It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and if you’re tired of the usual roast turkey, ham and log cakes (I know I am), we’ve put together a list of eight unique takeaway Christmas dishes in Singapore that will refresh your table with new varieties and make the celebrations even better.
Choose to have them all, or pick a couple to offer variations at your home or office party; the purist may hate on us, but we’re pretty pleased to have these delectable alternatives to turn to this festive season.
1. Rosemary Roast Chicken with Onion Balsamic Jus (Grain)
Spruce up the Christmas table with a pop of colour with Grain‘s globally-inspired Christmas menu. One such is the Italian-inspired Rosemary Roast Chicken with Onion Balsamic Jus, which is part of Grain’s Christmas Party Set ($288/9-course set for 8-10 pax) and Christmas Mini Buffet ($15 – $18/pax, min 15 pax for 8-9 courses).
The rosemary roast chicken is perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, with the sweet onion balsamic jus balancing out the bold flavours. Complete the meal with a serving of the almond-flecked seasonal vegetables or cabbage-fennel slaw that will refresh your palate in between bites.
To make the celebrations better, Grain delivers your orders straight to your doorstep and can help with the set up so you can party fuss-free.
Grain: 5 Burn Road, Singapore 369972 | Tel: +65 3163 5336 | Opening Hours: 24 hours | Order here
2. Whole Tandoori Turkey Stuffed with Morel Briyani (The Song Of India)
Sometimes it’s nice to switch up the traditions and celebrate Christmas with a twist. The Song of India, the only Michelin-starred Indian restaurant in Southeast Asia, does just that with its Tandoori Turkey Stuffed with Morel Briyani ($136).
A meal on its own, the turkey is stuffed with fragrant, golden-orange briyani rice and is marinated overnight with a conglomerate of spices before being grilled in the tandoor oven. Be whisked away by the tomato-based wine sauce in each bite and you’ll find yourself filling up before long.
The Song of India: 33 Scotts Road, Singapore 228226 | Tel: +65 6836 0055 | Opening Hours: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm (Daily) | Order Here
3. Turkey Roulade Lo Mai Kai (Baba Chews)
I’ve already been to a few year-end parties thus far and I’m starting to miss the flavours of local food. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for the festivities and the dishes that this season brings, but nothing would make me happier than the inventive Turkey Roulade Lo Mai Kai ($58+) from Baba Chews.
Party guests who are a little less inclined to Western food will thank you for the inclusion of the aromatic steamed glutinous rice, mushrooms and lup cheong that will instantly warm their hearts upon tucking into it.
Baba Chews: 86 East Coast Road Katong Square, Singapore 428788 | Tel: +65 6723 2025 | Opening Hours: (Mon – Thurs, Sun) 6.30am – 11pm, (Fri & Sat) 6.30am – 12am | Facebook | Order Here
4. Nasi Lemak Christmas Turkey (The Fullerton Hotel Singapore)
Riding on the Nasi Lemak craze we’ve had this year, The Fullerton Hotel Singapore has cleverly localised the Christmas staple, complementing the roasted turdunken — a chicken stuffed into a duck, then stuffed into a turkey — with lemak rice, hard-boiled eggs, cucumbers and ikan bilis.
Place the Nasi Lemak Christmas Turkey ($190) in the middle of the dining table and watch it take centre stage at the Christmas feast. For even more local flair, round it off with a homemade bandung cocktail as the accompanying tipple for the night!
The Fullerton Hotel Singapore: 1 Fullerton Square Singapore 049178 | Tel: +65 6723 2025 | Order Here
5. Espresso Chest from Café Noel (Fairmont Singapore)
Cafe Noel has come up with a chocolate and coffee pairing that is perfect for a festive paRRRRRRty.
Designed after a pirate’s treasure chest, the Espresso Chest ($43 for 0.5kg /$73 for 1kg) is a unique log cake designed by Chef Sebastien from Fairmont Singapore & Swissôtel The Stamford.
The coffee beans in this cake are infused with dark chocolate for a bitter, nutty aroma that’s then spread with spiced orange marmalade and laid atop a bed of crisp chocolate crumble – this is bound to evoke the spirit of Christmas.
There’s complimentary delivery to one location, with a minimum spend of S$500 (after discount) otherwise it’s S$53.50 per location.
Cafe Noel: 1F Fairmont Singapore, 80 Bras Basah Road Singapore 189560 | Tel: +65 6338 8785| Opening Hours: 9am – 6pm, (Daily) | Order Here
6. Snowman Bao (Yum Cha Restaurant)
Let Yum Cha Restaurant build you a snowman this Christmas, an edible one that is, for a limited time only. The Snowman Bao ($3.80) will be a cheerful addition to this year’s celebrations for the young and the young at heart, and they are almost too cute to eat!
Apart from the Snowman Baos that will turn your dining table into a diorama, Yum Cha Restaurant is also offering Christmas-themed dim sum such as, Roasted Turkey Buns ($3.80) shaped like tiny roasted turkeys, and a Five Spice Turkey Roll ($7.80), available for takeaway at Yum Cha Express.
Yum Cha Restaurant: 20 Trengganu Street, #02-01 Chinatown, Singapore 058479 | Website | Facebook
7. Pandan Chiffon Cakes (Andaz Singapore)
You can hardly tell that these beautiful treats are the oh-so-familiar Pandan cakes. Andaz Singapore has put a spin on the “unofficial national cake” and created designer cakes that will elevate the taste of tradition.
Light and airy, while slated with flavoured mousses and a vibrant glaze, flavours include bandung (rose syrup), banana, durian, coconut, black sesame, and pandan, just to name a few.
They come in an assortment of sizes too: Small ($4.50), Medium ($12) and Large ($32). You can also get a Christmas Mixed Berry Pandan Cake (order at least 3 days in advance) that is available only from 1 to 31 December 2017.
Pandan at Andaz Singapore: Fraser Street, Level 2, Singapore 189354 | Tel: +65 6408 1241 | Opening Hours: 11am – 7pm, (Daily) | Website
8. Christmas Bûche de Noël Pulut Hitam (Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore)
Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore has infused a local dessert favourite into its signature Christmas Bûche de Noël ($67). If you’re looking for a log cake that will surprise your guests, this unassuming cake will do the job.
Tying together the flavours of Pulut Hitam with the sweet log cake, it lends a subtle note of savoury coconut milk to the overall flavour profile. It’s certainly an interesting variation to the regular log cakes that we’ve tried.
Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore: 22 Orange Grove Rd, Singapore 258350 | Tel: +65 6737 3644 | Opening Hours: 11.30am – 9.30pm, (Daily) | Order Here
Let this year’s Christmas be filled with wonderful memories and tease your palates with remarkable (and unusual) flavours. What better way to enjoy the festivities fuss-free than by ordering these unique dishes this year – who knows what next year will bring so let’s make the best of it!
