Speaker 1: Welcome to Eat Drink Singapore on CNA 938. You're with me,
Speaker 1: Cheryl Goh. Uh, if you don't already know, the 8th
Speaker 1: of March is International Women's Day, and while the celebrations
Speaker 1: are starting early at the Goodwood Park Hotel as it
Speaker 1: presents a really extraordinary array of specially curated experiences that
Speaker 1: pay tribute to the remarkable women.
Speaker 1: Including you and I who shape our world from indulgent
Speaker 1: dining experiences to exclusive privileges. Well, the hotel invites guests
Speaker 1: to commemorate this significant day with elegance and appreciation and
Speaker 1: this year is also particularly special as Goodwood Park Hotel
Speaker 1: celebrates its 125th anniversary, marking over a
Speaker 1: century of timeless charm, culinary excellence and exceptional hospitality. And
Speaker 1: of course, because of this, the the hotel is offering
Speaker 1: exciting promotions and experiences throughout the year and of course
Speaker 1: in celebration of International Women's Day IWD and to tell
Speaker 1: us more, we have Cheryl Lee, director of marketing communications
Speaker 1: at Goodwood Park Hotel.
Speaker 1: Cheryl, I hope you're having a good start to your Monday.
Speaker 2: Yeah, thank you so much for having me, Cheryl. Yeah,
Speaker 2: so far is off to a great start.
Speaker 1: Yeah, so tell us, um, why is Goodwood Park celebrating
Speaker 1: IWD in such a big way? Why, why is this
Speaker 1: occasion so important to the hotel?
Speaker 2: Yeah. So at Goodwood Park Hotel, we actually started celebrating
Speaker 2: International Women's Day since 2017. Um, we have always believed
Speaker 2: in celebrating and also honoring, you know, the contributions of women,
Speaker 2: whether it's our valued guests or even staff. Um, it's
Speaker 2: something we recognize actually every day, not just, you know,
Speaker 2: on International Women's Day, but with this significant day happening
Speaker 2: around the corner, it, it well aligns with what we.
Speaker 2: Believe in. And it was an opportunity for us to
Speaker 2: create this meaningful and memorable experiences for the women in
Speaker 2: our life who have impacted us in one way or another.
Speaker 2: So which is why we have launched, you know, like
Speaker 2: a lineup of dining offers at all of our hotel restaurants, um,
Speaker 2: on 8 March this Saturday.
Speaker 2: It's important to us because as a heritage hotel with
Speaker 2: like you mentioned earlier, 125 years of history, we have
Speaker 2: definitely witnessed the, the evolving roles of women and how
Speaker 2: they have impacted us. So we are definitely proud to
Speaker 2: recognize and also celebrate these achievements with all women alike.
Speaker 1: Yeah, and and I'm sure that a lot of your
Speaker 1: staff as well are women, right, at the hotel.
Speaker 1: Yes, definitely. OK, um, so you said you've celebrated this
Speaker 1: since 2017. Has it always been like dining offers or
Speaker 1: have there been other activities as well?
Speaker 2: Yeah, so it has primarily been um dining offers, but
Speaker 2: it actually then depends on on the different promotions. So
Speaker 2: every year we come up with something new so that
Speaker 2: our guests can have something different to look out for
Speaker 2: uh each, each time.
Speaker 2: And, um, I think for this it's a little bit different. Um,
Speaker 2: all of our hotel and restaurants have something to offer,
Speaker 2: given that, um, International Women's Day, this is on a Saturday.
Speaker 2: So we're actually expecting more people to be out, you know,
Speaker 2: not just the women, but the men as well. The
Speaker 1: partners, right? Yeah.
Speaker 2: So like, um, we don't just offer it for the woman,
Speaker 2: but the man is also in for something special. Yeah,
Speaker 1: that's very nice. All right, let's let's get into the
Speaker 1: the various IWD offerings at Goodwood Park Hotel, then Cheryl,
Speaker 1: starting with uh.
Speaker 1: Duurian dessert buffet at the coffee lounge.
Speaker 2: Yeah, so I guess for Singaporeans, I guess most Singaporeans
Speaker 2: love durian. So when you think of Goodwood Park Hotel,
Speaker 2: you can, you definitely think of, you know, durian pastries
Speaker 2: and the, and the, and the durian fiesta that we
Speaker 2: run every year. So we're bringing this, uh, highly anticipated
Speaker 2: durian dessert buffet back at Coffee Lounge only on 8 March.
Speaker 2: It's a one-day exclusive. But just to share, so this
Speaker 2: desert buffet at Coffee Lounge. We are officially launching it
Speaker 2: actually only on 4th April onwards. So this Saturday, on
Speaker 2: 3rd March is actually
Speaker 1: a sneak
Speaker 1: preview lah.
