Marina Bay Sands Singapore

Oscars Themed Dinner and Dance Event

Ever dreamt of becoming a Hollywood Star for a night? 

Then join us for our Oscars Dinner and Dance at Marina Bay Sands!

Marina Bay Sands is a spacious integrated resort at Marina Bay in Singapore. It is developed by Las Vegas Sands and is one of the most iconic buildings in Singapore. The building comprises of a hotel, convention and exhibition facilities, theatres, entertainment venues, retailers and restaurants. This is one of the reasons why Sweetie Muffin and I chose to host our wedding banquet at Marina Bay Sands (Read More: http://musings-of-a-rabbit.blogspot.sg/2014/10/weddings-on-bay-showcase-2014-marina.html).

It is the first time I attended my company's Dinner and Dance event and it so happens that the theme for this event is Oscars. 

Before the event, our HR Department distributed the invitation cards to us which was designed like the Oscars trophy. 

Invitation Card

The invitation card functions as a lucky draw ticket with the number printed at the back as well ~ How innovative!

Hotel Name: Marina Bay Sands

Website: http://www.marinabaysands.com/index.html

Location: 

10 Bayfront Avenue

Marina Bay Sands

Level 4, Orchid Ballroom

Singapore 018956

As it was my first Dinner and Dance event, I arrived earlier than my colleagues and there was a pre-dinner cocktail party going on where drinks and snacks were served. 

Check out the vibrant Candy Buffet Bar!!

Sweets!!!

Also, my company engaged a magician to perform magic tricks to entertain the guests who arrived earlier. The magician transformed a normal rubber band into a star and gave it to me for memento!!

Star-Shaped Rubber Band from Magician :)

There was also a Photo Booth with props provided whereby we can queue to take photos and get our instant prints! This seemed to be the most popular station amongst my colleagues :)

A quirky photo with Eric

The venue was grandly decorated for the Oscars theme - even the long red carpet was up!!

Red Carpet #OOTD :)

Dress: Lace Maxi Dress from Cristelle

Heels: Bespoken Gillter Evening Shoe with Platform from Anjo Shoes

Shawl and Accessories: My Mom's

Although I very much loved to be dressed up like a Hollywood Star, it would be wise to do so within a reasonable budget and hence I borrowed the additional accessories which I would not wear on normal days from my Mom. 

Group Photo before entering into the Ballroom

The ballroom was indeed very spacious with warm ambient ceiling lights. 

Very Grand and Imposing Orchid Ballroom

As most of my colleagues have kids, they decided to pack some of the goodies from the Candy Bar home for their kids to enjoy :)

Candies and Chocolates :)

We were allocated to Table 48

Drinks were promptly served whilst we were waiting for the main dishes to be ready.

A Cup of Chinese Tea

I was pleased that the alcoholic drinks suit my taste - the white and red wine tasted sweet and the beer tasted very smooth. 

A Glass of Chilled White Wine

Chinese Menu

Our Chinese Menu consists of 8 dishes. 

Menu

Close-Up on the Chinese Menu

Assorted Meat Platter

Crew serving the Assorted Meat Platter

The Assorted Meat Platter tasted decent but not say fantastic. 

Wok-Fried King Prawn with Nuts

Yes! I love Cashew Nuts!!!

Braised Seafood with Fish Maw in Chicken Broth

Marina Bay Sands have committed to protect shark species and a healthy marine ecosystem by taking shark's fin dishes off their menu.

Hence the Braised Seafood with Fish Maw in Chicken Broth is to replace the conventional Shark's Fin Soup.

Braised Seafood with Fish Maw in Chicken Broth

Although it looked starchy, this broth tasted less starchy than it appeared!

Was really pleased as I hate starchy dishes :)

Close-Up

Mushroom with Vegetables in Oyster Sauce

This is normally my least favourite dishes in the Chinese Banquet menu.

However, I was really surprised that it did not taste as starchy as I have thought!

Baked Cod Fish with Teriyaki Sauce

Baked Cod Fish with Teriyaki Sauce

I never liked Cod Fish due to its fishy taste. However, I was glad that this dish did not taste fishy at all as the Teriyaki Sauce masked off the fishiness perfectly! in fact, i polished up my portion of the fish and had an extra serving :)

Roasted Crispy Chicken with Garlic and Prawn Crackers

Roasted Crispy Chicken with Garlic and Prawn Crackers

This dish tasted OK as well.

