Nestled away in the new Oasia Hotel at Novena is Old Hong Kong Essence , the latest gem to Old Hong Kong Group, just a stone throw away from the popular Old Hong Kong Kitchen at Novena Square 2.
Offering a wide range of signature natural goodness herbal tonic soups, double-boiled healthy and nutritious delicacies, Old Hong Hong Essence philosophy is to encourage a healthy nutritious dietary with natural goodness for overall wellness amidst the stressful hectic lifestyles. Eat your way to good health with traditional slow cooked herbal soup and contemporary cuisine.
Old Hong Kong Essence Restaurant is accessible via lift at Novena Specialist Centre, 2 right turns and you will be greeted with lush greenery and relaxing view, just by the link bridge to the open concept casual dinning restaurant.
At the media tasting session last week, BeauteRunway tried some of Old Hong Kong Essence signature dishes and Chef’s recommendations.
Upon arrival, we were served Old Hong Kong Essence Home made rice wine.
For a refreshing drink, try Apple with Hawthorn Tea 山楂蘋果茶, light and soothing it is said to add digestion, detox and increase appetite and blood circulation.
FAIRTASTE Organic fair-trade tea founded in Hong Kong blended with Old Hong Kong Essence ingredients is also served here including Organic Green Tea with Ginseng, jasmine and earl grey with rose .
Appetiser
Chilled Kai Lan Served with Wasabi Sauce and Soya Sauce. A high fibre dish that helps to reduce body heat. Fresh and crunchy with very slight hints of wasabi.
Tossed Assorted Mushrooms (Chilled). Fresh and fragrant, potent antioxidants, simple goodness.
Double-boiled Pork Thigh Soup with Hair Mountain Fig
You could taste the natural sweetness and goodness of the soup doubled boiled with chicken, pork thigh and mountain fig. Savour every spoonful to aid overall respiratory system. I like the lean pork thigh for added protein.
DIM SUM - A twist from the usual dim sum dishes.
Sea cucumber Carrot Pastry
Light and flaky crust with nutritious sea cucumber and turnip.
Fresh Water trout dumpling with mushroom, wrapped in spinach infused skin instead of the usual prawn and meat siu mai as a healthier alternative. Pretty tasty.
Pan Fried Meat and Vegetable Bun with Rhizome to enhance blood circulation. Good balance of ingredients but i prefer more pork and could be juicer.
Chinese Herbal Chicken with 10 types of herbs to boost immune system and reduce fatigue
Pure goodness slowly simmered to perfection in low heat, six hours to be exact. The herbal smell is rather strong but you will only taste the sweetness of the chicken, angelica, rhizome, milk yetch root, cinnamon and other herbs .
Warm comfort food at its best !
My favourite dish as it is super nourishing with healthy nutrients with rich flavoursome soup and you can actually eat the whole chicken as it has absorbed the flavours of the herbal ingredients. The meat is actually quite succulent and not tough.
A dish that i would highly recommend for the healthy benefits and values and the efforts taken to cook this dish is definitely time consuming, probable best to just visit Old Hong Kong Essence for the soup as its simply home cooked goodness with no MSG than to spend endless hours at home making the soup.
Fish Noodles in Shark Bone Soup – A high protein and collagen dish to nourish your skin.
Made from fresh water fish meat, the white fish protein noodles are a healthy alternative to yellow noodles high in carbohydrates.
Paired with collagen rich Shark Bone soup, the tasty combination is said to help nourish your skin and i would say soul too for the chilly weather.
Poached Green Sprout with Conpoy in Soyabean Milk.
Using the season’s freshest green spout paired with soyabean milk as a broth and a sprinkling of dried scallops and wolf berries, the unique dish is high in protein and gentle on the stomach.
Another benefit is that is helps to sooths your lungs and nourish your respiratory system. Soul sister to Fish Noodles in Shark Bone Soup.
Pan-fried Salty Garoupa Fillet
A generous cut of Garoupa fillet paired with Old Hong Kong Essence secret fish soy sauce. Crispy on the side but a little over-done inside, a light drizzle of sauce mask the dryness. I paired this with Fish Noodles in Shark Bone Soup. Divine !
Fragrant Mixed Grain Rice – High fibre and low fat , helps to lower fats and cholesterol
Five types of low fat and high fibre rich brown rice, white pearl rice, black glutinous rice, wheat rice, barley cooked with more than ten types of seasoning . The result ? Fragrant healthy rice . I am not a rice lover but this combination is really tasty.
HEALTHY DESSERTS
Bird's Nest Cake with Osmanthus - Nourishing your skin with natural goodness
Bird’s Nest, nothing less for silky soft skin. Love the pretty presentation of this desert, complete with dry ice.
"Dating at North/South Poles"
A unique bipolar dessert with a scoop of smooth icy cold coconut ice cream on a slice of green apple on one side and a cupful of steaming hot soft or nee (yam), who says you cant have the best of both Poles?
Enjoy Healthy sets meals that are prepared according to your needs and lifestyle. Take your pick from Old Hong Kong Essence 8 Set Menus (5 course, S$28+++) with interesting sets like Rejuvenating, Nourishing, Detoxing, Slimming, Beauty, Anti-aging, Blood circulation and Mood Enhancing with the carefully planned list of Soup, Beverage, Main Course, Meat, Vegetable and enjoy 50% off healthy desserts.
Old Hong Kong Essence Restaurant serving healthy nourishing herbal tonic soups, double-boiled healthy delicacies and home cooked favourites is located 8 Sinaran Drive #02-05, Oasia Hotel, Singapore, next to Novena Specialist Centre, the new retreat getaway for travellers. Eat your way to good health. For reservations or enquires, please ring 6659 6738 or check out OldHongKong Website and Facebook Page
*Food Photographs are taken with Olympus PEN LITE E-PL3, courtesy of Olympus Singapore.