Festive Feasts And Great Takeaways [Part Two]

ALKAFF MANSION

The heritage property puts on the mantle of Merry Mansion from 14 to 25 December, with a slew of festive feasts across its outlets. Pictured above is the Basque spread by UNA.

The Spanish restaurant’s Christmas Communal Dinner Menu ($88++ per diner) starts with cold and hot tapas such as the Ensalada de Tomate con Atun (a salad of white tuna and heirloom tomatoes), and Iberico ham. When you’re ready for the mains, you’ll find seafood paella, roasted grain-fed chicken, and char-grilled wagyu rump. There’s also the delicious Pluma Iberica, a tender cut of pork from behind the neck. And to end the feast on a sweet note, there is walnut milk pudding and classic churros.

This menu is available 20 to 25 December (except 23). Apart from this, a special Basque brunch menu ($68++ per diner) is available on Christmas day itself, replete with a festive atmosphere for the whole family.

The Alkaff Mansion is at 10 Telok Blangah Green, tel. 8126 8844. Explore its other outlets (Wildseed Cafe and TXA Pintxo Bar) and dining events here.

Goodwood park hotel

The grand dame’s much-raved-about slow-roasted Ibérico pork belly with crackling, pickled cabbage, apple sauce and pork jus is back. We cheekily suggest you have someone read you the following description as you stare at the image.

The perfectly succulent Ibérico pork belly, coiled around hearty wedges of carrots, onions and celery, is roasted for over three hours with sherry vinegar and white wine. Accompanying this long-standing festive delight are tangy pickled white cabbage, Pommery mustard, house-made Granny Smith apple sauce, and pork jus that has been infused with flavourful smoked bacon.

It’s $348 nett a pop. And limited to just 25 orders per day to ensure quality. Along with this, you can find a selection of other festive gourmet goodies at The Deli from 1 to 26 December 2019. Heads up: you need to make your orders five days in advance.

Goodwood Park Hotel is at 22 Scotts Road. The Deli is open 9am to 9pm, while the Christmas Call Centre at 6730 1867 / 68 operates from 10am to 6pm daily. For a full list of festive dining events and takeaway gourmet treats, see here.

Tablescape restaurant & bar

If your Yuletide celebrations start early, Tablescape is happy to accommodate. From now till 3 January 2020, the restaurant and bar offers a festive four-course version of its rotating set lunch. And it promises that every dish will be eloquent with flavour and Christmas associations.

The Duck starter and the Risotto main course offer an element of aromatic smokiness, inspired by the idea of a crackling Christmas fireplace, where only the most fragrant wood is burnt. The flavour of winter apples are also present in the dessert. Think of crispy tart shells cradling apple morsels cooked with cinnamon to tender perfection, layered over smooth cream cheese and served with herbaceous chamomile ice cream. It’s amazing how the rich olfactory association can bring a sense of the traditional wintry Christmas to Singapore via the palate.

Tablescape is at 10 Coleman Street, level 3 Grand Park City Hall, tel. 6432 5566. The set lunch is $45++. For details and other festive dining options, catering services and takeaway menu, see here.

MV Nyetimber Classic cuvee

If you’re attending a house party this festive season, be the guest everyone loves by bringing a bottle of Nyetimber’s Multi Vintage Classic Cuvee. The sparkling wine from England’s sleepy South Downs is an artful blend of five different vintages of wines, giving it a wonderful balance between toasty biscuit and apple notes.

It’s lovely to behold, with an elegantly pale gold tint and gentle, fine bubbles. On the nose, it has complex aromas showing wonderful development after extended ageing in the cellar. The palate supports these complex aromas with honey, almond, pastry and baked apple flavours.

The Andaz

If we could give an award for the party idea that inspires the most fun, it will be to Alley on 25. It’s encouraging guests to come party in their ugliest Christmas sweater. The whole idea is of course to shake off  any self-consciousness, and to simply chill and go whole hog on enjoying the scrumptious spreads.

The lavish buffets feature a variety of premium roast and grill selections, extravagant desserts and Christmas-themed booze such as eggnog and mulled wine. On top of all the great food, drinks and possible hilarious conversations about ugly sweaters (what else?), the guests who come dressed in their tackiest, kitschiest Christmas knits stand a chance at winning some amazing prizes.

The Andaz occupies levels 25 to 39 of the DUO Tower at 5 Fraser Street, tel. 6408 1234. For full information of its Yuletide and New Year events, see here.

For Part One of our festive dining round-up, see here. Watch out for Part Three, coming to you soon.