Christmas Dining : Gastronomical Delights

DINING CHRISTMAS SPECIAL : 5 PLACES FOR GASTRONOMICAL DELIGHTS

Festive feasts and Christmas dining should always include gastronomical delights and this Christmas we’ve found 5 of the best places you really must try.

Prepare your stomach for a feast at one of these restaurants that serve affordable and delicious Christmas dining experiences!

Earle Swensen’s

Delight your taste buds and spread a little festive magic with Earle Swensen’s Christmas savouries. The delectable Christmas offerings range from French inspired cuisine, to comforting, traditional roasts. Each dish illustrates a level of culinary savviness and intricate plating to make for a complete, sensuous dining experience.

One of the main dishes that invoke gastronomical joy is the Slipper Lobster Vol-au-vent ($32.90). The dish is lavished with chunks of juicy, succulent pan-seared Slipper Lobster tossed with diced mushrooms, crunchy vegetables, drizzled with creamy mushroom sauce, and carefully embedded in a flaky puff pastry to finish. To top it off, a buttery smooth U.S. scallop is added for the extra zest! This French culinary masterpiece with a crustacean twist is sure to bring a smile to any seafood lover’s face.

If you fancy an oriental-fusion dish, the Oriental Roasted Garlic Chicken ($22.90) is the right choice. Infused with a secret garlic marinade, the succulent half chicken is roasted till tender with a perfect, crisp finish to its skin. Served alongside butter chestnut rice, seasonal vegetables and homemade garlic chilli ketchup manis, this dish is inspired by the exotic flavours of the Orient that will delight your senses.

Those who like to indulge in both seafood and poultry, the Turkey Breast Supreme Trio ($26.90) is the best of both worlds. Just a bite on the finest cuts of turkey breast topped with succulent king prawn, and your taste buds will be transported into a world of festive wonder!

Last but not least, you can revel in the new dessert creation, Joy in a Jar ($12.90 | $14.90), that includes chocolatey brownie loaded with bananas, fresh strawberries, layered with Vanilla and Thin Mint ice cream to satisfy your sweet tooth. The unique dessert is available as a take-away option as well.

All main dishes are accompanied with a complementary free flow salad bar.

Swensen’s

Build happiness one scoop at a time at Swensen’s this Christmas with delicious ice cream sundaes, traditional roasts and ice cream log cakes! The festive dine-in menu features three Christmas entrées, three delicious sundaes and a heartwarming drink that are exclusively available in restaurants islandwide from 1 November to 31 December 2014. The family favourite restaurant also offers a comprehensive Christmas catalogue complete with six all-new ice cream log cakes, full Christmas packages, and more to bring delectable eats right to your doorstep from 1 November to 25 December 2014.

One of my favourite unique dishes is the Joyous Turkey Cordon Bleu ($19.90) with a French twist to it. The tender turkey breast is coated in rich batter, fried to golden brown perfection, and accompanied with heavenly melted cheese and delicious cranberry jelly. Do give this makeover dish a try if you love challenges!

After the main dishes, indulge in the three newly created Sundae conconctions Hey Raspberry, Say Cheese!, Pop Goes the Caramel, and Santa’s Favorite ($11.50 each) to complete your festive meal. You can also relish in the new festive drink Velvety Christmas Cheer ($6.90) to warm your soul this Christmas!

Lastly, order a Swensen’s signature Ice Cream Log Cakes ($53 – $58) to elevate the Christmas spirit! The six novel log cake inventions are based on best-selling ice cream flavors, as well as brand new flavor additions to offer a prime variety of log cakes for the whole family. To the children’s delight, Swensen’s also offer an exclusive Disney Frozen log cake aptly named A Frozen Dream ($58).They are perfect for familial gatherings and forging tighter bonds with your treasured kin.

Credit Cardholders* Promotion

Exclusively for early birds, take a sweet 15% off your ice cream log cake from 1 November to 10

December 2014. Missed the early bird window? No problem, flash your credit/debit card to get 10%

off log cakes from 11 December to 25 December 2014.

*Major credit cards applicable to the discount include ANZ, Bank of China, Citibank, Diners, OCBC,

DBS/POSB, Maybank and Standard Chartered.

Hippopotamus Restaurant Grill

Ring in the jolly season of giving and New Year with Hippopotamus festive top-up! Gather up your friends and family, and toast to cheery year-end festivities at Hippopotamus Restaurant Grill with the new Festive Top-up Sets to create the perfect celebratory mood!

