So Chris and I had our Wedding Banquet food tasting at Goodwood Park Hotel, where our wedding will be held. Because we booked out the ballroom, we had a complimentary (w00t!) tasting for a bunch of us – just to make sure we would be happy with the quantity and quality of the food that would be served on our wedding night.
Before that, we met up with our wedding planner.. because we had a whole bunch of stuff to work through – invitations, wedding favours, colour schemes, decorations, flowers, etc, etc. Sounds like a lot, but all we really had to do was to point and select whatever we preferred. Too easy, it was my kinda wedding planning 😛 I’m not posting photos of the above, so it’ll be a surprise :), but I will say the wedding colours will be forest-green and gold – which I like because it’s a little more unusual for wedding colours and the ballroom theme is very soft English rose garden – strewn with champagne and cream roses and dark green leaves. I was keen to have a wedding theme that was really classic and elegant, and thankfully Chris was very happy to go along with that idea 😛
All done, we headed to Min Jiang, their gorgeous Chinese restaurant whose chefs would be cooking up our wedding banquet on the night. It was a 9-course banquet, and we were really impressed by the quality of the food. I’m relieved that Min Jiang are doing our banquet.. as other fancy hotels don’t serve great food during the wedding banquets because they j ust use their regular chefs. We still made a couple of changes though, tweaking around with the dishes til we thought it was perfect 😛
At the end, the chef came out to go through each dish with us and listen to our comments, etc. A lovely guy, and we had a fantastic, decadant dinner. I hope our guests will be just as happy on the wedding night!
Looking a bit gloomy for no particular reason
Our wedding (aka my uncle’s) car – vintage Jaguar Daimler V8, from the 1960’s!
The grand entrance into the Goodwood ballroom.. where we’ll be walking up for our wedding banquet
Wandering around in the lobby
The pool area with the hotel rooms surrounding it
Sat down for a coffee with our wedding planner, loved the sugar stick it came with!!!
At the restaurant, whose chef will be catering for our wedding banquet
“Food Tasting for Christopher Burgess and Beverly Chua”
The comment sheet for Presentation, Taste, and Misc… for all 9 courses
Just some braised peanuts to nibble on
Crispy suckling pig, Crabmeat balls, Roast duck, Stuffed mushrooms, Veg spring rolls
My favourie was the suckling pig – it was so crisp!
Braised sharks fin soup with crabmeat and bamboo pith
Thick with sharks fin.. we were duly impressed 😛
Crispy golden chicken with prawn mousse
This was actually surprisingly so tender and tasty, but was decided it didn’t look
impressive/fancy enough and so has been changed to the camphor and tea-smoked duck
Steamed garoupa with soya sauce
Utterly most, tender fish… that just melted in your mouth. So good!
GRRR, baby!
Braised mushrooms with chinese cabbage
Didn’t bother having this one, but the others deemed it “too boring” so it will be changed
Poached live prawns with chinese herbs and wine
Big, plump prawns. This was my favourite one, the soup was so nice I slurped it all up!
Wok-fried scallops and squid with XO sauce
Loved the fat juicy scallops!
Glutinous rice with chinese sausage and roasted meat wrapped in lotus leaf
Huge thumbs up.. way way more interesting than the standard fried rice or noodles
Mango pudding
Delicious and full of mango chunks, but the others thought it didn’t look nice enough
Mango milk with sago, mango and pomelo
Everyone loved this but didn’t like the pomelo. So now the dessert will be the Mango pudding,
but with mango milk around it! Like a hybrid of the 2 desserts 😉
All the food critics 🙂
Looking at the grand staircase from the side
All lit up at night
GWP research!
Hello!
I just came across your blog while doing my research for Goodwood Park. Just wondering, how does the camphor and tea-smoked duck taste? Any comments? I am wondering if u recall, cuz it’s quite some time back!
Thanks v much!
GWP research!
Hello!
I just came across your blog while doing my research for Goodwood Park. Just wondering, how does the camphor and tea-smoked duck taste? Any comments? I am wondering if u recall, cuz it’s quite some time back!
Thanks v much!
GWP research!
Hello!
I just came across your blog while doing my research for Goodwood Park. Just wondering, how does the camphor and tea-smoked duck taste? Any comments? I am wondering if u recall, cuz it’s quite some time back!
Thanks v much!
Ooh, seeing your post makes me all reminisce-y about the days of planning my own wedding. Min Jiang’s great!! Your forest-green/gold theme sounds spectacular! Hehe.. one thing though, most of my friends and I barely got to eat a bite during our wedding dinners… so you might wanna ask them to pack your portions for you to enjoy in the room. My sis had hers at Four Seasons and that’s what they did. Mine was at Shang and they didn’t so we walloped room service. Hehehe..
