Media Reviews

With Christmas just around the corner, Food Gem Team had gathered all the delicious Christmas food ideas. From delicious roasts to gorgeous log cake and desserts to often forgotten meat-free festive set, our Christmas selection of the best Christmas feasts will keep you occupied this Christmas! The list below is not in chronological order.

1. Bakerzin

Bakerzin is launching its festive shop early for the benefit of shoppers who love to Christmas shop early in the year. Available from 16th November 2017, pamper your family and friends with Bakerzin Christmas de la Perfecto Takeaway Menu (Gochujang Capon Chicken, Savoury King’s Bread Sausage and Cheese, Coconut Passion Yule Log Cake). A Christmas party is never complete without roast chicken. My first impression of the past Christmas roasted chicken was dry and lack of flavour. Gochujang Capon Chicken has changed my impression of Christmas roasted chicken. It was tender, including the chicken breast as they were roasted at controlled temperature. Marinated overnight and the stuffing in the capon is filled with minced chicken, herbs and spices. I think it was done up pretty good with the flavours inside out. It is served with Gochujang sauce with spice and herbs flavour and raisin sauce with sweet and earthy flavour. Chicken’s meat mild taste makes it complement to the sauces.

An interesting Asian remix of the King’s Bread. The King’s bread has turned the ordinary homemade healthy grains bread from simple to savoury with chicken sausage, cheddar cheese, tomatoes and chilli padi. The soft and moist bread bite with addictive cheddar cheese and savoury chicken sausage, not forgetting the cheesy crusted top. The chilli padi gives a spicy sensation this Christmas; great for chilli lovers.

These ready-to-heat dishes are convenient; basically, warm it up before serving and get ready to party with the Christmas feast!

Gochujang Capon Chicken at S$46, Approx. 1.8kg after baked (contains nuts).
Savoury King’s Bread Sausage and Cheese (Chilli Spice) at S$24, Approx. 1kg (contains nuts).
Coconut Passion Yule Log at S$62, Approx. 800g.

Where to buy?
Bakerzin and Nom La La
Online: www.bakerzin.com
Outlets: Maju Avenue, United Square, Tai Seng, Vivo City,
Garden by the Bay, Nom La La Bakerzin (Collection not applicable)

2. Brotzeit

German Christmas Market Magic at Brotzeit comes early has everything in store for Christmas! From Christmas platter to mulled wine to Weltenburger beer to a wooden hut-like pushcart with handcrafted snacks goodies. The Christmas Platter comes with oven-roasted pork roulade, braised veal shank, venison sausages, veal sausages and Brotzeit’s Signature crispy oven-roasted pork knuckle. A special mention of pork roulade; tender meat with a wonderful crispy crackling crust was one of my favourite dishes that night!

Christmas Platter at S$138++.

December is the best time of year for indulging in dessert. The Christmas Dessert Medley is filled with toasty apple strudel, chocolate cake, and gingerbread-infused crème brûlée. The classic apple strudel of warm crunchy apples bites stuffed inside a flaky dough. A different creme brulee that was flavoured with cinnamon. And not forgetting the all-time favourite bittersweet chocolate cake, leaving the centre molten.

Christmas Dessert Medley at S$29++.

Where to go?
Brotzeit
1 Harbourfront Walk, #01-149, VivoCity, 098585

3. Elemen

What does a eat clean day looks like? Plain salad or plain porridge? Nahhh, I had an 8-course feast with these meat-free food. What I had in my 8 course meat-free meal; The Elemen Apptiser, Cream of Tortilla Soup, Black Truffle Pizza, Radish Cake in White Sauce, Butterfly Pea with Sea Salt Cheese Cream, Coconut Beancurd with Gelato, Dragon Fruit Salad and Apple Cider. I was totally amazed by the food styling and taste. Honestly, it was amazing good, definitely one of the better vegetarian restaurants that I’ve been to. The Black Truffle Pizza was unanimously declared as one of our favourites! There’s just something about the simple taste combination of vegetarian cheese and truffle that was both unique and unexpectedly delicious. Another favourite dish would be Radish Cake in White Sauce. The savoury creamy sauce coats the radish cake exceptionally well.