Photo-Taking!!!

As we left the ballroom when the above 2 dishes were served to take more group photos :)

Gorgeous Ladies dressed to the Nines :)

Tracy and I posing with Edwin

Braised E-Fu Noodle with Dry Scallop

I have always disliked E-Fu Noodles served in hotel banquets because they tasted very starchy and soggy. However, this dish tasted surprisingly OK as well! 

It is neither starchy nor soggy which makes it edible. 

Mango Juice and Pomelo

YAY ~ Desserts!

The Mango Juice and Pomelo does not taste too sweet and overall it is quite OK although not super delicious.

Mango Juice and Pomelo

Overall

My impression of the food served at MBS has been bad from the reviews of other bloggers and my friends. 

However, my Dinner and Dance experience at MBS was a great and memorable one. 

Not only does the food tasted a lot better than what I expected, the ambience and the company was enjoyable too! Hence I really do hope that they can maintain / even improve the existing standards when it is time for my wedding banquet in April 2015 :)

Overall: ★★★★☆

Food: ★★★★☆

Ambience: ★★★★★

Service: ★★★◐☆

Nara + Tracy + Me

Selfie of The Day :)

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Conrad Centennial Singapore, Temasek Boulevard

13.07.2014: FX and YY's Big Day @ Conrad

I have always heard positive feedback on the food served by the Conrad Centennial Singapore and hence was super looking forward to attend FX and YY's banquet dinner to taste it for myself.

Unfortunately, I was down with a cold and hence my tastebuds might have gone haywire somehow :(

My Saturday was jam-packed with activities as well - from attending morning church service, to afternoon house-viewing (yes, we have obtained a HDB Loan finally and will be purchasing a resale flat) then we head off to Cynthia's house for a trial make-up session before rushing to the hotel for the banquet. What an eventful day!

Hair and Make Up by Cynthia Oh from Cynderella :)

I must say that I am very pleased with my make-up and hair for that night. I do get compliments for it and Sweetie Muffin was extremely nice to me that evening! (guys are superficial *face-palm*)

Also, Cynthia is very attentive and her make-up style suits my "exotic" preferences. I hated the dramatic panda-liked eye make-up which most local make-up artists produce and Cynthia's make-up is natural and enhances the natural beauty of the subject (which is me *grin*). Moreover the products used on my face are suitable for my sensitive skin and I did not suffer from any breakouts after removing my make-up that night.

Less is indeed more!

*Give a Thumbs-Up if you agree!*

Post by Cynderella by Cynthia Oh - Makeup and Hair Artist Singapore.

Hence, I have decided to engage Cynderella by Cynthia Oh to be my Make-Up Artist for my wedding day :)

Hotel Name: Conrad Centennial Singapore

Website: http://conradhotels3.hilton.com/en/hotels/singapore/conrad-centennial-singapore-SINCICI/index.html

Location:

2 Temasek Boulevard

Millennia Walk

Singapore 038982

Tel: 6334 8888

Le' Ambience

The Ballroom was majestic and grand. 

High Ceiling...

With high ceilings and ambient lights ~ 

Rather Spacious Ballroom to host over 30 tables!

Definitely the ideal place to host a banquet :)

Pastel-coloured roses were used for the decoration of the aisle and centrepiece for the tables. 

The downside is that we felt a little crammed to have 12pax squeeze into a table.

Tall Table Centrepieces

Le' Door Gifts

Teddy Bear ~

Teddy Bears and Heart-Shaped Chocolates were placed on the tables for guests to bring back as a memento of the couple's matrimony. 

Although the Teddy Bears are cute, they serve no practical purpose.. I would personally prefer something more functional for wedding gifts though :)

Tiny Heart-Shaped Chocolates which tasted sweet too!

Le' Menu

The Chinese Dinner Set Menu is prepared by Golden Peony Restaurant. 

It consists of 9 courses (excluding Chinese Tea) and is considered quite sumptuous for a wedding banquet. 

Le' Food

Fork, Knife and Chopsticks! Ready to EAT!

I was very impressed with the song they chose to play when they served the first dish. It was so classical that I could recognise it right away - "Be Our Guest" from Disney's Beauty and the Beast :)

Awww how innovative and classical!

