Sugar Hit 2011 - Shangri La Hotel

So this year, a few of us decided to hit up the Lobby Lounge at Shangri La for their Sugar Hit desserts.  For $20, we got to sample 6 of their cakes (usually on offer) and a glass of Brown Brothers Sienna dessert wine.

I really don't like Lobby Lounge. The atmosphere felt quite pretentious, the staff were rude and I just don't like sitting in low sofa chairs when I'm eating. I like high chairs and tables (and better lighting).

The cakes on offer (first three from the right):

1. Whisky Candy Bar: This felt really rich - a slab of chocolate ganache (with scotch or whisky / can't tell) on a layer of crunchy biscuit. The highlight were the little chocolate coated crispy balls on top. They were like  mini maltesers!

2.  Chocolate & Cherry Tart: The first thing I ate off this tart was the cherry and wow, I was knocked out of my senses by the alcohol (kirsch? it tastes like the cherries on the black forest cakes) infused in the actual cherry.  The chocolate tart itself was nice, smooth and the tart was crumbly (the way I like it :D )

3.  Chocolate Bavarois: YUM! This was a chocolate mousse  sitting on a layer of sponge cake (with.. chocolate stripes?).  There was a plastic pipette filled with raspberry sauce stuck in the cake, and I think you had to squeeze the tube to inject the berry goodness into the heart of the mousse before digging in. This was lovely, I loved the seedless berry sauce!  The mousse was smooth, light and fluffy!



4. Gianduja Macaron: Have no idea what gianduja is, but this tasted a bit nutty. I'm not a huge fan of macarons (though my friend who has travelled the world says she doesn't know why its such a huge thing here because Sydney made macarons have nothing on the ones made in Paris), so this was just ok.

5.  Pistachio Slice: I read on some other food blog that this is white chocolate + pistachio, but I don't remember thinking "mm, pistachio.. mmm chocolate". I just assumed it was some sort of .. cream?   This is why I should post these straight after eating. My memory gets a little foggy after a week.  I remember this tasted really fresh and pistachio-y. Really strong pistachio flavour. Quite refreshing!

6.  Gateau Opera Slice: Woohoo! Layers and layers of chocolate, cream and crispy wafer buscuit!  It was iced with a layer of smooth velvetty chocolate and topped off with a gold leaf (you might be able to see that in the photo).  I like this combination of smooth, crispy, soft, spongey textures. It was like a party in my mouth!

Brown Brothers Sienna: This nice and fruit/grapey.  I love my reds and rose, and this was sorta like a cross between I guess.  A very sweet red!

Overall, very satisfied. 

I'm thinking about going to the Intercon!