Here’s to a speedy and smooth settling in China. Try not to get too stressed yah? Oh and if you don’t do regular facials, it helps to get to a good facialist or derm to do ’em before the wedding so that your makeup goes on flawlessly and stays on!
Yeah the hotel arranges the food before/after the dinner.. so sad we don’t really get to sit down and eat it with everyone though!
Good tip abt the facials.. think I”ll do that! 🙂
Ooh, seeing your post makes me all reminisce-y about the days of planning my own wedding. Min Jiang’s great!! Your forest-green/gold theme sounds spectacular! Hehe.. one thing though, most of my friends and I barely got to eat a bite during our wedding dinners… so you might wanna ask them to pack your portions for you to enjoy in the room. My sis had hers at Four Seasons and that’s what they did. Mine was at Shang and they didn’t so we walloped room service. Hehehe..
Here’s to a speedy and smooth settling in China. Try not to get too stressed yah? Oh and if you don’t do regular facials, it helps to get to a good facialist or derm to do ’em before the wedding so that your makeup goes on flawlessly and stays on!
Yeah the hotel arranges the food before/after the dinner.. so sad we don’t really get to sit down and eat it with everyone though!
Good tip abt the facials.. think I”ll do that! 🙂
Yeah for sure, wanted something traditionally Singaporean!
The hotel arranges the wedding favours, thank goodness 😛
Yeah for sure, wanted something traditionally Singaporean!
The hotel arranges the wedding favours, thank goodness 😛
Thanks for the add; just started reading through your private posts. The wedding theme sounds lovely. Have you two discussed or figured out where your honeymoon will be? Especially since you’ve both been all over the place already throughout Asia, North America, Europe….
Thanks hon!
Ahh no idea about the honeymoon yyet.. we’re too busy with the relocation to think about the wedding, let alone the honeymoon :S But Chris will be organising that so that’s up to him! 😛
Thanks for the add; just started reading through your private posts. The wedding theme sounds lovely. Have you two discussed or figured out where your honeymoon will be? Especially since you’ve both been all over the place already throughout Asia, North America, Europe….
Thanks hon!
Ahh no idea about the honeymoon yyet.. we’re too busy with the relocation to think about the wedding, let alone the honeymoon :S But Chris will be organising that so that’s up to him! 😛
Happy New Year Beverly! I was just catching up on your entries after being away for a few days!
I’m so excited about your wedding! I’m absolutely certain that it’s gonna be a lovely wedding considering you have such good taste! The food looks YUMMY!
Happy New Year to you too hon! And thanks so much.. I hope our wedding will be lovely 🙂
Happy New Year Beverly! I was just catching up on your entries after being away for a few days!
I’m so excited about your wedding! I’m absolutely certain that it’s gonna be a lovely wedding considering you have such good taste! The food looks YUMMY!
Happy New Year to you too hon! And thanks so much.. I hope our wedding will be lovely 🙂
They seem so organised with the comment sheets!
Yeah, was quite impressed with that!
Wow.. the food looks stunning. What a beautiful venue.
We’re getting excited now.. we didn’t really think much about it before, but now it’s really becoming a reality for us!
They seem so organised with the comment sheets!
Yeah, was quite impressed with that!
that looks like a pretty long flight of stairs! hope your gown/ train isn’t too heavy to climb all the way up….you might want to rehearse that? *LOL* so exciting!! =p
Hehe no, I don’t do those big foofy bridal gowns.. so I should be able to make my way up. Or maybe my new husband can carry me? hee!
Did you and Chris take a 2nd serving of all the food? Cos I guess both you and him will be too busy going around to all table for the toast that you will not have time to enjoy the food on the actual day..
Yeah I think it gets served up to our room later or something like that, and they also feed us beforehand!
Good choice on Goodwood! It’s a lovely hotel and ambience to it 🙂
I do like the old school style and the englishness of it.. it was that or Raffles. Wasn’t as keen on all the modern hotels!
Very impressed with the comment sheet!
So are you replacing the shroom with Abalone and Lobster? :p
Haha no, that’s not on the menu!
Wow.. the food looks stunning. What a beautiful venue.
We’re getting excited now.. we didn’t really think much about it before, but now it’s really becoming a reality for us!
Just…wow. The food looks absolutely amazing. Holy crap, that fish is scary! It’s like the one I saw at the Bergen seafood markets in Norway! And so good to see the arrangements are going well, it’s going to be wonderful!
Some people find the head/eyeballs a delicacy.. but my family is all a bit chicken! It does make a good photo though 😛
that looks like a pretty long flight of stairs! hope your gown/ train isn’t too heavy to climb all the way up….you might want to rehearse that? *LOL* so exciting!! =p
Hehe no, I don’t do those big foofy bridal gowns.. so I should be able to make my way up. Or maybe my new husband can carry me? hee!
