Usher in the festive holiday season with these delectable gourmet options, whether it's gorgeous sweet treats, indulgent multi-course meals, or Asian-influenced dishes.
Sweet Treats
Janice Wong's 2am:dessertbar
Throughout December, guests can choose two Christmas desserts at 2am:dessertbar. These comprise the Christmas Paradox and X’mas Wonderland (both $25). The first is made with hazelnut whisky, warm chocolate, mulled wine gel, juniper berry and pistacho black pepper custard. Meanwhile, the second comprises maple vanilla, chai orange, snickerdoodle, smoked chocolate and citrus meringue.
Pair these desserts with an exciting selection of Christmas cocktails (between $19 and $25). Some of these options include a citrusy Zesty Solerno. These combine blood orange sorbet, lemon juice, ginger ale, Reyka Vodka and Solerno. Otherwise, try the A Royal Christmas, where the Macallan Edition No. 5 with butterscotch liqueur, chocolate liqueur, coffee ice cubes and spice syrup.
Janice Wong's Neon Christmas
Need a festive sweet treat for your holiday parties? Try Janice Wong‘s Neon Christmas products and flavours. Examples of these include four Christmas cake specials ($9.50 each) as well as the return of the festive hampers. First, the Almond Rum Raison cake is a neon blue pine cone with ginger almond sponge, rum and raisin chocolate and almond praline mousse.
Another option is the bright yellow Apricot Mango Coconut cake shaped like a tree ornament. Within is coconut daquoise, apricot and cointreux gelee and white chocolate mousse. These cakes will be available till 26 December.
Alternatively, get a box of Janice’s famous chocolates in five new flavours, all in a colourful neon splash. Some of these festive flavours are popcorn and spice, gingerbread, cherry and dark chocolate peppermint and dulce de leche. Get these in the boxes of nine ($38), 16 ($65) and 25 ($98), which come with a festive sleeve Janice and her team designed.
Another great gift idea would be Janice Wong’s festive hampers. Comprising three different sizes (priced at $150, $250 and $350), you can top up with a bottle of wine or champagne. Otherwise, create your own box ($18) and fill it with items from the classic and Christmas selections.
Goodwood Park Hotel
Enjoy the finest confections from the Goodwood Park Hotel. First, the Whimsical Fairy Cake ($65 nett for 1kg) is a pink glace round butter cake and strawberry jam inside. Adorning it is a pink fairy, butterflies and lollies. Next, the winter-themed Crystal Glacier Log Cake ($82 nett for 1kg) is glazed with white chocolate, and decorated with pastel milk chocolate shards. Inside the almond sponge log cake is creamy mascarpone, ligonberries, apple mousse on a milk chocolate hazelnut fudge base. Alternatively, durian lovers might prefer the Goodwood Mao Shan Wang Durian Christmas Log Cake ($78 for 500g), where durian pulp is folded between layers of vanilla sponge.
Resembling a Rubik’s Cube, the playful Merry Cubes ($88 for one set) combine three layers of sweet treats in flavours like orange, blueberry, lychee, mango, green tea and strawberry. Rounding off the sweet treats is the salted caramel brownie bar ($38 nett for 500g). Milk chocolate and hazelnut bits coats the moist chocolate brownie, topped with hand-piped salted caramel waves, chocolate discs and a dusting of gold flakes.
Antoinette
Looking for sweet treats this Christmas? Starting off Antoinette‘s Christmas collection is the La Papillon cake (from $10 to $95). Some of the ingredients in this cake include Grand Cru dark chocolate mousse, cocoa finger cake, and zesty orange marmalade. Atop the cake are rice paper butterflies.
Another amazing creation is White Christmas ($90). Here, tucked under a white chocolate ganache are layers of white chocolate mousse and finger sponge cake. Between each stack you’ll find white peach coulis, and a little mango and passsionfruit cremeux. Additionally, kids will love the Melting Snowman Chocolate cake ($11), with packed candied orange and macadamia nuts, and a marshmallow snowman on top.
Moving on, the macarons ($19 for six) get a festive upgrade with items like the Fruit Cake cream between green and red meringue shells. Next up are the Iced Christmas cookies ($13 for three), in all sorts of festive shapes and colours, all stacked in bulbs resembling Christmas ornaments.
Christmas with an Asian Twist
Kin
Join Chef Damian D’Silva at Kin this season as he showcases cherished heritage recipes from his memories of feasting with his family. Available till 31 December, try the Devil’s Curry, where a classic debal complements braised chicken with mustard seed, pickle and vinegar. Other delectable dishes include the Feng with Seasonal Achar, a complex Eurasian dish of minced pork and finely chopped offal curry that is a true labour of love.
Of course, one of the essential dishes in a Christmas celebration is the freshly baked Eurasian Christmas Pie. This is a rich stew comprising chicken, spices, carrot, potato and sausages topped with a crusty puff pastry.