Speaker 2: So customers can actually get to um try it in advance, um,
Speaker 2: and it's at a special price of $38 top-up when
Speaker 2: you order like a main course or a set menu.
Speaker 2: So for the ladies, it's
Speaker 2: $38 additional. You get to enjoy the durian dessert buffet
Speaker 2: as well as other desserts on the buffet line. And
Speaker 2: then for men, you, you get to enjoy this experience
Speaker 2: at $48 additional top-up. So when we launch in April,
Speaker 2: the price will be at $50. So if you want
Speaker 2: to kind of have a sneak preview in advance and
Speaker 2: enjoy that special rate, it will be at $38 for
Speaker 2: this Saturday.
Speaker 1: Oh, very nice, very nice, uh, uh, Cheryl, it sounds
Speaker 1: like such a good deal as well. Good news for
Speaker 1: the durian lovers, both the men and the women as well.
Speaker 1: And of course, I mean, I don't want to stereotype,
Speaker 1: but I think there is some truth to this, but
Speaker 1: you know, us ladies, we do love our high tea, right?
Speaker 1: It's something that, you know, if you if you tell
Speaker 1: me to go I I I will I will never
Speaker 1: say no so.
Speaker 1: Tell us about the high tea offering at Goodwood Park
Speaker 1: that's for IWD. Yes,
Speaker 2: absolutely. So this afternoon tea offering is at L'Espresso. Um,
Speaker 2: it's actually we are actually known for our English afternoon tea. Uh,
Speaker 2: and actually for the month of March, you know, as
Speaker 2: part of 125th anniversary, our afternoon tea at L'Espresso is
Speaker 2: actually priced at
Speaker 2: 125 for two adults. And it comes with, uh, a
Speaker 2: complimentary glass of sparkling wine, uh, for guests who, you know,
Speaker 2: dine with us in March. And on top of that,
Speaker 2: for IWD, um, guests can actually enjoy a bottle of
Speaker 2: sparkling wine at $38. So let's say, you know, you
Speaker 2: really enjoy that complimentary glass and you want to keep
Speaker 2: going for more, um, the extra bottle is at $38 per, per,
Speaker 2: per bottle.
Speaker 2: And at the afternoon tea menu, of course, you know,
Speaker 2: you can find a lot of dainty and savory sweet treats,
Speaker 2: including like open face sandwiches as well as delicate pastry.
Speaker 2: So you can find highlights like crab salad with avocado,
Speaker 2: Parma ham with brie cheese croissant, um, bread and butter
Speaker 2: pudding for the sweets, and how can you not have
Speaker 2: afternoon tea without like some freshly baked stones and.
Speaker 2: cream, right? So actually that's one of the main highlights
Speaker 2: for L'Espresso. We have 6 different types of scones. Um, so,
Speaker 2: you know, we have like the, the, the, the, the usual, um,
Speaker 2: plain stone, raisins, pistachio stones. So it's one of my
Speaker 2: favorites at L'Espresso actually, like, where, not, I guess not
Speaker 2: many peoples offer that big of a variety of scones. Um, yeah, so,
Speaker 2: so that's what guests can actually expect when they come
Speaker 2: and dine at 'spresso.
Speaker 2: during the afternoon tea. Oh,
Speaker 1: that sounds really good. Uh how many sittings of the
Speaker 1: afternoon tea do you have at L'Espresso, Cheryl?
Speaker 2: So on Saturday, there are 2s, uh, mainly for weekends
Speaker 2: we have 2 seas, and then on weekdays we have 1.
Speaker 1: OK, something to think about, you know, if you want
Speaker 1: to bring your sister, your mom, your best female friend,
Speaker 1: I think high tea would be a great option as well.
Speaker 1: But for those of us who want something a bit
Speaker 1: more uh delicate, perhaps there's this special dimsum deal at
Speaker 1: your very renowned Chinese restaurant Minjiang as well. So even
Speaker 1: Minjiang is getting in on the action.
Speaker 2: Yes, that's right. So actually this year, I guess, um,
Speaker 2: most of all of our outlets have, uh, something to offer.
Speaker 2: So at Minjiang, typically for guests who, you know, they
Speaker 2: are craving some Chinese cuisine, um, they can actually enjoy
Speaker 2: this special dim sum bundle that we have created. It's
Speaker 2: uh $38 for lunch.
Speaker 2: And exclusively available to the 1st 88 female diners only.
