Chutney Mary Celebration Dinner

 Chutney Mary

A doorman greeted us in the doorway, quite chatty, greeted us and wished us a pleasant evening.

Doorman at Chutney Mary, Photo by Angela Lansbury.

On our way out, he asked us if we had enjoyed our meal. We stopped for a chat with him about our restaurant and other restaurants nearby.

Our table was one of four tables for two at the back. I though it was a small table, but easy to talk across. For a photo I set up a giant Hallmark birthday card, which I had adapted for a golden wedding anniversary but adding a hand written Gold wedding anniversary to the front, using blue tack and a staple. This was a success, balloons get in the way, intrude and leave litter.  The big card attracted the attention o all the other three tables, who all applauded, and wished us well, and I had a lovely chat with the lady at the nearest table. 

My husband had booked the restaurant as a surprise, Indian because our first date had been to an Indian restaurant. He had the set menu, and matching wines, I had the vegetarian menu because I am allergic to shellfish, and for the other dishes we got to try different main dishes. The desserts were the same on both menus. 

Service

Always somebody passing nearby who could be asked to help. For example, they escorted me to the ground floor toilet which was down a dark corridor to the fire exit passing fire extinguishers, which I thought was a good thing to note. The ground floor toilet had a keycode, operated by the waiter who escorted me. Inside was big and quite dark.

After dinner I tried the downstairs toilets, much better decorated, with lovely hand lotion. Not much further and stairs not too steep.

The lighting came from an oil container with a flame, which went out a couple of times. Being in such dim light made it hard to read the menu. I copied it on my phone. But I didn't need the menu, no choices to be made because we were having the set menu. 

Unique Champagne glasses at Chutney Mary restaurant. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

We ordered a sparkling wine to start. The wonderful Champagne glasses were perfect. Wide enough not to hit your nose, unlike the narrowest flutes. We recently changed our very narrow flutes, which in theory hold in bubbles, for wider ones. I would have liked to buy the wonderful unique glasses and wondered if they were some special brand such as Riedel. But the sommelier told us that the glasses had been specially ordered for the restaurant. 

Starter

I had avocado.

Main Dishes

Came with delectable rice.

Desserts

A small souffle containing coconut and halva, which they spelled halwa.

My husband had informed them that it was our anniversary. After our dessert they brought out a plate with a small chocolate concoction and happy anniversary written in chocolate.

Happy Anniversary written in chocolate at Chutney Mary restaurant. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

Good for a souvenir photo. Just what I wanted.

Nearest stations

Piccadilly

Green Park

Going there we started through the park, passing on our right a lovely curvy food kiosk, shut Saturday evening, then took a tunnel left, hardly wide enough for two people side by side, went in single file, standing back to let others coming the other way.

Returning to Green Park station late at night, we took the main road, slightly longer.

At Green Park station there is a long underground walk within the station to the Jubilee line going north west.

We plan to go back, at lunchtime when the lower prices of the lunch time deals are attractive.

Useful Websites

https://www.chutneymary.com/

www.fineindianrestaurants.com

https://tfl.gov.uk/tube/stop/940GZZLUGPK/green-park-underground-station

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Sheraton Towers Hotel, Singapore, Costs and Savings On Food

Singapore flag.

I have a hard job trying to persuade my family to set foot inside the Sheraton Towers Hotel in Singapore. One of my family members used to work for a company which had a branch in the office block nearly next door. So, a couple of colleagues popped into the nearby Sheraton for a couple of coffees. Very elegant surroundings.

Sheraton Towers Hotel from the upstairs, second level gallery.

However, the colleagues were shocked when they were presented with a bill for 25 Sing dollars.

Every time I mention the Sheraton Towers Hotel, my relative regales me with the same story. "They charged us for two coffees when I ordered a double espresso, instead of the usual thirty percent extra. Although the coffees came with a small biscuit, 25 dollars for coffee for two people seemed to me excessive."

I would have gone without the coffee and just had a cake for under ten dollars - or is that the take away price. Add 'plus plus', meaning tax and service, at about 17 %. You are back to nearly 25 dollars. But you have eaten cake.

The same applies in many places. The price of a cup of coffee seems excessive compared to the price of a seat meal including coffee.

Buffet Meal
What if you want to eat a proper meal? The buffet is open every night, yes, seven nights a week.

Discounts For Hotel Guests
Hotel guests get a discount.

Discount For Visitors
I was attracted by the sign of a discount, and it turned it out there was yet another discount. Wednesday is 'ladies night' when females are given a fifty per cent reduction. So, if I and a male partner, husband, son or colleague, came together, I would get a fifty percent reduction, although the mean would be paying full price.

I suppose it is to fill up the restaurant midweek, when it is maybe filled with businessmen. Anybody want a lady for a cheap date?

It is not that cheap. Add plus plus and you are in for nearly 100 dollars.

Toastmasters International Meetings
However, I have news of a bargain for you. The buffet price makes twenty dollars look a bargain, coffee plus savoury and sweet snack and entertainment. Yes, attend a Toastmasters Club of Singapore meeting on one of the first three Monday evenings in the month.

Sheraton Hotel. Opulent surroundings. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Arrive early, at or after 6 pm, to queue (line up as the Americans say), register, write your name and phone number and email, Toastmasters club if any, pay, get a receipt and a badge. Then help yourself to some savoury, a couple of pieces of chopped fruit, and coffee or hot or cold water with help yourself to thinly sliced lemon.

You can chat and network with members of the club (mostly Chinese, Indian, Asian and Eurasian), as well as visitors from all over Asia, China, Vietnam, and Europe, the UK, Belgium or France, and many other countries.

In the meeting interval the staff bring out the leftover savouries, and fruit. You have to be quick to get the fruit - it soon goes. You could miss out.

 At least you can get more coffee or water. But the staff start clearing away at the end of the interval and the coffee and water are gone after the meeting. So if you want a glass of water to sip through the meeting, or before setting off home, keep hold of it.

In the evening you are likely to hear piano music from the grand piano as a background. Toastmasters clubs like you to tell them in advance if you will be attending, so they can be sure of providing enough food for you.

Useful Websites
Singapore Airlines
singaporeair.com
visitsingapore.com
https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sinsi-sheraton-towers-singapore/

Author
Angela Lansbury, ACG, ALB, member of two Singapore Toastmasters Clubs, Braddell Heights Advanced and Tampines Changkat Advanced.