Halia Blogger Outing

Another successful bloggers outing organised by Harris after communicating among ourselves with more than 100 emails. Our "shooting ground" is none other located in the training ground of many (local) photographers and our focus wasn't the butterflies nor flowers but a restaurant, nestled among the trees, flowers and earthen beauty of Singapore Botanic Gardens. Judging from last week Sunday crowd, it seems that this place is patronised greatly by the caucasians on a Sunday morning.

Weekend a-la-carte brunch is available on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays, from 9am to 3:30pm with a selection of lunch favourites from noon to 3:30pm.


Poached Egg on Brioche with Dill Hollandaise, Roasted Brown Mushroom,
Spinach Tomato with pan-roasted ocean trout. ($24++)
My liking for poached eggs started since my visit to Choupinette and based on my understanding, the key to having a good one lies in the amount of vinegar used and its accompanying hollandaise sauce.

Yuan felt that it was too sour (probably from the hollandaise sauce) and the bread was soggy and slightly burnt. For me, the overall taste was acceptable but to spend $24++ for a poached egg and that there is nothing special with the pan-roasted ocean trout, this is something I doubt I will come back for.

Frankly speaking, Canelé's Eggs Florentine and Choupinette's Eggs Benedict are cheaper than Halia's so I presume it is the ambience we are paying for.


Cinnamon French Toast with glazed strawberry and honeycomb butter. ($14++)
Since this is a chef recommendation, I thought it might be worth a try. Though it is said to be cinnamon french toast, cinnamon and egg coating were barely detectable. It is closer to a regular toast, served with cream, strawberry sauce and honeycomb butter.

Apart from having a lazy brunch in Singapore Botanic Gardens, the new extension to the Halia, Villa Halia (located opposite the restaurant) is a popular choice for solenmization. The Villa consists of three distinct areas - the Wine Bar, the Courtyard and the Gallery Room; and that the exclusive use of each venue requires a minimum expenditure (3 hours usage, between $3500++ to $9000++, depending on the choice of venue and whether it is for lunch or dinner).

Before signing off, here are some of the orders our fellow bloggers have ordered


Poached Egg on Brioche with Dill Hollandaise, Roasted Brown Mushroom,Spinach & Tomato with crisp back bacon ($16++)


Kurobuta Pork & Portobello Burger in special blend of spices, sake and mirin with apple aioli and mesclun salad. ($18++)
Of course, the highlight of the entire dining experience lies in the company and it was fantastic to share photography tips, recommendations and our joy in blogging. Introducing...

Kaelyn from My Food Sirens
Zaylene from This is Yummy
Daniel from Memoirs of Food
Glenn from Hungry Epicurean
Angeline from Simply Angeline
Reiz from Sitting Wishing Eating
Cheryl from The Baker Who Cooks
Harris from The Simplest Aphrodisiac
Hui Yuan from Yuan Yuan
Serene and Leanne from NTU Deli Aprecio Club
Phoebe and her sister Chloe from The Food Chapter


For a different perspective of this place, here are some of the other bloggers' after-thoughts of Halia Restaurant,
YuanYuan - Food Bloggers' Gathering ( Halia Restaurant)
*the simplest aphrodisiac - Bloggers Outing: Halia
Simply Angeline - Halia Restaurant - Brunch by the Garden
SittingWishingEating - Halia Restaurant – Botanic Gardens
For the love of ... calories and weighing scales - Halia at Botanical Gardens
Live to Eat! - Halia: Brunch in The Greens!
sitting.wishing.eating - Halia Restaurant – Botanic Gardens
My Food Sirens II - Halia Restaurant
Hungry Epicurean - Bloggers Outing: Halia Restaurant

Halia Restaurant
Singapore Botanic Gardens
1 Cluny Road, Ginger Garden (enter via Tyersall Avenue)
Singapore 259569
Tel: 6476 6711
http://www.halia.com.sg/