Speaker 2: So this dim sum bundle actually features 8 causes of
Speaker 2: different types of dim sum. It starts with this uh
Speaker 2: dimsum symphony where it features a couple of items like
Speaker 2: deep fried pumpkin pastry with chicken, reserved turnip and mushroom,
Speaker 2: and a super cute uh pan-fried leaf bun with mushroom
Speaker 2: and asparagus. And of course,
Speaker 2: There are other highlights, you know, besides just the steam, uh, items,
Speaker 2: there's like the poached prawn dumpling in chili oil. There's your, uh,
Speaker 2: everybody's favorite steamed Shanghai Xiaolong pao, as well as mock
Speaker 2: fried carrot cake with a special XO sauce. So if
Speaker 2: you're looking for some, you know, dim sum on a
Speaker 2: weekend to kind of like young cha with your family
Speaker 2: or friends, this is perfect.
Speaker 1: So this
Speaker 1: one is, um.
Speaker 1: Is it just for women or like if let's say
Speaker 1: like we bring a a male companion, they also get
Speaker 1: to enjoy it.
Speaker 2: Yeah, so, uh, because I mentioned is for 88 female diners,
Speaker 2: but definitely our restaurants would be practicing some sort of flexibility.
Speaker 2: So it's like a little, uh, uh, you know, let's
Speaker 2: say you come with a family of like 6 and
Speaker 2: then there's like 4 ladies and 2 men, we won't just.
Speaker 2: Give it to the ladies for sure. The men get
Speaker 2: it as well. So you heard it here first,
Speaker 1: right?
Speaker 2: You don't market that explicitly, but I mean, yeah, definitely
Speaker 2: the restaurant would practice some flexibility and allow, you know,
Speaker 2: all diners to enjoy this special
Speaker 1: promotion. So if you're one of the lucky males, you
Speaker 1: never know. You might get to enjoy this special dimsum
Speaker 1: course at Minjiang as well.
Speaker 1: And uh so we've covered, you know, the coffee lounge,
Speaker 1: we've covered um high tea and then dim sum, and
Speaker 1: then for something a bit hardier, there's the Golden Grill, uh,
Speaker 1: where you know you get your steaks and and your
Speaker 1: main courses. What do you, what does the Golden Grill
Speaker 1: have in store for female
Speaker 1: diners?
Speaker 2: Yeah, so Golden Grill, um, we are offering women, you know,
Speaker 2: like sparkling wine at a special price of 38.
Speaker 2: Um, whenever they order any main course or set menu.
Speaker 2: So you can imagine, um, you know, spending the Saturday afternoon,
Speaker 2: having your favorite roast paired with wine, uh, as Golden
Speaker 2: Grill is very traditional, uh, most of our customers come
Speaker 2: for the beef steak. So actually, how, how, um, Golden Grill, um,
Speaker 2: actually runs is that.
Speaker 2: Um, when guests order their, their beef, there's a meat
Speaker 2: trolley that is wheeled to each table for you to
Speaker 2: actually choose, you know, and then they will slice it
Speaker 2: in front of you, meticulously we present it to you
Speaker 2: before it's cooked in the kitchen. So that's the kind of, um,
Speaker 2: traditional dining experiences that we're offering to all customers too.
Speaker 1: And of course you get that special little glass of
Speaker 1: rose as a treat on only on Saturday as well
Speaker 1: I assume, or the whole week.
Speaker 2: Uh, so for the, for the sparkling wine it's uh
Speaker 2: at a special price per bottle at $38.
Speaker 1: OK, and that is for the just the Saturday itself
Speaker 1: or the Saturday, Saturday. OK, very limited special indeed, but
Speaker 1: of course, no better way to commemorate IWD.
Speaker 1: Um, you know, like we mentioned, Cheryl, uh, I'm sure
Speaker 1: a lot of the staff at Goodwood Park are women
Speaker 1: as well, you know, and they help to keep the
Speaker 1: hotel in tiptop shape, keep it running really smoothly. Do
Speaker 1: you have any special plans to celebrate the female staff
Speaker 1: at the hotel?
Speaker 2: Yeah, for sure. So, to honor this meaningful occasion, we
Speaker 2: actually invited our female employees to share, um, stories, you know,
Speaker 2: about the woman who inspired them and how they feel
Speaker 2: that women can empower one another whenever they faced with
Speaker 2: challenges in life or even at work. So, um, you know,
Speaker 2: it would be interesting to actually hear the stories shared
Speaker 2: by colleagues, even me, myself. I'm curious to, um, day
Speaker 2: in and day out of work, we know who our
Speaker 2: colleagues are, but we don't really know who are they
Speaker 2: as individuals. They are.
Speaker 2: Many who have, you know, worked for more than 10 years,
Speaker 2: 20 years, um, you know, some even worked for over
Speaker 2: 30 years. Um, but these are things that, you know,
Speaker 2: not all employees would know, and these stories go beyond
Speaker 2: like the working hours, and especially for the hotel industry, uh,
Speaker 2: I would say more than 50% of our employees, they
Speaker 2: are very operational driven. They work tirelessly to serve gas, um,
Speaker 2: you know, housekeeping, front office. These are, um, shift hours,
Speaker 2: shift hours. So, you know.
