Azur is an all day dining concept built around two show kitchens with chefs presenting a lively multicultural theatre serving the best of the Eastern and Western international cuisines. The restaurant serves a la carte menus as well as a wide array of Eastern and Western cuisine on the buffet selection. Daily specials feature Pastas cooked a la minute upon orders and the Asian live cooking station presents a variety of local dishes like Nonya Laksa and Mee Siam. The highlight of the Azur restaurant is the Changi Weekend Brunch which offers a great selection of East-West cuisine – the menu of delectable local dishes and international fare promises to tantalise even the palates of the most discerning foodies.

We have described how the design of the hotel lobby and guest rooms echoed a theme of calm nature. The Azur restaurant had also adopted a theme – one that draws on the millennia old tradition of ceramics in China and Southeast Asia using natural mineral glazed tiles from Thailand in celadons, ultramarines and greens. The restaurant features vases made in traditional shapes in centuries old “Dragon kilns” in China mixed with contemporary versions from Thailand. The vertical screens and mirrors transform the ceramics into a blue textile that wraps the restaurant.

When it comes to cuisine, Azur reflects the strong identity of Changi Airport as a world aviation hub through its ‘out-of-this-world’ international buffet, served for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The “show” doesn’t stop at the 2 show kitchens – even the food display is exquisite especially the dessert table that seems to have served as a centrepiece between the 2 kitchens.

Changi Weekend Brunch at Azur Restaurant – Refreshed Menu wef 1 Apr 2013

It is finally the weekends – after a long week of waking up at 6-7am, no one blames you for wanting to sleep in a bit more (especially at a staycation at Crowne Plaza Changi Airport). Crowne Plaza Changi Airport understands this and this is where the Changi Weekend Brunch at Azur comes in – starting at 12.30pm every weekend, this buffet offers a whole array of international, fusion and local delights in a spread that spans almost half of the Azur restaurant. Walking from one end of the buffet (Western dishes) to the other end (Asian and local delights), we have already worked up quite an appetite and can possibly justify for an indulgence in the sumptuous buffet with our little workout!

Among the generous selection of appetisers at Changi Weekend Brunch at Azur, the Alaskan King Crab (no longer available), Boston Lobsters and Chilled Duck Terrine with Pistachio and Dried Cherries marry exquisite flavours for a unique start to the buffet selection. Western style salads and soups are complemented by daily specials such as Aromatic Roast Ribeye served with Shitake Red Wine Sauce or Roast Whole Leg of Lamb served with Rosemary Sauce and Mint Jelly.

From the Asian kitchen, you can enjoy tender poached or roasted chicken with fragrant chicken rice from the new Hainanese Chicken Rice station, Deep Fried Hokkien Ngoh Hiang full of flavoursome minced pork, sweet prawns and chestnut that gives the extra crunch. The noodle bar offers a flavorfull bowl of Singapore Laksa brimming with cockles, prawns fish cakes, noodles and sambal chilli served in a rich spicy coconut broth.

If you are into East meets West fusion food, the Changi Weekend Brunch also brings the best of both worlds with Azur’s East meets West dishes such as Seafood Baked Cheesy Rice, Paella Style with an Asian twist and Savoury Cheese Crepe with “Peking Duck” that combines roasted ducked filled with cream cheese, chives and cucumber wrapped in crepe and grilled to perfection.

The Changi Weekend Brunch at Crowne Plaza Changi Airport Azur Restaurant is available every Saturday and Sunday from 12.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. Expect to pay about S$45++ S$48++ (updated) per person (for adults) and $22.50++ $24++ (updated) per person (for children). Pretty reasonable price considering that you get to indulge in Alaskan King Crab, Boston Lobsters and unique East-West blend of cuisines.

Update: The Changi Weekend Brunch menu had been refreshed with effect from 1 April 2013.  If the thought of these food makes you hungry – [Asian Cuisine] Chicken Malai Kebab and Nasi Briyani from the Indian Cuisine Claypots, succulent Braised “Dong Po” Pork Belly and Kong Bak Pao, Wok fried Golden Crabmeat Fried Rice and Steamed Fish Fillet with Dried Shrimp Sambal & Caramelized Onions, [Western Cuisine] German Sausage with Juniper Berry Sauerkraut and Beef Jus from the Butcher’s Carving Station, Baked Mussels with Aioli Herbs, Oven Roasted Chicken with Green Pepper Jus and Pan Seared Australian Beef Steak with Black Pepper Cream Sauce – then you are in for a treat with the whole new Changi Weekend Brunch!

Festive Holiday Themed Changi Weekend Brunch

If you are looking for a restaurant for a family gathering during the holidays and long weekends, you should also check out the unique buffet themes that Azur offers as part of the Changi Weekend Brunch – be it for Easter, Christmas or Chinese New Year. For example, when we checked out Azur’s Changi Weekend Brunch in February this year, we were treated to the Chinese New Year Festive Menu buffet. Besides the usual buffet spread, we also indulged in traditional Chinese New Year dishes e.g. Braised Emperor Limpet and Ocean Catch in Conpoy Gravy and Slow-boiled Emperor’s Chicken.

The prices for Changi Weekend Brunch with a festive theme is slightly more expensive e.g. $52++ for Easter Changi Weekend Brunch (for adults) but you will get to enjoy unique dishes not usually found at typical Changi Weekend brunches. For the Easter Changi Weekend Brunch, Azur diners also get to participate in Easter Day Out activities at bar’75 from 12.30pm to 3.00pm. The retro bar is transformed into a play lounge for the kids with Cartoon Screenings, Easter Face Painting, Balloon Artists and annual Kids Easter Egg Hunt.

