The festive season means many different things to different people. Some enjoy the holiday atmosphere — the cacophony of carollers, light-ups along the bustling streets, and shopping deals aplenty — while others look forward to convivial parties, where they can make merry, eat heartily, and truly enjoy the company of friends and family.
Any holidaymaking host would know that the last bit’s the trickiest part. After all, many of them spend the season fussing over pots and pans in the kitchen, endlessly checking and rechecking the turkey, the ham, the baked potatoes, festive pudding, guests’ wine glasses — the list goes on.
A simple gift of a takeaway festive feast or holiday treat can make a world of difference for the hapless party planner — or for that matter, any merrymaking gourmand with an appreciation for fine food and drink.
Show your appreciation to those who’ve made a difference in your life this 2024 with an epicurean stocking stuffer from Singapore’s roster of MICHELIN restaurants and hotels, all taking time away from their own families this festive season to make yours special.
For a Yule Log that’s as traditional as it gets:
Claudine
MICHELIN Selected
MICHELIN Guide Singapore 2024
While last year’s delicate festive tarts from three-MICHELIN-Starred Odette will not be returning for the 2024 holiday season, we can instead turn to Julien Royer’s homier Dempsey restaurant, Claudine, for appropriate festive cheer.
It comes in the form of a Duck à l'Orange Pâté en Croûte, available for takeaway at $28++. This Christmas classic is a celebration of indulgence: a burnished golden crust cradles a luscious pâté of duck, Kurobuta pork, and velvety foie gras, the richness lifted by the unexpected brightness of kumquat’s citrusy zing. For those with a sweet tooth, there is also the Chocolate Christmas Log Cake (S$58++), calling back to an ancient custom where actual wooden logs were kept burning throughout the winter solstice to honour the return of the sun. The restaurant’s version is as traditional as it gets, with layers of chocolate and hazelnut praline nestled within a rich, airy sponge.
Claudine’s Christmas offerings are available to pre-order now. To order, email info@claudinerestaurant.com.
For a fiery Eurasian Christmas:
Rempapa
MICHELIN Selected
MICHELIN Guide Singapore 2024
The grandfather of heritage cuisine in Singapore, Damian D’Silva, shows off his cuisine’s diverse cross-cultural influences with a festive takeaway package (S$128++) that borrows Eurasian flavours of old.
At the centrepiece of this holiday feast is a debal drawing from D’Silva’s own childhood experiences noshing down on his grandfather’s version of the hearty stew. Now, Rempapa’s rendition replaces the traditional leftovers with luscious roast pork belly and pork sausages, braised with a rich rempah (spice paste) of shallots, Bombay onions, ginger, and dried chilli — all enhanced with an added aromatic base of bacon bones.
The flame from this spicy Eurasian Christmas staple is mellowed out with a Sunday Salad heavy with taters, eggs, pickles, and miscellaneous veggies, all tossed in a mayo-based dressing — though, of course, you should save some room for dessert.
This Christmas, that comes by way of a traditional Bread Pudding, lightly spiced to counteract the rich, buttery indulgence and soft custard-like centre of the rib-sticking festive dessert. Diners can also solve their vino needs with just S$40 to get a full bottle of red or white wine from a South African vineyard to go with their festive bundle.
Rempapa’s Christmas offerings are available to pre-order from 1 December 2024. To order, send a message via Whatsapp to +65 9459 1603 or email papa@rempapa.sg.
For the sweet-toothed:
Andaz Singapore
A MICHELIN Guide Hotel
Embrace the magic of the season with Andaz Singapore’s collection of Christmassy sweet treats, each more playful and imaginative than the last.
There’s the Chiffon Cake Bûche de Noël (S$78 for 700g), which takes on the guise of a snow-covered house by smothering cassis chiffon sponge in coconut mousse, whipped ivory chocolate, and forest berry compote; what looks like a mistletoe wreath, fashioned from roasted forest nuts, redcurrant, rosemary, and sage on a base of vanilla sable (Caramelised Nut Tart, S$32 for 350g); as well as the Andaz’ling Mont Blanc (S$15 for 200g), an adorable Santa’s hat and beard of a pastry, hewn from chestnut cream, fig compote, Sulawesi vanilla mousse, and marshmallow.