Wines

I was pleasantly surprised that both their red and white wines tasted good.

Will specifically recommend the White Wine though! It tasted really smooth and sweet :)

A Glass of White Wine

#1: Happiness Platter

Barbecued Suckling Pig, Crabmeat Omelette, Fresh Prawn wrapped in Crispy Filo Dough, Vietnamese Spring Roll, Jellyfish with Minced Spring Onion

This dish tasted pretty OK and I liked the Jellyfish :)

#2: Lobster

Double Boiled with Chinese Cabbage, Sea Whelk, Conpoy, Bamboo Pith and Chicken

The word "Lobster" looked so amazing on the menu but nope, you will not see the entire lobster being presented to you when the dish is served. 

The lobster meat will be visible in the soup in pieces. This dish tasted OK as well but I think the taste of the Double Boiled Fish Maw Soup with Bamboo Pith and Shark's Cartilage Broth served by Crowned Plaza Hotel is comparable to this dish though. 

Lobster Meat!!!

#3: Scallop and Prawn

Sautéed with Honey Pea in XO Chilli Sauce

Scallop and Prawn Sautéed with Honey Pea in XO Chilli Sauce

This dish is not to my liking and hence I passed it to Sweetie Muffin to finish up. 

#4: Red Grouper

Steamed Hongkong Style

The fishy taste is present and hence I hated it totally :( Hence it ended up in Sweetie Muffin's bowl as usual ;)

By this time, the staff have finally removed the table centrepiece which proved to be an eyesore during our first few dishes as we cannot see the guests seated opposite us clearly.

However the flowers still remained in the middle of the table. 

A Bouquet of Fresh Flowers ~

#5: Abalone

Sliced, Braised with Sea Cucumber and Chinese Cabbage 

Abalone Sliced, Braised with Sea Cucumber and Chinese Cabbage 

Starchy dishes are not meant for people who are down with flu. I had no appetite for this and hence off it went to Sweetie Muffin's ~ 

How STARCHY

#6: Spare Rib

In Aromatic Mocha Sauce Served with Almond Flake

THIS is indeed the BEST dish tasted thus far. And the only dish that created a good impression on me :) It is really aromatic and tasted yummy too!

#7: Crispy Chicken

Topped with Crispy Minced Garlic

Crispy Chicken Topped with Crispy Minced Garlic

Tasted Normal.

#8: Udon Noodle

Stir-Fried with Dice Seafood in Black Pepper Sauce

I disliked Ee Fu Noodles.. But.. I dislike Udon more!

I've never liked to eat fat stripes of soft dough anyways :(

#9: Dessert

Chilled Lemongrass-flavoured Jelly with Aloe Vera, Diced Mango and Strawberry

 The strawberries tasted sour. I don't really like the combination and sorry to say that this dessert is not for me :(

Le' Service

The staff helped to place the napkin on our laps once we were seated. 

And also, the dishes are being served to us on an individual basis by the hotel staff instead of placing a huge platter in the middle of the table for the guests to help themselves. The upside is that you can seat more guests in one table (12 in this case) but the downside is that the portion of food you get is fixed. 

The staff was very polite when they served the dishes and they whispered to one of the guests on our table on how is he going to serve the dish etc etc till he felt it was too much info.. LOL! And to think about it, it was pretty unfair because only a couple of people at our table could hear what was he muttering leaving the rest of us in suspense. 

Further to that, as the staff busy themselves at a corner of the ballroom to apportion our dishes, there was not much manpower to refill our empty glasses and hence when it was time for the newly-weds to toast, our glasses were pretty empty.. 

Overall

The dishes selected under the menu were not to my personal liking but the other guests seemed to enjoy the food and everything. So, I guess taste is something very subjective.

Food: ★★☆☆☆
Ambience: ★★★◐☆
Service: ★★★◐☆

Snippets of the Day

Selfie is a MUST as I rarely attend any function with full make-up on

Sweetie Muffin looked so blank! - Aftermath of watching too much World Cup 

WEfie with Yin Yue :)

By the Stairs... By the way, my dress is from Ministry of Retail ;)

XOXO

The ultra CHIO girls of the night (besides the bride) :D

And they lived Happily Ever After :)

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