Celebrate the calories this Christmas
Praise be! Here are five Christmas goodies worth filling your belly with
With so many Christmas offerings competing for your stomach space, it's timely to remember not all goodies are equal. Some are simply not worth the calories.
But the good ones - those that make your eyes roll back on first taste - must be praised and celebrated.
FOR CHOCOLATE LOVERS
Another excellent chocolate item comes from Goodwood Park Hotel. In fact, the hotel boasts two.
The Manjari Chocolate and Cassis Mousse Log Cake ($76) is classically rich (although the mousse is light), with a crunchy base.
The other is the Caramel Chocolate Tart ($36 for 500g).
Now, this one is dangerous. It's smaller and more "portable", so there is a danger you'll end up eating this all by yourself.
It has two layers divided by a milk chocolate sheet, with a base of crushed graham crackers, almond cream, caramel cream and dark chocolate.
These are available at the Deli or you can call them at 6730-1867.
LYCHEE THAT HITS THE SPOT
While the more showy item at Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel is the Kaya Namachoco Yule Logcake ($68), I prefer the Strawberry Cream Raspberry Lychee ($68).
I have a soft spot for anything with lychee, so it's a natural choice for me.
It is the lighter of the two and the flavours are delicately balanced.
And surprisingly, not as sweet as its name suggests.
You can get the cake from the hotel's Forecourt Stall by the hotel entrance, or call 6831-4708 to order.
SWEET TREAT
I figure when you have the name of a masterchef of Joel Robuchon's calibre attached to your food item, you can expect it to be good.
Joel Robuchon Patisserie's La Buche Baname Chocolat ($90), or the less romantic translation, chocolate and banana yule cake, is no exception.
It's made of chocolate shortbread, chocolate and caramelised bananas, and a great balance of sweet and bitter.
To order, call 6577-7888.
HOOKED ON HAM
To most, a ham is just a ham.
It's a good filler but not many will seek it out.
But after I tasted the ham at Pan Pacific Singapore, created with the original recipe by Master Butcher Leonhard Weber, I was hooked.
The limited edition Smoked Juniper Berry Ham ($178) is not as salty as most hams, with a subtle smokiness and a mellow flavour.
The accompanying apricot chutney is delicious too.
Call 6826-8240 to order, or visit pacificmarketplace.sg.
NO BEEF WITH THIS SHORT-RIB
The tastiest beef I've had this holiday season comes from Crowne Plaza Changi Airport.
Its Roasted Texas BBQ Beef Short-Rib ($120 for 1kg) is for takeaway, which is perfect because you can serve this at your party and pretend to have cooked it yourself.
The ribs are cooked sous vide for 24 hours before being roasted in the oven.
It's served with a slightly sweet sauce that enhances the beef.
To order, call the hotel's Festive Desk at 6823-5367 or e-mail christmas.cpca@ihg.com.
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