White Curry Roast Turkey stuffed with sambal quail eggs. Photo: PAUL
PAUL may be most famous for its French viennoiseries and immaculate desserts, but its festive menu surprises with an unlikely Asian twist - a White Curry Roast Turkey ($128) stuffed with sambal quail eggs. Not only does it come with blue butterfly pea flower-stained coconut rice, crispy anchovies and peanuts and a vibrant Asian pickled salad, it also comes with a velvety white curry gravy boasting aromatics of ginger, galangal and lemongrass. Throw in their range of savoury and dessert canapes, such as the Duck Rillette & Cranberry Compote ($36/box of 8) adorned with gold leaf, their crowd-pleasing log cakes, plus some jolly tunes and you’re set.
For more information, visit their website.
Black Angus Prime Rib. Photo: Heart of Darkness
Heart Of Darkness has long captivated cicerones with their flavoursome craft beers (all named and inspired by the eponymous novel penned by Joseph Conrad circa 1899) but they’re cementing themselves as the place for a hoppy Christmas celebration with their slew of sharing-friendly classics. With over 25 taps of their signature and seasonal brews, the Christmas Bundle ($105++/person, minimum 2 pax) also comes with all that you'll need for a no holds barred night with your pals. It includes a sampling of all starters, including the all-time favourite of Beer Marinated Olives, a choice of meat, such as the of Grain-fed Charolais Black Angus Prime Rib from Australia ($240/1.3Kg) or Herb-Crusted Lamb Rack ($245/1.5 kg), and, to finish, a homemade Pecan Pie Cake served with vanilla ice cream ($18).
Sea bass and prawn tartare with Avruga caviar. Photo: Restaurant Gaig
Travel plans may be shelved but we can still savour Catalonia’s best at Restaurant Gaig. Be sure to make your reservations, for the festive seven-course menu is a one-night-only affair on Christmas Eve ($118+/person). Blessed by the Mediterranean sea, it comes as no surprise that seafood plays a central role in this menu. Highlights include an appetite-whetting tartare of sea bass, prawns and Avruga caviar and, an essential on any Catalan’s dining table, the monkfish suquet. That’s not to say the meats aren’t as impressive. Tender lamb rack from Pyrenees are carefully grilled atop Josper charcoal ovens, before it is presented with Jerusalem artichokes and lashings of mint sauce, while the Gaig’s traditional cannelloni of beef and pork comes doused in an indulgent truffle bechamel sauce.
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Botanico's Christmas Brunch. Photo: Botanico
Brunch gets the festive treatment at Botanico, a garden restaurant and bar set within the vibrant floral displays of the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Exclusively on Christmas Day, the five-course menu ($78+/person) features classics with Asian touches. Expect Colours of Christmas, an eye-catching starter of Palermo peppers, anchovy salsa, ginger flower and burrata, a Crab Rissoni showered with house-cured octopus bottarga and - the piece de resistance - a Turkey Roulade with a chicken rice-inspired couscous. Rounding it off is a panettone, which gets an umami kick from a miso toffee sauce, and the quintessential bubbly coming in the form of a Christmas Cherry Fizz of rose, cherry bols, lemon juice and grapefruit.
Spring Lamb with lily root puree and Madeira wine-spiked red currant sauce. Photo: WAKANUI Grill Dining
For an alternative holiday feast, let executive chef Ryohei Kenyoshi take you on an epicurean journey through Japan. WAKANUI Grill Dining presents a four- ($108+/person) and six-course menu ($158+/person), featuring the crème de la crème of Japanese produce. Be pampered to the hilt with starters like Steamed “HAMAGURI” with Kombu Jelly and Lemon Roasted Scampi with Lemongrass Foam, Chargrilled Japanese Cod with Seared “SHIRAKO” and their signature half rack WAKANUI Spring Lamb with lily root puree and Madeira wine-spiked red currant sauce. But what’s a meal here without their famous Kagoshima A5 Wagyu? Available exclusively in the six-course menu, it comes broiled and topped with a decadent combination of uni and caviar.