8-course menu at S$42.80++.

Where to dine?
Elemen
9 Raffles Blvd, #01-75A/76 Millenia Walk, 039596

4. Ginett

Get ready for massive loads of fizzy Citrus Fiesta now till 2nd Jan 2018, crafted by Chef De Cuisine Sylvain Royer and team. Intended to purge and adjust the sensitivity of taste before the merriments, the Citrus Fiesta menu gives a genuinely necessary lift to your wellbeing. Menu highlights include appetiser Burrata Cheese, mixed Citrus garnish with a green salad (S$32++), Salmon Celeriac Salad with bloody orange and passion fruit coulis (S$30++), Charcoal Grilled wagyu T-bone (500g), Pan-Seared Scallops with pomelos salad and mashed potato (S$36++), and handcrafted dessert Citrus Lemon Tart (S$12++). The new Burrata Cheese has a nice mixed citrus and the green salad. The cheese flavour is so delicate that any added tastes risk overwhelming it. The smoky charcoal grilled wagyu T-bone (S$80++) aroma curling up from the steak makes me practically tipsy. As it happens, I was having grilled wagyu steak. The wagyu T-bone steak was grilled to perfection with a nice explosion of juices in the mouth and a nice separation of fats and meat. It doesn’t come with many seasonings except salt and pepper. Simple but well-executed steak. One of the top picks would be Pan-Seared Scallops with pomelos salad and mashed potato. The soft chewy scallops have a rich, ocean sweet taste with a lean, firm texture. Alongside with the mash potatoes that is slightly burnt with the char taste. The meal incomplete without handcrafted dessert Citrus Lemon Tart. The light lemon tart topped with domes of meringues was torched to a spritely finish with a simple but a perfect end to any meal. Complementing the dishes are 4 special Ginett bar concoctions; the Gin Fizz, the Grapefruit Sour, the Sangria and the Orange Lemon mocktail.

Where to dine?
Ginett Restaurant & Wine Bar
200 Middle Road, 188980

5. Ollella

These beautiful French pastry will make you want to pack everything home! Congratulation to their second outlet at Takashimaya Basement Food Hall. Besides my all-time favourite Signature airy crisp choux, there are a couple of new creations including salted caramel, popcorn-flavoured Chouquettes, Strawberry Champagne Choux and their very first Advent Calendar Goodie Box which comes with a surprise treat everyday for 12 days. I think it’s a pretty sweet surprise for your loved ones. I can’t resist these adorable Santa Belly Mousse Cake, Vanilla Yuzu Snowman and Banana Caramel Reindeer. Do you know that these three flavours in small sizes are equivalent to one slice of cake. Now, it gives me more reasons to indulge in these cuties! I have tried Banana Caramel Reindeer; it was very moist, tender and chock full of banana flavour with a gentle sweetness. These bite-size macarons come in flavours like vanilla, rose, pandan, yoghurt, cassis, mango, strawberry and chocolate. They were simply too addictive! Once you pop, you can’t stop. There was no sweet aftertaste, and it doesn’t make you want to drink water. Pssst, you can also get the cute macaron case from Ollella!

Promotion from 24 Nov to 24 Dec 2017: Spend S$70 or more at Takashimaya and receive 1 large jar (200g) of cookies of your choice (worth S$22) FREE.

Where to buy?
Ollella Takashimaya B2 Food Hall
Online shop at https://ollella-chouquette.oddle.me/

6. Mercure Bugis

Try these traditional Asian flavours and enjoy your favourite main buffet dishes for the holidays, at Royale Restaurant. One of the Signature Asian flavours is the roasted nyonya turkey with homemade chilli sauce. The turkey is marinated with 7 types of Peranakan spices and impart the flavour of the spices into the meat. And also the laksa that had a rich and flavourful broth that makes you crave for a second serving. A meal is not complete without a dessert. There are over 10 varieties to choose from Pandan Crème Brulee, cempadak meringue tart, santa red velvet and snow angel vanilla cupcakes, durian puree with vanilla mousse and my favourite New York Chocolate Cheese Cake.