Neon Pigeon
At Keong Saik Road, celebrate Christmas at the popular modern izakaya, Neon Pigeon, with a decadent $350++ set menu for four. Included in this menu is a specially selected set of dishes and drink pairing.
Begin the sumptuous meal with starters like Tokyo hummus, soft shell crab bao and chargrilled asparagus. Next, choose between the crispy rolled pork belly or salt-baked red snapper. End the meal with a sweet treat – hazelnut chocolate mousse or Sudachi cream with pink peppercorn.
Available until 25 December, make sure to book three days in advance. Call 6222 3623 to make a reservation.
Mikuni
Epicures can enjoy the best of this multi-sensory dining experience at Mikuni at Fairmont Singapore. Even better, for this festive period till the end of the year, Mikuni has created a series of kaiseki menus for lunch and dinner (from $158++ to $250++ per person).
One of these menus is the Festive nine-course Winter Lunch Menu, that features dishes like Tochigi A5 Wagyu Sukiyaki rice with pickles and thinly sliced Kurose Buri truffle in soy sauce. Additionally, pair your dinner with Tatsumigura Japanese Sake for $100.
Signature Festive Favourites
OverEasy Fullerton
Best for intimate and small groups of four to five persons, celebrate the upcoming holiday with OverEasy Fullerton’s Festive Roast & Toast ($238++), comprising the Festive Fowl (usually $78++) and the signature Tomahawk (usual price $188++). Marinated with beer and a secret spice blend for 18 hours, the Festive Fowl is an incredibly juicy roasted chicken.
Another superb choice is the Festive Tomahawk, an Angus bone-in ribeye. After it has been sous vide with herbs for two hours, it’s then grilled and roasted to achieve the perfect medium rare ribeye. Accompanying these mains are a leek and potato mash, a sweet potato and beet salad with feta and flax seeds and a homemade apple, orange and cranberry sauce. Enjoy this all-day throughout December. Book on their website or call 6684 1453.
Le Bon Funk
At Le Bon Funk on Club Street, enjoy the best of natural, handpicked wines with Chef Keirin Buck’s amazing cuisine. Dishes include cedar jelly and foie gras toast, the butter-basted Berkshire Ham Steak as well as the whole Heritage chicken, glazed with Manuka honey and fennel.
While this menu is available till 31 December, do note Le Bon Funk won’t be open on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. To book, visit their website or call 6224 1490.
Christmas and New Year: Actual Day Feasts
Tanjong Beach Club
Start your Christmas day off right with a Christmas brunch spread (11.30am-2.30pm) at Tanjong Beach Club, and savour the freshest seafood like Boston lobster, fresh oysters and whole tuna sashimi. Other savoury delights include the roast turkey with a chestnut bread stuffing and the slow roasted beef prime ribs. End the meal with a sweet treat like Christmas Tree brownies and strawberry watermelon cake.
Pair your decadent brunch ($138++ for adults, $58++ for children between 5-12 years old) with free flow Zardetto Prosecco, Babydoll Rosé and more ($35++ extra). Meanwhile, the kids can have loads of fun with activities like face painting, balloon sculpting, as well as meeting Santa. Better still, children 4 years and below dine free when accompanied by a paying adult. To reserve, visit their website or RSVP on the Facebook page.
The Halia
On Christmas Day, enjoy a sumptuous Continental buffet spread catered by The Halia at The Villa’s annual brunch. This buffet features classic Christmas dishes like the carved turkey, turkey ham, eggs done any-style, pumpkin soup, as well as fresh seafood. Top up $30++ per adult for free flow alcoholic beverages. Meanwhile, at the dedicated Kids Activity Corner, kids can decorate their own gingerbread man cookies and engage in some colouring activities.
There are two seatings – 11am and 2.30pm, and it will cost $98++ per adult and $48++ for children aged 6 to 12. Email them for bookings and enquiries or call 6484 0711.
The Black Swan
Have yourself a very special Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve at The Black Swan on Cecil Street. The Festive Specials Dinner menu, consisting of a four-course or five-course option, costs $88++ and $108++ respectively and features the Westholme Wagyu beef wellington, the balsamic glazed pork belly and a pan-seared king salmon. For an added indulgence, add a wine pairing option at $30++.
For reservations, please visit the website or call 6438 3757. Do note the timings for the courses – guests taking the four-course menu should be seated between 6 – 6.45pm, and those taking the five-course menu should be seated between 8.15 – 9pm.
The White Rabbit
Set in a pristinely restored 1930s chapel, The White Rabbit is a fantastic place for your year-end gatherings, especially if you’re dining here on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Feast on the five-course or six-course menu, that features amazing dishes like the Ratatouille en Verrine, Wagyu striploin and a deconstructed Black Forest dessert. Of course, wine pairing is available at an additional $58++ and $68++ for the courses respectively.