Upon purchase of any premium steak entrees or other non-beef dishes, you can complement your main course with either one of the two Festive Top-up Sets as part of an immersive festive dining experience. Diners can select between (A) a non-alcoholic mocktail Festive Top-up Set ($38++), or (B) an alcoholic Festive Top-up Set at ($48++) for a fizzy, celebratory bubbly. Each Festive Top-up Set comes with Mixed Seafood Platter, Seafood Chowder, and Moist Festive Fruit Cake that are bound to warm both hearts and souls.

For the steak entrees, try the Wagyu Hanger ($39.90), a full-bodied yet tender cut that has an intricate marbling and a unique, grainy texture. If you are up for it, the generous Bone-in Sirloin ($35.90) boasts an extra shot of flavour and a superb balance in its seasoning of deep rubbed spices. In addition to its steak offerings, Hippopotamus Restaurant Grill has a repertoire of entrees for your picking. Some highlights include the Sole Fish ($24.90), a seafood option lightly pan-fried to a crisp, golden brown to keep the flesh tender, and the Hippo Guacamole Burger ($17.90), a gourmet burger featuring a thick, juicy patty topped with smooth guacamole, caramelized onions, and snuggled between specially crafted Ciabatta buns.

The Festive Top-up Promotion is available at Hippopotamus Restaurant Grill from 18th December 2014 to 4th January 2015.

Mount Faber

To celebrate the festive season with a sprinkle of glamour, get high at Faber Peak Singapore and enjoy the festive-inspired lunch and dinner menus specially prepared for you at their dining spots—Spuds & Aprons and Faber Bistro. Alternatively, you can also take your dining experience to a whole new level with their Festive Sky Dining. Set out on three round trips, enjoy an exquisite celebratory-inspired four-course meal under the stars.

Special Festive Set Menus at Spuds, Faber Bistro and Sky Dining from 1 to 31 December 2014*

Spuds & Aprons

Three-Course Festive Set Lunch @ $35++ per pax
Four-Course Festive Set Dinner with Wine @ $80++ per pax

Sky Dining

Four-Course Festive Sky Dining Menu @ $320++ per couple
Pre-booking online is required at http://www.faberpeaksingapore.com.
24 & 31 December 2014

Faber Bistro

Three-Course Festive Dinner set @ $88++ per pax

*Ala-carte dishes will still be served at Spuds & Aprons, while the normal menu for Sky

Dining will be replaced with the festive menu from 1 to 31 December 2014.

31 December 2014, after 9.30 pm – Joyful Countdown at The Garden, Spuds & Aprons

A countdown package is offered for guests looking for a venue to party after dinner. With just $38 per person, guests will get to enjoy two house pour wine or beer.

Pre-booking online is required at http://www.faberpeaksingapore.com .

31 December 2014, from 10.45 pm to 12.30 am – Celebration Cabin
Countdown to the New Year in spectacular style in a very own private cable car cabin. With a package fee of $488++ per cabin (a maximum of six guests per cabin), it includes:

One bottle of Champagne or Prosecco
One bottle of red or white wine
Two round trips (11.30pm – 12.30am) on Singapore Cable Car
Close-up fireworks display
Macaroons and festive dessert platter

Only 30 cabins available. Pre-booking online is required at http://www.faberpeaksingapore.com .

Antoinette

Celebrate the festive season with Antoinette’s whimsical collection! Exclusive for this Christmas eve, diners can look forward to original creations like the Melon Puzzle of two-way Serrano ham, compressed melon and pesto, Foie Gras Lego served with tart raspberry jelly and caviar, candy pistachio, pistachio sponge and brioche toast, fnished with a touch of raspberry snow, and Egg & Bacon with mango and passionfruit coulis “yolk”, coconut foam “white”, candied bacon dressed with sweet olive oil and cocoa nibs to mirror the well-loved breakfast dish. This specially crafted nine-course set dinner ($130 per person) by executive Chef Pang Kok Keong, incorporates fun elements such as Lego and puzzles to invoke nostalgic childhood memories.

What is Christmas without cakes? New this season is Kichijoji Soufé Roll ($53.50 | $107), inspired by a Japanese patisserie Chef Pang visited in Kichijoji, Japan. A fragrant and soft soufé roll wraps around vanilla crème Chantilly infused with kirsch liquor, and fresh mango cubes, decorated with icing sugar powder “snow” and raspberry powder. Another new cake for this festive season is the Orange Earl Grey Tea Chiffon Cake ($21.40) in a festive gift box. It is a light chiffon cake infused with earl grey tea and orange confit.

What are you waiting for? Reserve your seats now and embrace the festivity! Happy holidays!