Looking for dining options this festive period? Our Christmas dining guide puts together our favourite picks this Yuletide season.
The year’s end is nigh upon us! And that means the loosening of belts in anticipation of a time of glorious feasting.
If you’re struggling to think of dining options for your Christmas get-togethers – whether you’re dining out or hosting a festive celebration at home – we’ve picked out some of our personal favourites that you might want to check out.
Regent Singapore
We’ve always been huge fans of Basilico at Regent Singapore. Their Italian take on the venerable hotel buffet – complete with a fabulous cheese and traditional antipasti selection – is second-to-none. While it no longer offer a self-service buffet, their table service buffet format continue to offer those familiar favourites. And for the Yuletide season, these dishes come with a festive take.
You’re looking at mains such as Wood Oven-roasted Turkey Breast with Smoked Foie Gras, Aquerello Risotto with Lobster, and Crispy Roman-style Porchetta, all of which are served to the table. For dessert, the Pandoro Tiramisu with Mascarpone Cream will surely hit the spot.
The festive celebrations at Basilico at Regent Singapore runs from now till 5 January 2021, is priced from S$68++ per person for their Festive Basilissimo Lunch to S$208++ for its Christmas Eve Dinner. For reservations, please call 6725 3232 or email basilico@regentsingapore.com.sg. You can find out more about Regent Singapore’s festive offerings here.
Raffles Hotel Singapore
Sometimes, the season demands for us – in between the frenzied bouts of Christmas shopping – to kick back and relax. If so we’d recommend the Festive Afternoon Tea that takes place this period over at the Grand Lobby of Raffles Singapore. This is a Christmas twist on the quintessential Raffles afternoon tea experience.
You’ll want to slowly work over this spread of familiar festive savoury and sweet favourites – ranging from chestnut profiterole, mincemeat pie, festive fruit cake, to a spiced apple Gingerbread Man and cranberry scones paired with clotted cream and their signature rose jam – even as you take in the reason for the season. Champagne.
If you’re looking for something more substantive though, Butcher’s Block is showcasing a special edition of Chef de Cuisine Jordan Keao’s signature multi-course Tour De Force menu that includes the Turducken. Chef Keao’s version sees turkey, duck and chicken layered together and then smoked over wood fire as the main highlight.
The Festive Afternoon Tea experience at Grand Lobby in Raffles Singapore costs S$88++ per person, and is available now till 2 January 2022. The Butcher’s Block festive Tour De Force menu is $258++ per guest (additional S$158++ for wine pairing), and runs from now till 2 January 2022. Other festive offerings from Raffles Singapore can be found here.
Shangri-la Singapore
While COVID may have changed the face of buffets forever, nothing can dampen the Singaporean love for the endless gastronomic options a hotel buffet has to offer. This year, The Line at Shangri-La Singapore is introducing an array of local favourites with a touch of the season. This December, indulge in dishes such as Poached Turkey Singapore Laksa, Salted Eggs Crab, Chilli Prawns, Grilled Otah Otah, Chicken & Beef Satay and Hainanese Chicken Rice.
As you stagger out of The Line, be sure to stop by the festive pop-up wine and spirits booth outside Origin Grill to pick up Britt’s Mulled Wine V2.0 created by Shangri-La Singapore’s head sommelier Britt Ng, as well as the various festive cocktail concoctions from the Origin Bar team such as Origin Christmas Gimlet or Origin Cocktail – Christmas Edition.
You can find out more about The Line’s festive offerings here; to check out other festive offerings from Shangri-La Singapore click here.
PARKROYAL on Beach Road
Asian-inflected all-day restaurant Ginger at PARKROYAL on Beach Road is best known as one of the most family-friendly dining destinations around. That’s perhaps why it’s an almost automatic shoe-in as an option to bring your family during festive occasions. And it’s halal-certified too! This Christmas, your family get to discover some fun Christmas favourites with a local twist at Ginger.
