It’s that time of the year again, and most of us probably fall into one of two groups: those who have their year end plans all sorted out…and those who don’t.
Well, if you belong to the latter group, we’re here to help!
For those who are looking for a thematically-appropriate gift
Well, winter is no longer coming. If you’re a Johnnie Walker or Game of Thrones fan, the new limited edition White Walker has finally arrived.
Flavour wise, it’s as sweet as summer on first taste, but beneath the gold, we find the bitter steel.
We find it to be a fun fit thematically, and Johnnie is always a quaffable drink- though in this case, we suggest putting it in the freezer before drinking. You can get it at 1855 The Bottle Shop, Redmart, and Cold Storage at S$75.
For pre-holiday drinking
If you’re already in a holiday mood right now, you can think about the Bava Wine Dinner, which will be held at Zafferano on 18 December at 7pm.
Showcasing the unique flavours of Piedmont, the five course meal will be paired with wines from the Bava vineyards. You can look forward to canapés, paired with a light Gavi del Comune di Gavi DOCG 2016. Traditional Piedmont winter fare, including thinly sliced cold veal tongue, and bell peppers in ‘bagna cauda’, a garlic and anchovies dip, will be paired with Libera Barbera d’Asti DOCG 2016.
The Bava Wine Dinner is available on 18 December 2018 from 7pm at $98++ per person.
For those scooting off somewhere else
For those lucky enough to be flying off somewhere exotic, be sure to keep your eyes peeled. Until January 6, DFS will be putting up a Moët & Chandon pop-up store at Changi Airport Terminal 3 Departure Hall. The champagne house is showcasing a new limited edition holiday release, promising a festive and magical journey through the French “Art-de-Vivre”.
On the more practical side , you can personalise the limited-edition-bottles of Moët Impérial, which would be perfect (and memorable) gifts. You can also send well wishes to friends in far-off places at the instant printing photobox and postcard greeting counter.
For those who want to try something really exquisite (right before dinner)
We’ve waved lyrical on the virtues of LOUIS XIII, absolutely one of the best cognacs that we have ever tasted. Its light, supple elegance is paired with rich, complex flavours in a delicate balancing act. It’s at the pinnacle of cognacs, and commands a price to match; a bottle can set you back a princely (four-figure) sum.
For those who are curious but watching the pursestrings, consider the Five Sensations pairing at 28 Wilkie. The experience is a pairing of five different dishes with a glass of LOUIS XII, each designed to enhance a facet of the cognac.
- Kaluga Hybrid Caviar
- European Lobster Sandwich
- Hibiscus and Pomegranate Soft Sorbet
- Wafer-Thin Belotta Shavings
- Wagyu Beef Tartare with Pommery
The belotta shavings are particularly good match; the creamy, nutty Spanish ham is perfect with the fruity, autumnal flavours in the cognac.
Bear in mind that the dishes are designed as pre-dinner delights, and the portions are quite literally bite-sized. This, and the price of $350 per person, seems a little daunting- but when else are you going to taste LOUIS XIII by the glass?
It’s available all year round at 28 Wilkie.
For those looking for the best value for money in a brunch
Tess Bar & Kitchen doesn’t suffer for a lack of talent. Former Diageo World Class Singapore Champion Boo Jing Heng helms the bar, and the Head Chef, Kenneth Oh, was the World Gourmet Summit Singapore Rising Chef of the Year 2017.
So you might be surprised to hear that they’re offering a Weekend and Public Holiday Brunch, from 11am-430pm. For a flat $30++ you can stuff as much as food down your gullet as you like, for two hours.
And, before you ask- you’re not getting just the cheap stuff. You can feast on Wild Mushroom Risotto (with actual truffle shavings!) Fried Chicken & Waffles and House-made Egg Tagliatelle. They taste pretty good, too.
Of course, we love our drinks- and you can add on $30++ for a free-flow of cocktails, beers and wines. If you want to go dry, there’s a whole set of different coffees and coffee-based mocktails.
For those who like something a little stiffer, you can choose from an extensive selection of martinis; both the classic and spin-offs such as the Salted Caramel Espresso Martini and the Earl Grey Hibiscus Martini.
So let’s recap- for $60, you can have as much good food and booze as you’d like for 2 hours? That sounds like a good deal to us. You can visit their website here.
For those who can’t get enough Italian food
If you can’t get enough of Italian food, and want to enjoy the splendid views of Marina bay, Monti will be serving an all-you-can-eat Christmas brunch from 22 to 25 December 2018, and a 4-course dinner on Christmas Day.
The brunch buffet includes quality charcuterie such as coppa wagyu, olive salami and San Daniele ham, a live carving station with Roasted Lamb Rack with braised lentil, yogurt, and mint sauce; and Roasted Turkey with figs marmalade and roasted pumpkin. It’s available from 12pm-3pm for $98++ per person, and you can add on $48++ to get free-flow of prosecco for 90 minutes.
Dinner will be a sit-down affair, with Foie Gras Terrine and a Risotto with
Spumante, Fontina Cheese & Porcini to start off. Other highlights include a choice between Spatchcock wrapped with Parma Ham or Maine Lobster with Romesco Puree & Cranberry Foam.
What will it cost you? $158++ for the five-course meal and a glass of Prosecco/Mocktail/Cocktail
For those looking for something truly special
We’re not going to spoil too much about the next dinner, but we can tell you that it’s something truly special.
We can tell you that it’s a 10-Course Festive Menu at the new Dom Pérignon Plénitude Suite (Stellar at 1-Altitude), priced at $440++ per person. It’s available from 22 to 25 December 2018 only (though a non-festive menu will be available at other times.
We can tell you that if you’re willing to spend a bit to get a special experience, then you need look no further.
Why won’t we say more? It would give away too much about the experience. Suffice to say that all the ten courses (and the accompanying Dom Perignon champagnes) were extremely tasty- but we were using moret than our sense of taste.
How would you believe us though? We’ve got pictures of some of the dishes.
One can enjoy a good meal from time to time, but we can say that his will be a truly memorable experience. You can visit their website here.
For those who need somewhere to go on New Year’s Eve
Finally, if you’re still full of energy come New Year’s Eve, consider spending it at NINETEEN80. $38 gets you past the door, and a glass of Champagne or housepour to enjoy while ushering in 2019 with vigorous gyrations and raucous singing along to 80’s tunes.
You can get tickets here.
