Call it fate or kismet but our Sugar Hit at the Sheraton at the Park was meant to be. We could just tell from the park we got right outside the hotel that the universe was sating our sweet tooths. As its a Saturday night, they’re holding the Sugar Hit in the ground floor Gallery Tea Lounge, one of my favourite afternoon tea places. There are a few other tables but its not overcrowded as its 9.15pm and the Sugar Hit has just commenced..
Shortly after we order our triple decker Sugar Hits, the Brown Brother Orange Muscat & Flora Dessert wines arrive, a sweet fruity concoction heavily fragrant with pears. The Sheraton’s Sugar Hit offering comprises of: Baked basil scented Alaska, rose wine poached pear and Sheraton signature vanilla bean Creme Brulee. The basil scented alaska is what has caught my eye as I’ve seen basil used is some desserts but have never had the opportunity to try it first hand.
The plates looks glorious as they are set down and the star of the plate is undoubtedly the spiky caramelised hedgehog Baked Alaska with white and dark chocolate cigarillo. We are eager to dig into this first and inside reveals a rich chocolate ice cream centre with a sweet meringue outer. There’s no sponge inside like a traditional Baked Alaska, just the ball of ice cream sitting atop a chocolate biscuit. The cold ice cream contrasts with the pillowy sweet softness of the meringue. I am trying my hardest to detect or taste the basil scent but it is eluding me completely. Queen Viv and Miss America do taste it faintly in theirs but we don’t in ours.
The rose wine poached pear is next and its ingeniously set on a round pool of red wine syrup which is bound in by a ring of set white chocolate which looks stunning. Great presentation of the pear in gorgeous miniature and its pleasantly sweet and refreshing after the jaw aching sweetness of the Alaska but it perhaps needs a spice added to it like nutmeg or cinnamon. It doesn’t have a very strong red wine taste either with the red wine staining only the bottom of the pear.
Last is the vanilla bean Creme Brulee. Its housed in a small shallow dish which is how I like it (more surface area for the toffee crunch!) but there is no crunch to be had. The custard itself is thick, rich and velvety but I need the crunch, I practically insist on it. There’s nothing better when eating a Creme Brulee than cracking the toffee.
Sugar cravings well and truly satisfied, Queen Viv, Miss America and my husband and I make a date for another Sugar Hit in a couple of week’s time. All in the name of thorough research of course.
Sheraton on the Park
Lvl 1, 161 Elizabeth Street, Sydney
Tel: +61 (02) 9286 6650
The Sugar Hit is on every day throughout October from 9pm-11pm for $20 per plate
5 Comments | Add your own
Did you see my picture on the wall there?
I liked the burnt fluffy thing.
i wouldn’t mind biting into that baked alaska!
I’d been curious about the baked alaska too, and I agree about the brulee crunch necessity. I’m guessing that many places take a shortcut and torch them all beforehand, rather than to order. Thanks for all the gorgeous pics!
Hi Cappucino-yes in fact I did see your picture on the wall! Hehe yes the Alaska was nice, if very sweet
Hi Anna-thanks for your weekly round up and I think that the tasting plates are definitely the way to go with the Sugar Hits!
Hi Helen-I guessed as much as they brought our plate out a couple of minutes after we’d ordered it. I wouldn’t have minded waiting more and getting a crunch though! It wasn’t very full even for a Saturday night so perhaps they could’ve done it. Your Inter-Continental one sounds like a definite go-er.
The plate is so artistically satisfying that maybe it is enough to look, so no need to taste it…!
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