The festive buffet at Ginger includes a hearty selection of classic roasts such as the succulent Roasted Prime Rib, tender Slow-Roasted Bone-in Leg of Lamb, as well as indulgent mini Angus Beef Steak that comes with Winter Truffle Puree. Have a sweet tooth? You’ll be spoilt for choice in the dessert department too, with options such as its signature Gula Melaka Log Cake and Christmas Fruit Cake.
But if you want to celebrate in the comforts of your own home, put in an early order for their Rosemary Citrus Roasted Chicken. This classic comes as a massive bird that’s marinated in garlic, thyme, and rosemary and then slow roasted to perfection. It’s served alongside a hearty truffle and potato ragout and roasted brussel sprouts, and promises to feed an entire family and more.
The festive buffet at Ginger at PARKROYAL on Beach Road is available now till the New Year, with prices for lunch and dinner starting at S$55++ for adults and S$27.50++ for children. Call 3138 1955 to book.
Burger & Lobster
Burger & Lobster may be an odd recommendation during this season, but hear us out. The London-based burger and seafood chain has put together a Yuletide feast that might just surprise. Its ultimate Christmas Sharing Menu lets you customise your festive meal; pick between the elegant Lobster and Smoked Salmon Duo of tarts, or a vegan Beetroot Tartare with Carrot ‘Egg’. This is followed by a choice of Cranberry Lobster Roll (their signature lobster roll but with a creamy cranberry mayonnaise twist), or Venison Burger, both of which come with half a 1.5-pound wild Novia Scotia lobster, otherwise there’s the meat-free The Wholesome. The meal ends off with a most delectable Blood Orange Semifreddo. The set even comes with some Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut to set you in the right mood.
Burger & Lobster’s Christmas Sharing Menu is available at $238++ for two persons, or $190++ without the welcome bubbly and dessert wine.
Cold Storage
Hosting a Christmas party or three at home this Christmas? Cut down the tedium and amount of time in the kitchen by picking up the burgeoning party sets from supermarket chain Cold Storage.
There’s the porcine fest that is the Supreme Christmas Feast consisting of Spanish Iberico Jumbo Ribs, Spanish Iberico Ham and Spanish Iberico Sausages, while the Delectable Christmas Feast features a Turducken Ham Roast, along with Roasted Baby Potatoes and a Salami Platter. Both platters serve 6-8 people, so your family Christmas dinner is pretty much set as well.
If you like to get in some of your cooking action but still want things convenient, Cold Storage’s Butterball Roasted Turkey is a massive 10-pound bird that comes pre-cooked. All you need to do is stick it in the oven – we hope you have a big one! – for an hour or so for reheating and to crisp up the skin. This way you get to spend more time with your guests rather instead of pottering around in the kitchen.
You can check out the full Cold Storage Christmas catalogue here.
NTUC FairPrice
And don’t forget the seasonal offerings from our national supermarket chain NTUC FairPrice too, with its many outlets conveniently scattered across our (ahem) fair island. It’s far too easy to dismiss FairPrice as just a place to get the most basic groceries and necessities, but over the years have evolved to encompass a wide selection of premium goods as well.
Such as their year-end specials, which you bring you the ultimate convenience for a glorious feast at home. For those celebrating Christmas there’s the Classic Combo, which comes with a Traditional Roast Turkey, German Pork Knuckle as well as a Honey Baked Ham for a classic festive meal. But for the ultimate festive pig-out, the Swiss Butchery Christmas Set A comes with Roasted Whole Turkey, Pork Chestnut Stuffing, Honey Baked Ham, Spicy Italian Pork Sausage, as well as festive Cranberry Sauce.
That’s not all. For conscious eaters NTUC FairPrince even carries a range of meatless options for the season. There’s the Impossible™ Plant-based Lasagne and Impossible™ Plant-based Beef Quiche for example, as well as the Growthwell Plant-based Seafood Chowder Gratin, so that those with such dietary preferences can still celebrate the season.
You can find the full FairPrice Christmas catalogue here.
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