final level of our snack wheel,  you can't go wrong with the Calamansi Tart, with its perfectly balanced sweet and sour push-and-pull all kept together in a light pastry base. Finally, the earthy and chocolatey Praline, with its rich chocolate center sprinkled with Kampot black pepper, are the perfect bites to end your afternoon tea. Paired with a glass of semi-dry Riesling from one of Germany's oldest vineyards, all these delicious snacks are great for slow afternoon munching and chatting with your friends and loved ones.

Aside from Afternoon Tea at the Oasis, Chef Justin Quek has also curated special menus for Red Lantern, which include a limited-seating Wine Pairing Dinner and a special Dim Sum Lunch Buffet with a distinct Singaporean touch. Think dishes like white corn cappuccino, Singapore chili crab dumplings, and pan-roasted pavé of salmon with cauliflower puree, hazelnut oil and aged balsamic.

Justin Quek has worked in highly reputable properties across Asia and esteemed Michelin Star restaurants across Europe, where he refined his skills and established a culinary style that blends the mastery of French techniques with his Chinese heritage. He was appointed the first Singaporean chef to serve the French ambassador. Later, he became a partner and the opening chef de cuisine for famed French fine dining restaurant Les Amis. He is currently the Principal Chef for Sky on 57, a 240-seater fine-dining restaurant at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

This special collaboration with Chef Justin Quek is part of Solaire's Culinary Masters Series which brings some of the world's most acclaimed chefs to Manila for special dinner events and offers.

Oasis Garden Cafe is located at Solaire Resorts and Casino at Entertainment City, 1 Aseana Ave, Tambo, Parañaque City. For more information, visit Solaire's website.