Back to our experience with the Chinese New Year-themed Changi Weekend Brunch, we also ordered a customised Yusheng for 2 at the Yusheng counter. No additional charges for the Yusheng and it is free flow – you can order as many times as you like – just let one of the restaurant staff know that you would like to have Yusheng and the number of people who will be doing the lo hei and the chef at the Yusheng counter will estimate the quantity needed.

Yusheng (also known as yee sang or yuu sahng or 鱼生), or Prosperity Toss, also known as lo hei (Cantonese for 撈起 or 捞起) is a Teochew-style raw fish salad. It usually consists of strips of raw fish (most commonly salmon), mixed with shredded vegetables and a variety of sauces and condiments, among other ingredients. Yusheng literally means “raw fish” but since “fish (鱼)” is commonly conflated with its homophone “abundance (余)”, Yúshēng (鱼生) is interpreted as a homophone for Yúshēng (余升) meaning an increase in abundance. Therefore, yusheng is considered a symbol of abundance, prosperity and vigor.

The Yusheng provided by Azur’s Changi Weekend Brunch came with all the necessary condiments you need to do a complete Lo Hei e.g. pomelo, lime, pepper and the crunchy bits. If you are unsure of what to say for lo hei in Singapore Chinese New Year, the following is a quick cheatsheet:

• 恭喜发财 (Gong Xi Fa Cai) meaning “Congratulations for your wealth” 万事如意 (Wan Shi Ru Yi) meaning “May all your wishes be fulfilled” – you can’t go wrong with these 2 phrases – just say it throughout the lo hei
• The raw fish is added, symbolising abundance and excess through the year. 年年有余　(Nian Nian You Yu) meaning “Abundance through the year”, as the word “fish” in Mandarin also sounds like “Abundance”.
• The pomelo or lime is added to the fish, adding luck and auspicious value. 大吉大利　Da Ji Da Li meaning “Good luck and smooth sailing”
• Pepper is then dashed over in the hope of attracting more money and valuables. 招财进宝 Zhao Cai Jin Bao meaning “Attract wealth and treasures”
• Then oil is poured out, circling the ingredients and encouraging money to flow in from all directions. 一本万利 Yi Ben Wan Li meaning “Make 10,000 times of profit with your capital” 财源广进 Cai Yuan Guang Jin meaning “Numerous sources of wealth”
• Carrots are added indicating blessings of good luck. 鸿运当头 Hong Yun Dang Tou meaning “Good luck is approaching”. Carrot (红萝卜) is used as the first character 鸿 also sound like the Chinese character for red.
• Then the shredded green radish is placed symbolising eternal youth. 青春常驻 Qing Chun Chang Zhu meaning “Forever young”. Green radish is used as the first character 青 also sound like the Chinese character for green.
• After which the shredded white radish is added – prosperity in business and promotion at work. 风生水起 Feng Sheng Shui Qi meaning “Progress at a fast pace” 步步高升 Bu Bu Gao Sheng meaning “Reaching higher level with each step”

The condiments are finally added.

• First, peanut crumbs are dusted on the dish, symbolizing a household filled with gold and silver. 金银满屋 Jin Yin Man Wu meaning “Household filled with gold and silver”
• Sesame seeds quickly follow symbolising a flourishing business. 生意兴隆 Sheng Yi Xing Long meaning “Prosperity for the business”
• Deep-fried flour crisps in the shape of golden pillows is then added with wishes that literally the whole floor would be filled with gold. 满地黄金 Man Di Huang Jin meaning “Floor full of gold”

Then start to Lo! Stick your chopsticks (clean ones for hygiene reasons!) into the yusheng and mix all the ingredients by lifting your chopstick-load of ingredients as high as possible and say any of the words in red above. It is generally safe to keep saying Huat Ah! Huat Ah! Gong Xi Fa Cai! if you don’t know what to say. 🙂 Who would mind getting rich and prosperous (Huat Ah!) anyway.

Azur’s Operating hours
Ala carte: 6am – 11am (Daily)
Buffet Breakfast: 6am – 10.30am (Daily)
Buffet Lunch: 12pm – 2.30pm (Mon – Fri)
Buffet Dinner: 6.30pm – 10.30pm (Daily)
Weekend Changi Brunch: 12.30pm – 3.30pm (Saturday and Sunday)

Azur is closed between 3pm – 6pm on weekdays.

For reservations/enquiries, please call 6823 5354 or email azur@cpchangiairport.com
For more information, you can visit http://www.crowneplazadining.com/azur

Getting to Crowne Plaza Changi Airport

From Changi Airport Terminal 1, 2 and 3

The Crowne Plaza Changi Airport is located within the immediate vicinity of Changi Airport. Linked to Terminal 3 via covered walkways, the 9-storey hotel has 320 guest rooms; a 100-seater Crowne Plaza Club Lounge; and executive class amenities such as restaurants, meeting rooms, conference rooms, spa lounges, a swimming pool and a health and fitness club.

Guests are also able to access Terminals 1 and 2 via the Skytrain Service that links all three terminal buildings. Parking is at Terminal 3 Car Park 3B. Prevailing parking rates apply.

By Mass Rapid Transport (MRT)

Get off at Changi Airport station along the green East-West line – there are 2 exits (to Terminal 2 and Terminal 3) – take the exit to Terminal 3. Follow the signages to Crowne Plaza Changi Airport.

Azur Restaurant is located the 2nd level of Crowne Plaza Changi Airport.