Diners choosing the five-course menu should be seated between 6 to 6.30pm, and those opting for the six-course meal will be seated between 8.30 to 9pm. These festive menus will be available on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
Want the kids to join in the fun? Bring them along for the next day’s Christmas Day brunch that includes yummy seafood like whole lobsters, king crab leg, and Normandy mermaid oysters.Other highlights are the foie gras, done two ways, and the Wagyu rump at the carving station.
Like the Christmas Eve dinner, there are also two seatings, one at 10 to 10.30am ($98++) and another at 12.30 to 1.30pm ($118++), and $58++ for children between five to 12 years. Visit the site for reservations or call 6473 9965.
Po, The Warehouse Hotel
Continue the season of feasting and celebration at Po in The Warehouse Hotel on 31 December, where the best of Asian and Western flavours meet. For example, the grilled bak kut teh uses spiced Iberio pork ribs, and the rack of lamb is seasoned with Peranakan flavours. A definite must-try is the collagen-filled Silk Hen Broth and the sayur lodeh-inspired curry crusted monkfish.
Choose from the four or five-course menu ($108++ and $128++ respectively). An additional option is to top up $100++ for free flow or wine, champagne and beer to toast to the new year, and grants you access to The Warehouse Hotel’s New Year’s Eve party. Diners will be seated at 6.30 and 8pm respectively. To reserve, email Po, or call 6828 0007.
Bar Canary
Start your New Year with a superb New Year’s Eve countdown party at Bar Canary, with bottles of bubbly, to the feel-good beats by DJs Val, Killergab and Koh Han. Even children can partake in the festivities, tucking in to the Kid’s Friendly menu that includes BC Truffle Fries ($12++) and Beef Sliders ($28++).
Larger groups can share the Party Platter ($33++), with chicken yakitori, lemongrass prawn cakes, mango prawn rolls and vegetable spring rolls. Other delectable treats include the Surf n’ Turf Roll ($12++) and the Crispy Duck Roll ($14++), which you could pair with Bar Canary’s festive cocktail Yuletide Cheer ($16++).
Reservations are highly recommended for table packages. Prices start from $438++ to $1,088++ per table, and includes two bottles of featured spirits, champagne, wine and party platters.
New Openings
Zoey's Diner
If you’re looking for something more chill, head to the heartlands of Sengkang. Zoey’s Diner, a new casual dining concept at Compass One, offers its version of the burger, the Baobae ($9,90). These buns, fusing the Chinese bao and the western burger- are lightly toasted brioche buns with handmade, dome-shaped Baos. Vegetarians will love the Shrooms Bun-Mi, which has shiitake mushroom, pickled vegetable, fried onions and a little hoisin sauce.
For those who love brunch, try the Morning Ham & Egg comprising Eggs Benedict, chicken honey baked ham, asparagus and hollandaise sauce. Make it a set and choose fries, salad or soup, and a drink ($3.90), or two sides with a drink for $4.90. These salads include a salmon, avocado, nuts and berries salad, while you can choose from truffle, Chef’s signature and sriracha sweet potato fries.
Additionally, your little ones can choose from three options: a battered dory fish fillet, chicken tenders or mushroom chicken carbonara, with a complimentary Yakult. Bubble tea lovers will love the beverages from Winnie’s, including the Lychee Rose Nectar and Black Sugar Oolong milk tea ($2.20 and up).
Caffe Cicheti
The third Cicheti concept, Caffe Cicheti, explores the best of Italian coastal cuisine. Start the meal with Panzanella ($15), a traditional Tuscan bread and tomato salad using heirloom tomatoes, Spanish onions, Japanese cucumbers, creamy stracciatella and house-made herb croutons.
Next up is the pasta course – options include the pesto ($26), with basil, almonds, pine nuts and shaved parmigiana. Alternatively, try the Vongole ($26), featuring fresh Japanese Hobinosugai clams in a rich garlic butter sauce, burnt lemon and a bit of spice.
Moving onto the next course, meat lovers will love the Iberico Pork ($29.50) loin chops, an acorn-rich pork rack roast, with garlic and five-spice mix paired with granny smith apples and a kale salad. Other exciting dishes include the Gianduja Semifreddo ($12.50), with crushed Amaretti biscuits, dark chocolate and chopped hazelnuts.
Even better, Caffe Cicheti also caters for vegetarians, with an a la carte vegetarian menu that has more than 15 non-meat options. Pair these with well-made wines like the 2018 organic Sauvignon Blanc, or the 2014 ‘Fragments’ Tempranillo from Castell d’Age. Non-drinkers can choose from 24-hour cold brewed teas, Seedlip concoctions, and super fresh juices.