When it comes to the cute factor, though, the reindeer-shaped Peanut Butter Jelly Petit Gâteau (S$15 for 200g) is hard to beat. It wraps milk chocolate mousse, crunchy peanut butter, and grape confiture in a salted caramel glaze in place of the cuddly animal’s iconic brown fur, before adding a finishing touch with chocolate eyes, snout, and antlers.
Andaz Singapore’s Christmas offerings are available for pre-order now. To order, head here.
For impressing the in-laws:
InterContinental Singapore
A MICHELIN Guide Hotel
Festive pre-orders have already begun at the InterContinental Singapore, presenting for this year’s holiday season an indulgent selection of innovative yule logs, takeaway feasts, and opulent gifting hampers.
Kicking off the hotel’s 2024 roster of newfangled log cakes is the Passion Fruit-Ginger Yule Log (S$108 for 1kg), balancing out the tangy notes of the citrus fruit with a warm punch in the gut of ginger. The Snow White Coconut & Cempedak Yule Log paints a delicate snowy winter-scape, somewhat ironically with tropical delights like shredded coconut and sweet-pongy jackfruit, while the Chocolate Mint Truffle Tea Yule Log offers and indulgent, crunchy finish (both S$108 for 1kg).
But if a truly magnificent gift is what’s in order, look to the InterContinental Singapore's exceptional Luxury Hamper (S$398) — a treasure trove packed with bubbly, cookies, candied marrons, and a whole lot of goodies for festive feasting. That’s not to forget, of course, Christmas staples ranging from the Traditional Roasted U.S. Tom Turkey (S$258 for 5kg), to the InterContinental Signature Christmas Fruit Cake (S$88 for 650g).
The InterContinental Singapore’s Christmas offerings are available for pre-order now. To order, head here, call +65 6825 1008, or email sinhb-festive@ihg.com.
For festive flower power:
Raffles Hotel, Singapore
A MICHELIN Guide Hotel
Raffles Hotel, Singapore brings festive cheer with bespoke floral services to go with a decadent take-home feast, ushering in a much-needed dose of yuletide relaxation for the harried party planner.
These floral arrangements range from classic table centrepieces and wreaths to custom creations tailored to one’s individual needs. It’s just the thing to go with their home dining sets, which can come loaded with lavish treats like Maine Lobster (S$78 for 600g), Caviar (S$208), and a Foie Gras Terrine (S$98), if a truly hedonistic Christmas is in the cards.
Otherwise, there’s always the usual festive must-haves like the Traditional Turkey (S$288 for 7.5kg), Bone-In Gammon Ham (S$118), and 26-day dry-aged, grass-fed Côte de Boeuf (S$298 for 1.2kg), along with sweet tidings like the Chestnut Vanilla Rum Cake (S$89 for 1kg), Traditional Chocolate Log Cake (S$79), and Panettone (S$65) to keep you and any other guests at the party you’re heading to well-fed and happy. If all that great food doesn’t work, look to the hotel’s in-house sommeliers for bubbly and vino pairings with your selected Christmas grub.
Raffles Hotel, Singapore’s festive offerings are available for pre-order now. To order, head here, call +65 6412 1816 or email singapore@raffles.com.
For those with carnivorous friends:
voco Orchard Singapore
A MICHELIN Guide Hotel
Festive indulgence at voco Orchard Singapore looks like a massive char-grilled Wagyu tomahawk steak paired with a seafood platter laden with grilled lobster, prawns, and clams. Hearty sides like fingerling potatoes roasted in rendered beef fat and crispy Brussels sprouts — plus a bottle of festive Prosecco — make for an indulgent "Surf & Turf" bundle (S$418) that’s sure to be a hit at any festive party you’re invited.
Where it comes to the hotel’s main Christmas takeaways though, you’re looking for something that’s about as classic as classic gets. We’re talking staple dishes like the Classic Roast Turkey (S$228), the sweet-savoury Honey and Orange Baked Ham (S$178), and a traditional Panettone (S$65) to boot. With that said, the hotel does pull off some twists on age-old formulas, with the likes of their newly released Zesty Yuzu Raspberry Bûche De Noël (S$85) — kissed with citrusy flavours for some sweet, tangy relief from all the indulgences of the season — and their signature American Cheesecake-style yule log (S$85).
voco Orchard Singapore's Christmas offerings are available for pre-order now. To order, head here or call +65 6730 339.
All images are courtesy of the hotels and restaurants.
Header image is from InterContinental Singapore.