Festive Buffet (Lunch/Dinner) from S$48++.

Where to dine?
ROYALE Restaurant, Level 3
Mercure Singapore Bugis
122 Middle Road Singapore 188973

7.Song Of India

The only Michelin star Indian restaurant in Southeast Asia, The Song of India introduces a series of limited edition festive hampers, takeaway Christmas feasts and restaurant set menus. You can expect Whole Tandoori Turkey Stuffed with Morel Briyani (S$136++), Whole Tandoori Capon with Morel Briyani (S$68++), Kashmiri Wazwan Slow-Roasted and Smoked Baby Leg of Lamb (S$126++). Tandoori turkey is moist and tender and perfect with delicious briyani. Briyani is flavoursome and we can’t stop shovelling it all in. These festive dishes are specially created by Executive Chef Manjunath Mural.

Where to dine?
The Song Of India
33 Scotts Road, 228226

8. Swissotel Merchant Court

Get all your Christmas cravings satisfied at Ellenborough Market Café. Enjoy the festive flavours of Pumpkin Soup with Crabmeat, Oxtail Stew, Honey Baked Ham with Pineapple Glace, Roasted Turkey Breast with Cranberry Sauce and Turkey Jus, and traditional Christmas sweet treats like Christmas Stollen and Strawberry Yoghurt Yule Log. One of my favourite festive dishes will be oxtail stew! It is stewed for 6 hours with red wine. The flavour is undoubtedly beefy with an unbeatable flavoursome richness of the stew.

Lunch Buffet (Mondays to Sundays, PH & Eve of): S$58++ per adult and S$29++ per child
Dinner Buffet (Mondays to Thursdays): S$68++ per adult and S$34 per child
Dinner Buffet (Fridays to Sundays, PH & Eve of): S$74++ per adult and S$37++ per child

Available till end of 31 Dec 2017.

Where to dine?
Swissotel Merchant Court Singapore
20 Merchant Rd, 058281

9. TOBY’S The Dessert Asylum

This Christmas, Toby’s the Dessert Asylum has launched a Christmas Platter – a Meaty Affair (S$69) for all the meat lovers out there. A couple of favourites from this platter had to be the juicy chicken and pork Bratwurst Sausages, and the sweet, tender BBQ Baby Ribs that fell right off the bone. Other meaty delights include the Beef Patty that is bursting with cheese, Roasted Chicken, Honey Baked Ham and Crispy Skin Roasted Pork. What’s more, it comes with a generous portion of baby potatoes and salad, 2 soups of the day and 2 Xmas soda drinks. Not only is this platter delicious and perfect for the season, but it is also value for money. Feel free to add on sides like Baked Cheesy Rice, Taco Fries, Penne Pasta, Garden Salad, Mash Potato, Sweet Corn and Garlic Focaccia at S$2.90 each. I highly recommend the mashed potato as it was buttery and so addictive.

-Reviewed by Vanessa.

Where to dine?
Toby’s The Dessert Asylum
8 Boon Lay Way, #01-35, Tradehub21, 609964

10. Yum Cha

Don’t you agree that cute food always pleasing to the eyes and camera? Besides the traditional paste like lotus, you can also expect flavours like matcha, red bean, matcha, sesame and more! Always having fun sharing these cute baos with my fellow foodies.

Little Twin Piglets and Panda Bao at S$1.90 each.

Do you want to build a snowman and eat? These dim sum elves were carefully handcrafted by the dim sum chef. Spot the fine details right down to wrapping and twisting the scarves. Get to try 2 different flavours in a snowman; sweet red bean paste at the top and lotus paste at the bottom. Taste-wise, the dough was slightly thicker than the usual to mould the shape of these snowman bao. But the fillings were good!

Snowman bao at S$3.80++ each.