Speaker 2: You know, we are always working hand in hand, but
Speaker 2: we definitely do not know their stories. So, um, you know, the,
Speaker 2: the our HR team has gone above and beyond to
Speaker 2: actually try and put together these stories for all employees
Speaker 2: to understand, and, um, it will be quite, quite nice.
Speaker 2: It's like a little softer approach. Uh, yeah, so, so
Speaker 2: it's something different that we're doing this year for employees.
Speaker 1: Oh, I love that. I mean, that, yeah, a little
Speaker 1: bit more of the human element, like they're not just
Speaker 1: a colleague, right? There's a whole person behind each role
Speaker 1: in in in the hotel.
Speaker 1: Oh, that's, that's wonderful. So, so kudos to you guys
Speaker 1: for doing that. I'm sure the the female staff will
Speaker 1: be very pleased as well. And as like we said,
Speaker 1: you know, a big year for you guys, 125 years, uh,
Speaker 1: what a what a milestone, um, and obviously you've got
Speaker 1: your IWD plans, but what else are you, are you,
Speaker 1: is this going to be a year-long celebration for Goodwood Park?
Speaker 2: Yes, it is actually. So 2025 is a very special
Speaker 2: year for us, you know, as I mentioned, we are
Speaker 2: celebrating 125 years of hospitality and excellence and
Speaker 2: Of course, we can't achieve this without, you know, our
Speaker 2: guests who have been loyal supporters of, you know, the
Speaker 2: hotel and the different promotions we are running. So throughout
Speaker 2: this whole year, we have a series of exciting events, promotions,
Speaker 2: and also limited time offerings, you know, from food to
Speaker 2: room vacations as well. So every month, our guests can
Speaker 2: look forward to something special.
Speaker 2: Um, take for example, this March, we have launched Duurian Fiesta,
Speaker 2: our famed durian Fiesta promotion. So we have actually put
Speaker 2: together like this 125th anniversary exclusive bundle where, um, guests
Speaker 2: can actually enjoy perhaps like 5 or 6 different durian
Speaker 2: items in the bundle for an exclusive price of $125. So,
Speaker 2: Uh, throughout this whole year, uh, uh, we are offering
Speaker 2: quite a number of items that is priced at 125, 1250.
Speaker 2: We are more or less playing around with their numbers. Um,
Speaker 2: so all our guests can, can look forward, you know,
Speaker 2: to what's to come in the next few months. Yeah.
Speaker 1: I can imagine some really good 1250. So that would
Speaker 1: be
Speaker 2: exactly,
Speaker 1: yeah.
Speaker 2: So we actually launched this, um, mini D24 spiky duo. It's,
Speaker 2: it's like a new durian dessert. It's like a little
Speaker 2: mousse cake shape in the.
Speaker 2: durian, um, a durian che, so it's 2 for 1250,
Speaker 2: which is a pretty
Speaker 1: good deal. That is a really good deal.
Speaker 1: Yeah, right, I might check you guys out on that
Speaker 1: as well. Alright, um, Cheryl, this has been great telling
Speaker 1: us all about the different, uh, dining options at Goodwood
Speaker 1: Park for IWD, but before we let you go, um,
Speaker 1: given that IWD is happening on the 8th of March, uh,
Speaker 1: would you like to wish our female listeners anything special
Speaker 1: for IWD? Yeah,
Speaker 2: absolutely. So you know,
Speaker 2: incredible women out there. So definitely Happy International Women's Day. Um,
Speaker 2: it's not just for that one day, but, you know,
Speaker 2: remember that, um, this day is actually a reminder of
Speaker 2: our strength and resilience. There's actually so much, you know,
Speaker 2: that us women, we can achieve. We should always take time,
Speaker 2: I believe, to celebrate ourselves, cherish these moments that bring
Speaker 2: you joy and also inspire the people around you, whether
Speaker 2: women or even men as well. So, um, you know,
Speaker 2: while you're at it, we definitely hope to welcome.
Speaker 2: How come, you know, all women and everyone to Google
Speaker 2: Park Hotel for a memorable celebration this weekend.
Speaker 1: Yeah, wonderful. And I also wish you and all the staff,
Speaker 1: the female staff at Goodwood Park a happy IWD as well.
Speaker 1: We've been speaking to Cheryl Lee, director of marketing communications
Speaker 1: at Goodwood Park Hotel. If you want to find out
Speaker 1: more about all their various IWD offerings, go to their
Speaker 1: website www.goodwood Parkhotel oneword.com. Cheryl, it's been a pleasure. Thank
Speaker 1: you so much.
Speaker 2: Thank you so much.