Festive cheer is in the air, and as Richard Paul Evans eloquently muses in The Christmas Box, “The smells of Christmas are the smells of childhood.” Christmas scents will always be nostalgic, evoking scenes of family gatherings or even just the yearly spread of good food amidst even better company. From inexpensive set dinners to highly Instagrammable table delights, this month’s roundup gathers some of the best dining events in Singapore to light up festive celebrations.
Deck the Weekends at PORTA
Located at Park Hotel Clarke Quay, newly-revamped PORTA Fine Food & Import Company specialises in modern European cuisine with a distinct epicurean flair. The restaurant’s luxurious décor resembles a stunning Mediterranean resort, with golden wall trimmings and a series of private enclaves.
The restaurant has a special à la carte and/or three-course set menu that is only available on the weekends leading up to Christmas. Start off with the indulgent Lobster Bisque with crayfish ravioli or the refreshing gravlax of Norwegian Salmon for those who prefer something less briny, followed by the mains of Pepper Steak and thick cut fries, or the unique French Quail; then finish off the meal with sweet treats like the deconstructed Baked Alaska. We recommend going for the Charcuterie Platter as well, a delightful spread of homemade duck rillettes, foie gras terrine, chorizo, Bayonne Ham and saucisson — the foie gras terrine will have you going back for seconds.
When? 15 — 16, 22 — 24, and 29 — 31 Dec
$60 onwards per person for a three-course menu
1 Unity Street, Level 1, Park Hotel Clarke Quay, Singapore 237983
A Cheesy, Merry Crustmas with Pezzo
For those who are looking to kick back with a nice bottle of wine and 12 new episodes on Netflix, Pezzo is here to deliver the festive cheer with Cookie Carols and their newest gourmet pizza contender, What The Duck. The dessert cookie pizza features a huge chocolate chip cookie base, layered with couverture chocolate cream, fresh fruits, marshmallows and Green Tea Kit Kat chocolate bars. Essentially, it combines all the possible sweet treats into one giant dream. The duck pizza is more complex, marrying smoked duck breast to the cream sauce, cream cheese cubes and dried cranberries. The flavour is reminiscent of the traditional turkey dish, but it removes all the fuss about the cranberry sauce, stuffing, and half-day preparations. This is Christmas for the millennials.
When? Now till 31 Dec
Available at all Pezzo outlets in Singapore
The Most Wine-derful Time in Ginett
Christmas season can get especially frenzied in the city, so some celebrations call for alternative hideouts like the classy two-storey Ginett Restaurant & Wine Bar. Nested within Hotel G, the restaurant is geared with four separate menus to fully satisfy the festive appetite. Their T.U.F (Till U’re Full) Brunch Feast will be offering Christmas and New Year Eve specials, including pork honey baked ham, turkey wellington and oysters with no additional top up. At night, look out for their Christmas Eve highlights such as the Burgundy Beef Stew, wagyu beef slow cooked for 12 hours in burgundy wine; and their New Year Eve specials, featuring their French Duck Breast and the Baked Alaska Flambé, an outrageously decadent dessert to usher in the new year.
Christmas Eve Dinner
When? 24 Dec, 6pm onwards
$88 onwards per person for a four-course menu
New Year’s Eve Dinner
When? 31 Dec, 6pm onwards
$98 onwards per person for a four-course menu
Christmas Brunch or New Year Aspiration Brunch
When? 25 Dec or 1 Jan 2018, 11am — 4pm
$55 onwards per person for T.U.F. brunch package
Ginett Restaurant & Wine Bar, 200 Middle Rd, Singapore 188980
Warmest Holiday from Atmosphere Bistro
Since one cannot have a winter wonderland in Singapore, turn up the heat for the corpulent Flaming Pork Knuckle over at Atmosphere Bistro. Located at Parkland Green, the restaurant space boasts of both indoor and outdoor dining, as well as a pub and/or bar area, children playground section, and an unobstructed view of the sea and surrounding greenery.
For families and those dining in big groups, there will be a Christmas Exclusive Set, featuring a mega platter loaded with light-bites from grilled octopuses to a variety of sausages to chicken wings and more, the giant pork knuckle, and a 3L Heineken tower. Alternatively, the Flaming Pork Knuckle Set will also be available for those looking to pair the meaty, fiery dish with ice-cold pints. Those who prefer something less carnivorous, check out the menu mainstays, like Garlic Butter Mussels, and the popular Lava Cheese Burger with an oozing, deep-fried Camembert cheese beef patty.
When? Now till first week of January 2018
Atmosphere Bistro, 920 East Coast Parkway #01-25/26/27 Singapore 449875
Jingle Bottles with BottlesXO
The fifth episode in their fortnightly tasting session, #BXO3SINS, BottlesXO will be toasting to the season with their own speciality cocktails. Join them to kick-start the holiday with an apple cinnamon-infused Whisky for BXO Ho Ho and discover their twist on the classic Mulled Wine. The session will also have light bites and charcuterie from Little Farms to go along with drinks, so get ready to bring the cheers to the rooftop and mingle with the folks responsible for getting the party started.
For those looking to fill their NYE party plans, the same team will also be throwing their second instalment of BXOXO in the style of Speakeasy Prohibition Era. Hidden at Angra Warehouse, the free flow package is $100 nett inclusive of door charge and the best-dressed winner will walk away with a bottle of prosecco at midnight!
EP5 – BXO x 3SINS xMAS
When? 21 Dec, 7pm — 10pm
BottlesXO Rooftop, 69 Tong Watt Road #03-01 Singapore 239368
$35 onwards for tickets here
BXOXO II – NYE Party | The Speakeasy Prohibition
When? 31 Dec, 9pm — 4am
Angra Warehouse, 39 Keppel Road #03-03 Singapore 089065
$30 onwards for tickets here
Pre-Party at Urban Ventures X House of Noise Street Party
https://www.facebook.com/noisesingapore/videos/10156103793433470/
Who said that Christmas only starts in the last week of December?
From the team who brought us the last street party (re: Urban Ventures Street Party Vol. 7), LOPELAB has another jamboree slated for this weekend: Urban Ventures X House of Noise Street Party. This time, they will be collaborating with Noise Singapore to feature emerging talents from all fields, including music, arts, and beauty.
Look out for the three stages of live music, the Electric Avenue with DJ beats, Keong Saik Stage and Jiak Chuan Stage with homegrown talents. There will also be a Christmas market for those looking to do some last-minute gift shopping (while supporting local independent brands such as Plain Supplies and Monument Lifestyle), not to mention food and free beauty popup stalls, as well as heritage tours and workshops. Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, it is Christmas come early this year.
Urban Ventures X House of Noise Street Party
When? 16 Dec, 4pm — 10.30pm
Keong Saik Road
Admission is free (Full lineup of events here)
==
Keep culture journalism alive, at just the price of a kopi. For a little bit more, get access to exclusives and a monthly gift box. Support us at patreon.com/popspoken
Stay updated and social with Popspoken: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