Good thing we brought Merv to think up of that dual-power combo dessert!!
Haha yes, i think it’ll be perfect now!
Did you and Chris take a 2nd serving of all the food? Cos I guess both you and him will be too busy going around to all table for the toast that you will not have time to enjoy the food on the actual day..
Yeah I think it gets served up to our room later or something like that, and they also feed us beforehand!
Good choice on Goodwood! It’s a lovely hotel and ambience to it 🙂
I do like the old school style and the englishness of it.. it was that or Raffles. Wasn’t as keen on all the modern hotels!
Very impressed with the comment sheet!
So are you replacing the shroom with Abalone and Lobster? :p
Haha no, that’s not on the menu!
Glad to see the organisation for the wedding is all on track. The hotel looks awesome! A qq – do they do non-meat alternatives for the non-carnivores? Or perhaps I should fill up beforehand! Can’t wait – the count-down has begun!
Don’t worry, I’m gonna organise a dish for ya and you can eat the veggie spring rolls, the veg dish and the dessert on top of that! 🙂
You are awesome, thank you!
does the ballroom have a dancefloor in the centre? i attended a wedding there last june and the couple took to the dancefloor for a romantic waltz!
I’m still trying to convince my dad to do the father/daughter waltz ‘cos then Chris is meant to come in mid-way and dance with me… but dont think they’re willing hahah!
min jiang food is one of the best for wedding dinners. good choice!!
I did hear that too.. whew!! I hope they perform on the actual night, hee 😛
Oooh I love Chinese lauriats 🙂 everything looks absolutely delish!
PS – I think I forgot to reply to an earlier comment – Graebel was our relocation supplier for household goods shipment. I had no idea they did a full-scale relocation service, too! It was an okay job, but there were of course crappy customers as well as awesome ones 😀 I hope your move goes successfully!
I did serve the Greater China market for inbound relocation, and Shanghai was one of the key cities I handled (although admittedly Beijing and Guangzhou had more transfers coming in) – so I may actually remember a bit about the expat life in Shanghai! 😉 I’d love to help if I can! But I’m also sure your company will take care of that with complete househunting, shipment, immigration, tax, departure and destination services! 🙂 Best of luck Bev and Chris!
Wow what a coincidence! So far they’re doing good, but wish they could handle all our visa applications etc completely – instead we have to go down to the embassy ourselves and queue for it – huge hassle 🙁
Oo would you happen to know the best bank in CHina? One that will give us high interest on our savings, preferably 🙂 Is it also true we have to pay a high duty/tax on ALL electronics going on, but not furniture? 🙁
Oh that’s too bad 🙁 our supplier for immigration was Fragomen – they did everything with their on the ground agents for the expats.
Hmm, everything I know is specific to our client’s employees, so they had HSBC in HK as their main bank for payroll. If they had to open a bank account for their RMB spending, we usually recommended Bank of China or China Merchant Bank – perhaps check these two? When I was in China I saw Bank of China everywhere and that was the only bank I did my foreign exchange in 🙂
Also unfortunately China customs regulations change ALL THE TIME, so I think it’s best to check with Graebel for your shipment concerns. In my old job, the company paid for all their shipment and duties and taxes except for alcoholic drinks and restricted items, so I unfortunately can’t advise further on that. 🙁
Hope that helps a bit though, off the top of my head!
Yeah I saw HSBC was super popular, as well as the China Merchant Bank.
My airmail shipment went today.. and the seamail is tmw and the day after. It’s so exhausting…. whew!!
Everything looks yummy!
Oh and I just realized that:
Christopher Burgess and Beverly Chua = CB and BC 😉
Hehe yeah we’re the inverse.. then when we get married, I’ll be BB!
Just…wow. The food looks absolutely amazing. Holy crap, that fish is scary! It’s like the one I saw at the Bergen seafood markets in Norway! And so good to see the arrangements are going well, it’s going to be wonderful!
Some people find the head/eyeballs a delicacy.. but my family is all a bit chicken! It does make a good photo though 😛
You’re gonna make such a beautiful bride! Have fun planning it 🙂
Aww thank you! I can’t wait to see all my family and friends dressed up 🙂
Gosh, I can’t wait to see the *real* wedding. I’m really excited for you.
Not for agggges, it’s so far away!
Good thing we brought Merv to think up of that dual-power combo dessert!!
Haha yes, i think it’ll be perfect now!
All of us are so excited for your wedding ! Congrats Bev and Chris =)
Aw thanks, we can’t wait either.. wheeee!
this might sound creepy but i know where your uncle lives! i recognise the car and the house and it’s right near mine. hahaha! singapore is too tiny.
OMG such a coincidence!! Hhahaha. We had our Christmas eve dinner in there so now you know what the INSIDE of the house is like too 😛
ahh the food! =)
you can get the sugar sticks from their deli! 😛
i gotten for my own use cos they are SO cute and so coolz!
