PUBLISHED November 22nd, 2016 07:00 am | UPDATED November 23rd, 2016 11:23 am
There’s nothing like celebrating Christmas with beloved friends and family in the comfort of home, where you can be as jolly and as rambunctious as you want with the merrymaking. If one of your main barriers to throwing a full-scale Yuletide party lies in lack of time, equipment, or even skill to whip up some of the must-have seasonal fare, fear not, for Café Noël is back this year to solve your culinary woes with a trove of luxurious festive treats.
Courtesy of the award-winning team from Fairmont Singapore and Swissôtel The Stamford, you can now spruce up your celebrations with a medley of gourmet takeaways, such as a whole Roasted Tom Turkey ($182, from 4.5kg). Complete with crunchy chestnut stuffing, giblet gravy dressing, and a complementing cranberry relish, the mountain-grown poultry is sure to be the prized centrepiece on your festive table.
Another meaty main – straight out of Swiss German tradition – you can’t miss is the Crispy Pork Knuckle ($41, 1kg) from Café Swiss, accompanied by German sauerkraut and potato salad. Think a tender hunk of succulent meat sheathed in a fragrant, crackling skin that’s just beckoning for you to sink your teeth into. Supplement the savoury part of the meal with a serve or two of Roasted Root Vegetables with Caramelised Chestnuts ($28), a maple-glazed mix of oven-roasted carrots, sweet potatoes, celeriac, new potatoes and yam. A delicious dose of nutrients to balance out all the hearty meats!
For the guest with a mandatory carb quota to fulfill, Prego’s Signature Beef Lasagne ($71, 1kg), a comforting dish of layered beef bolognese, creamy béchamel sauce, mozzarella cheese and sheets of handmade pasta, should do the trick.
Round up the meal with Café Noël’s fresh pastry repertoire, inspired by the winter tradition of yule log gifting in Executive Pastry Chef Sebastien Cocquery-Beraud’s hometown in Nimes, Southern France. Each delicate creation is available in two sizes, 500g and 1kg. If you’re looking to please the sweet tooths, go for the classic Hazelnut Praline Cake ($34/$64) or the decadent Traditional Caramel Chocolate Chip Yule Log ($43/$84).
Fresher, fruitier confectioneries include the cute, dome-shaped Santa glazed Ruby Peach Raspberry Mousse Cake ($43/$84), and the luscious, roulade-style Bluegold Blueberry Cheesecake ($43/$84). Those game for something a bit more adventurous with the sweets might enjoy the natural goodness of the Coconut Almond Tart ($32/$62), as well as the Chestnut and Green Tea Yule Log ($43/$84), which is anything but traditional with its infusion of the Asian tea flavour into the old-fashioned French-style log cake.
Of course, for those who prefer to celebrate the Yuletide without the fuss and hassle of throwing a house party, both Fairmont Singapore and Swissôtel The Stamford have epicurean dining options up their sleeves to satisfy the gastronomic cravings of any festive reveller. Move fast for a table at one-Michelin-starred JAAN; or enjoy the same sky-high view at Equinox Restaurant while feasting on the likes of Seared Hand-Dived Scallop and Slow-Cooked Beef Short Ribs.
For something not so traditional, look to Fairmont Singapore’s Japanese restaurant Mikuni for a thoughtfully-prepared seven-course kaiseki dinner menu featuring dishes like the Sake-Steamed Hokkaido Hairy Crab and Kani Miso and Slow-Cooked Kurobuta Pork with Red Miso. Alternatively, take an afternoon off and park yourself at Anti:Dote cocktail bar for Head Chef Tryson Quek’s afternoon tea set. Expect Christmassy delights such as the Eggnog Mini Log Cake and Sleigh of Chocolate Pecan Brownies & Cream to put you in the holiday mood. Stay through to evening to sample the classic mulled wine tipples concocted by Head Craftsman Gina Kent.
To place an order for Café Noël’s festive treats, or reserve a place at any of Fairmont Singapore and Swissôtel The Stamford’s dining establishments, visit Celebrations Central or call the Santa Helper Hotline at +65 6338 8785. For bulk orders above 50 items, email cafenoel@fairmont.com.
This post is sponsored by Fairmont Singapore & Swissôtel The Stamford.