Related: The Top 6 Japanese Ingredients and Recipe Suggestions
Warm Sticky Fig & Walnut Pudding. Photo: The Spot
Luxe interiors, the glittering view of Singapore’s downtown - courtesy of the floor-to-ceiling windows that stretches across the entire establishment - and stunning plates of contemporary European fare laced with Southeast Asian flavours, The Spot checks all the boxes for an intimate celebration with your other half. Available only on the evenings of 24 and 31 December, be impressed by dishes, such as the Lime Coconut Kingfish, Pan Seared Hokkaido Scallop and the Pine Smoked Wagyu Petit Tender, along with desserts of Mulled Wine Sherbet and Warm Sticky Fig & Walnut Pudding. Complete the experience with a wine pairing ($30++ for 4 glasses), or, check out the adjoining 1855 bottle store to continue the celebrations back home.
Nougat Snowball with cardamom and gingerbread. Photo: Zafferano Italian Restaurant & Lounge
Zafferano Italian Restaurant & Lounge has seen its fair share of chefs but none fits the bill quite as perfect as head chef Andrea De Paola. Paola doles out classic Italian flavours presented anew with some of the world’s best ingredients, and the selection in this Christmas menu is no different. We have our eye on the Christmas Champagne Brunch ($198++/person) for an extravagant toast to the holidays on 25 and 26 December. Along with free flow Champagne, premium wines, beer and non-alcoholic options is a smorgasbord of sharing-style courses, such as live seasonal oysters, pan-seared foie gras garnished with pumpkin and apple cider sauce and, for the mains, an aromatic porcini mushroom and black truffle risotto and a Black Angus beef lasagna with scamorza cheese.
Deboned Stuffed Roast Chicken. Photo: Da Paolo Gastronomia
Be the hostess with the mostest with Da Paolo Gastronomia’s Florals & Feasting sets. Assorted Italian festive goodies come with your choice of a 1-metre Holiday Christmas Table Runner or a Christmas Kitchen Counter Vase Arrangement by Wonderland Botanicals, providing the centerpiece for any jolly dining table at a click of a button (online orders only). The former is a favourite with its decadent spread that features their Deboned Stuffed Roast Chicken (approx. 1kg), Flourless Valrhona Chocolate Cake (approx. 1kg) and a bottle of Da Paolo Prosecco (750ml) among others. Best of all, it's well-stocked which means you can also up the ante with their selection of panettone, cold cuts, wines - check out the award-winning Ferrari Brut Trento DOC ($64) - and craft cocktails.
For more information, visit their website.
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Esarn-style Roast Turkey. Photo: Blue Jasmine
Spice fiends will adore the selection at Blue Jasmine, a casual-chic spot known for its Thai classics and street food staples. Enjoy the Roast Turkey Esarn-style with Smoked Chilli Sauce ($100 nett) which is marinated in a blend of galangal, lemongrass, coriander, turmeric and fish sauce, and the Classic Roast Beef that’s been swimming in a fragrant mix of garlic, thyme and coriander and served with a pepper sauce, alongside Crabmeat Pineapple Fried Rice. Complete the Thai feast by skipping the yule log and opting for the combo of Mango Sticky Rice and Tiger Crystal (4 bottles complimentary with $100 minimum spend) that’ll take you straight to the beaches of Pattaya.
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Butter Roasted Spring Chicken with Rosemary Jus and Roman Potatoes. Photo: Hi5SG
In collaboration with Oddle Eats, these Hi5SG Experience Packs come with dining experiences that will leave you spoilt for choice. Each of the three bundles feature five restaurants and/or bars and their respective value-for-dollar Hi5SG deals. Support homegrown brands with Local & Heritage Favourites ($289), which includes Red House Seafood and Ye Shang Hai Teochew Porridge, or go on a bar hop with Brass Lion Distillery and The Secret Mermaid in Raising The Bar ($283) or choose the Stay Home, Stay Gold ($283) bundle for some hearty fare from Amò, Ka-Soh and Nonya Nonya. Best of all, part of the proceeds will go to beneficiary =DREAMS, a charitable drive that assists underprivileged children.
To order, visit their website.
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