Ooo i didn’t know that, good idea!
can recycle the wooden bit as stirrer also. 😛
I was at Goodwood on 31st for a wedding at one of their ballrooms (the octagon one). And, I have to say I’m quite impressed with the food served up too! The glutinous rice was quite yum! (Not sure if the same ppl cooked them though. heh.) The ballroom was quite cosy too 🙂 good choice!
Ooo coincidence! Glad you enjoyed it.. makes me feel a bit more relieved.. heh!
Glad to see the organisation for the wedding is all on track. The hotel looks awesome! A qq – do they do non-meat alternatives for the non-carnivores? Or perhaps I should fill up beforehand! Can’t wait – the count-down has begun!
Don’t worry, I’m gonna organise a dish for ya and you can eat the veggie spring rolls, the veg dish and the dessert on top of that! 🙂
You are awesome, thank you!
does the ballroom have a dancefloor in the centre? i attended a wedding there last june and the couple took to the dancefloor for a romantic waltz!
I’m still trying to convince my dad to do the father/daughter waltz ‘cos then Chris is meant to come in mid-way and dance with me… but dont think they’re willing hahah!
min jiang food is one of the best for wedding dinners. good choice!!
I did hear that too.. whew!! I hope they perform on the actual night, hee 😛
Oooh I love Chinese lauriats 🙂 everything looks absolutely delish!
PS – I think I forgot to reply to an earlier comment – Graebel was our relocation supplier for household goods shipment. I had no idea they did a full-scale relocation service, too! It was an okay job, but there were of course crappy customers as well as awesome ones 😀 I hope your move goes successfully!
I did serve the Greater China market for inbound relocation, and Shanghai was one of the key cities I handled (although admittedly Beijing and Guangzhou had more transfers coming in) – so I may actually remember a bit about the expat life in Shanghai! 😉 I’d love to help if I can! But I’m also sure your company will take care of that with complete househunting, shipment, immigration, tax, departure and destination services! 🙂 Best of luck Bev and Chris!
Wow what a coincidence! So far they’re doing good, but wish they could handle all our visa applications etc completely – instead we have to go down to the embassy ourselves and queue for it – huge hassle 🙁
Oo would you happen to know the best bank in CHina? One that will give us high interest on our savings, preferably 🙂 Is it also true we have to pay a high duty/tax on ALL electronics going on, but not furniture? 🙁
Oh that’s too bad 🙁 our supplier for immigration was Fragomen – they did everything with their on the ground agents for the expats.
Hmm, everything I know is specific to our client’s employees, so they had HSBC in HK as their main bank for payroll. If they had to open a bank account for their RMB spending, we usually recommended Bank of China or China Merchant Bank – perhaps check these two? When I was in China I saw Bank of China everywhere and that was the only bank I did my foreign exchange in 🙂
Also unfortunately China customs regulations change ALL THE TIME, so I think it’s best to check with Graebel for your shipment concerns. In my old job, the company paid for all their shipment and duties and taxes except for alcoholic drinks and restricted items, so I unfortunately can’t advise further on that. 🙁
Hope that helps a bit though, off the top of my head!
Yeah I saw HSBC was super popular, as well as the China Merchant Bank.
My airmail shipment went today.. and the seamail is tmw and the day after. It’s so exhausting…. whew!!
Everything looks yummy!
Oh and I just realized that:
Christopher Burgess and Beverly Chua = CB and BC 😉
Hehe yeah we’re the inverse.. then when we get married, I’ll be BB!
You’re gonna make such a beautiful bride! Have fun planning it 🙂
Aww thank you! I can’t wait to see all my family and friends dressed up 🙂
Gosh, I can’t wait to see the *real* wedding. I’m really excited for you.
Not for agggges, it’s so far away!
All of us are so excited for your wedding ! Congrats Bev and Chris =)
Aw thanks, we can’t wait either.. wheeee!
this might sound creepy but i know where your uncle lives! i recognise the car and the house and it’s right near mine. hahaha! singapore is too tiny.
OMG such a coincidence!! Hhahaha. We had our Christmas eve dinner in there so now you know what the INSIDE of the house is like too 😛
ahh the food! =)
you can get the sugar sticks from their deli! 😛
i gotten for my own use cos they are SO cute and so coolz!
Ooo i didn’t know that, good idea!
can recycle the wooden bit as stirrer also. 😛
I was at Goodwood on 31st for a wedding at one of their ballrooms (the octagon one). And, I have to say I’m quite impressed with the food served up too! The glutinous rice was quite yum! (Not sure if the same ppl cooked them though. heh.) The ballroom was quite cosy too 🙂 good choice!
Ooo coincidence! Glad you enjoyed it.. makes me feel a bit more relieved.. heh!