MMR: The Strand Café @ Strand Hotel
Burmese high tea with awesome banana cake!
Facing the Yangon River is Strand Hotel (5*), a Victorian-style accommodation which building has been around since 1901. It's well-known for its afternoon tea, priced at US$17.00 (~S$23.20) per set, among tourists visiting the city.
Tea time is from 2.30pm to 5.0pm daily. When we reached the hotel, it was already 4.50pm. Luckily, the last order was at 5.00pm itself, so we didn't come for nothing. Being in Myanmar, we opted for their Myanmar Heritage Tea. Pika's advice: If you're not so keen trying Burmese snacks, you can always go for their Classic Afternoon Tea comprising a selection of sandwiches and pastry.
English Breakfast Tea (Set Menu)
When asked between coffee or tea, we went for tea. Following that, the waiter asked, "English breakfast tea?" However, I actually didn't really hear what he said initially and just replied affirmatively. Only when the tea appeared, along with those black containers with the national symbol of leogryphs imprinted on them, we realised what he had said. We actually wanted to have the Myanmar green tea.
Pickled Tea Leaves Salad (Set Menu)
Taste: 8.5/10
I guess I can't get enough of the country's staple of pickled tea leaves salad. As mentioned in the post on Feel Myanmar Food, even though the tea leaves had lost their fragrance, I really enjoyed the crunchy textures of peanuts and fried garlic bits. The hotel also included broad beans in the salad. Overall, the balance of flavours was good, whetting my appetite even though I wasn't that hungry.
Assorted Stuff #1 (Set Menu)
Fried Vegetables - Taste: 8/10
Crispy Rice Flour Cake - Taste: 8/10
In the container of fried items was a saucer of tamarind sauce, which wasn't as refreshingly sour as I'd expected it to be, but it was appetising with a nice hint of sweetness. Each of the items had a light and crunchy outer layer, while retaining enough moisture inside.
Assorted Stuff #2 (Set Menu)
Sago Pudding - Taste: 8/10
Banana Pudding - Taste: 9/10
Potato Pudding - Taste: 8/10
The highlight of the day was the red-coloured banana pudding that had a superbly nice fragrance emanating from it. The sago pudding on the left was infused with coconut milk, I believe. The potato pudding on the right had was pretty soft and mildly sweet.
Assorted Stuff #3 (Set Menu)
Sticky Rice Flour Dumpling - Taste: 8/10
Pineapple Agar - Taste: 8/10
Semolina Cake - Taste: 8/10
The sticky rice flour dumpling coated with shredded coconuts was pretty much similar to an Indonesian cake with brown sugar embedded inside. The pineapple agar was slightly chewy, while the semolina cake was delicate and moist.
Melon's Rating
Taste: 8/10
Ambience: 8.5/10
Service: 8.5/10
Overall: 8.5/10
The atmosphere was truly relaxing, although I have to say that the ceiling fans weren't strong enough to quickly dry my sweat from the oppressive heat outside. Still, the decor is traditional and elegant at the same time.
The Strand Café @ Strand Hotel
92 Strand Road
1/F Strand Hotel
Yangon
Myanmar
(Daily: 2.30pm - 5.00pm)
*Prices quoted are subject to 10% service charge and 5% commercial tax.
Have a nice meal,
Cliff(y)
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