Dining Out 2 minutes 15 December 2017

6 Places To Experience Global Christmas Traditions In Singapore

Holiday traditions are colourful and varied all across the world, here’s where to go to get a taste of them.

This holiday season, take a trip around the world with these global Christmas dishes available at restaurants across the island, from those closer to home like Kashmiri Wazwan Leg of Lamb and Eurasian debal to faraway delicacies like Catalonian chicken canelon and Melomakarona cookies from Greece.
Stufato Di Coniglio, or rabbit stew, at Zafferano
Stufato Di Coniglio, or rabbit stew, at Zafferano

Zafferano
Rabbit Stew is a time-honoured dish that is a dinner staple for Chef Marco Guccio and his family during the cold season in Italy. Now, you’ll be able to savour this classic winter stew at Zafferano. The stufato di coniglio is made by first searing the meat over high heat, cooking it with onions, carrots, celery, mushrooms and fresh herbs, then simmering it with olives, white wine and tomato sauce at a gentle heat for 45 minutes. The result is a perfect amalgamation of rich flavours and succulence that is the epitome of Christmas. Available upon request in the month of December. Orders are required to be made at least two days in advance.

Stuffed Turkey Roulade at the Song of India
Stuffed Turkey Roulade at the Song of India

Song Of India
Chef Manjunath Mural draws inspiration from his youth for Song of India’s 5-course Christmas Celebration Feast that reflects the multicultural dishes in India: “I hope to create the same memories of warmth and homeliness that I experienced in my youth during this month.” India’s rich spices and flavours take centre stage in the Tandoori Turkey Kebab, Stuffed Turkey Roulade, and Kashmiri Wazwan Slow-Roasted and Smoked Baby Leg of Lamb. The lamb is immersed in a series of spices then marinated overnight with yoghurt and mustard, before it is pot-roasted and grilled in the oven the next day. Accompanied by a medley of broccoli, peppers and potatoes infused with Indian spices then drizzled with a traditional onion and cashew sauce, it is a hearty dish set on the Christmas dining table. Available for dine-in and takeaway from 18-26 December.

Kugelhopf at Firebake
Kugelhopf at Firebake

Firebake
A white Christmas may be the last thing you’ll get in Singapore, but that doesn’t mean you can’t gather around the woodfire oven with family and friends to soak up the festive spirit. Firebake founder Konstantino Blokbergen will be serving up festive specials inspired by his mixed European heritage—expect the likes of Greek Cookies Melomakarona (walnut-topped cookies soaked in syrup and honey), Festive Chicken with root vegetables and trumpet mushrooms and Christmas Kugelhopf, a buttery sourdough speckled with rum-soaked raisins and flavoured with orange blossom syrup, all prepared in the restaurant’s signature woodfire ovens. Available for dine-in and takeaway in the month of December, except when Firebake is closed from 5pm on 24 Dec through 25 Dec, pre-order is recommended for dine-in, while 2 days pre-order required for take-out.

Crispy suckling pig is a celebratory dish at PIM PAM by FOC.
Crispy suckling pig is a celebratory dish at PIM PAM by FOC.

PIM PAM by FOC
There’s nothing like Spain to celebrate the season in high spirits. The traditional festive sharing dishes at PIM PAM by FOC include a very celebratory Suckling Pig; chef Noguera’s family recipe of Chicken Canelon, a pasta rolled and filled with a savoury braised chicken, and finished with a rich béchamel sauce and dried fruits; Pork Ribs with Pumpkin Purée and Escudella with Meat Ravioli among others. Available for dine-in and takeaway in the month of December. 24-hour advanced order required for Whole Suckling Pig.

Christmas In A Glass - sticky fig crumble, spiced almond milk at The Ottomani
Christmas In A Glass - sticky fig crumble, spiced almond milk at The Ottomani

The Ottomani
Have a contemporary Middle Eastern Christmas at The Ottomani with Head Chef Nic Philip's festive creations such as Sticky Pork with Turkish Coffee, Palm Sugar, Sichuan Pepper and the Lamb Shoulder with Spiced Molasses and Sumac Gremolata which offer an aromatic alternative to the traditional roasts. Adding a merry ending to the experience, the limited-edition picture perfect festive dessert of Christmas In A Glass contains a seasonal Sticky Fig Crumble served with Spiced Almond Milk. Available for dine-in in the month of December, except for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Eurasian Christmas Pie at Folklore
Eurasian Christmas Pie at Folklore

Folklore
Steeped in traditional Eurasian home cooking, meaningful festive dishes were painstakingly prepared and cooked by Chef Damian’s paternal grandfather a week before Christmas. This month, you’ll get to taste some of these rarely-seen and beloved heritage Eurasian Christmas recipes at Folklore. The Christmas menu features eight classic dishes of every Eurasian Christmas table including Feng, a traditional European curry dish featuring an assortment of pig offals cooked in a blend of 18 spices, the Eurasion spicy stew of Debal and Eurasian Christmas Pie—a buttery pastry filled with chicken, meat balls, pork sausages, potatoes and carrots. Available for dine-in and takeaway in the month of December, with 5 days advance notice for takeaway and a minimum order of four mains.

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