Goodwood Park Hotel Christmas 2021

Goodwood Park Hotel has lined up a brand new repertoire of festive treats for this Christmas. The new 2021 Christmas collection includes both sweets and savouries, which are available for takeaway and delivery from 15 November to 26 December 2021 and festive dining specials from 1 December 2021 to 2 January 2022.

A combination of western tradition and Asian flavours, this year's Coffee Turkey with Flavoursome Fried Rice ($248 nett; serves 8 to 12 persons) will likely be the star of the festive table. The new Coffee Turkey is slowly braised for slightly more than an hour till tender with aromatics. The festive bird is then infused with a myriad of Chinese spices like star anise, cinnamon, black cardamom and licorice root and finished with a fragrant coffee glaze. Basted thrice with the savoury coffee glaze and roasted, the turkey has a glistening caramelised skin and tender meat. When I had it, it was almost like having a soy-braised chicken. Served with a side coffee sauce, such tender and flavourful meat is ideal. The accompanying fried rice comprises stir-fry of white jasmine rice, flower shiitake mushrooms, chopped string beans, and shredded dried scallops, dried shrimps and eggs.

Another interesting savoury item in this year's collection is the Turkey, Mushroom & Foie Gras Roulade with Roasted Potatoes, Broccolini & Mushroom Sauce ($268 nett, approx. 30 cm; serves 8 to 10 persons). The turkey breast is rolled with a button and Swiss brown mushrooms duxelles, minced turkey and seared foie gras. The roulade is slow-cooked for three hours, seasoned with thyme and garlic, then grilled. The turkey breast was delightfully tender, flavoured by lightly seasoned mushroom duxelles. The cubes of foie gras rolled inside the duxelles provided just the right amount of fats and buttery flavour to roulade. It is served with a savoury mushroom sauce on the side and complemented with roasted baby potatoes, broccolini, and sautéed onions.

For starters, you may opt for the Chilled Smoked Turkey Breast, Beancurd & Ikura with Mala Sauce ($98 nett; serves 4 to 6 persons). An Asian-influenced dish, smoked turkey breast slices are lined atop smooth, chilled silken beancurd before finishing with a piquant mala sauce.

Other fun bites include this Sichuan version of the dim sum favourite, 'Fu Pi Juan' (beancurd skin roll). The moreish Deep-Fried Turkey Roll in Mala Style features a toothsome filling of minced turkey breast, diced carrots, and turnips, as well as Sichuan peppercorn oil. Encased in beancurd skin and tied with strips of Chinese celery to resemble a Christmas cracker, the rolls are steamed then deep-fried to golden-brown.

Another item that spins a similar Asian twist is the Deep-fried 'Hong Zao' Turkey Breast Strips with Salt & Seaweed Sprinkle, Mango Mayonnaise and Wasabi Mayonnaise ($68 nett; serves 4 to 6 persons). Slices of succulent turkey breast are thoroughly marinated in 'Hong Zao' (red glutinous rice wine lees), yellow mustard powder, and black pepper powder. Each morsel is then coated with a mix of more glutinous red wine lees and flour before deep-frying to achieve a crisp exterior. It reminds me of prawn roll, but in a Christmas context.

For Sweets, the White Enchantment Log Cake impresses with two layers of pistachio sponge with pear mousse studded with pieces of poached pear that have been enveloped in a tangy yuzu cream set atop a sablé breton base. The pear mousse was delicious with the chunks of poached pear, and the citrus notes of the yuzu cream made the cake even more delectable.

Not often that you will get a festive cheesecake, and this Assorted Berries Baked Cheese Loaf ($98 nett for 1.3kg) is a great option. A buttery digestive biscuit crust encases a New York cream cheese adorned with dried blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries. The Yuletide 'loaf' is topped with an abundance of assorted glazed fresh berries, sugar flowers and sprigs of thyme.

You can even create your own Afternoon Tea Set with the Christmas Carousel 2-Tier Set ($66 nett) and Christmas Tree 3-Tier Set ($88 nett). Specially curated by the culinary team behind L’Espresso’s popular English Afternoon Tea, the joyous tiered sets comprises an assortment of sweet and savoury treats.

The two-tiered Christmas Carousel set contains ten different petite snacks (five sweets and five savouries) such as Chocolate Pandan Tart, Raspberry Sablé Breton, Spicy Chipotle Turkey Croissant, and Garlic Cheese with Cranberries & Pistachio Tartlet.

The 3-tier set is more worthwhile, with three levels of 16 different treats (8 sweets and 8 savouries) including Paris-Brest, Coffee Caramel Tart, Green Tea Brownie, Lobster with Granny Smith Apple & Avocado Salad, Chicken with Cranberries & Pecan Nuts Croissant, and Turkey & Pumpkin Shepherd’s Pie.

Advance orders of five days are required. Guests may place their online orders at goodwoodparkfestive.oddle.me for delivery or self-collection. Alternatively, guests may visit The Deli ( 10am to 7 pm from 15 November to 26 December) or contact the Christmas Call Centre at (65) 6730 1867/68 from 10am to 6pm or email festive@goodwoodparkhotel.com to place their takeaway orders for self-collection only. Last pre-order date is 19 December 2021, 12pm .

Photos and words by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Goodwood Park Hotel
22 Scotts Road
Singapore 228221
Tel: +65 67301746
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line, TE Line)

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit 1. Walk down Scotts Road to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Muse Amuse @ South Bridge Road - Mod-Asian Sharing Plates And Inventive Cocktails

Stepping into Muse Amuse is like stepping into someone's house. The Carbon Collective which is behind the new 3-in-1 concept in the vicinity of Ann Siang Hill and Club Street integrates a restaurant, a cocktail bar and a retail space under one roof, modelled like an actual home.

Teh Halia Early Grey with Gingered Candy 4.2/5

Amuse - the cocktail bar is located at the back of the restaurant where you need to cross a wooden plank over a indoor pond. We started with Teh Halia Earl Grey with Gingered Candy ($25) fashioned by resident mixologist Isz Valentino. It is a refreshing drink composed with ginger cognac, Cointreau Chamomile, fresh grapefruit juice and earl grey tea.

Babung Blush 4/5

Dangerously good is the Babung Blush that is a concoction of rose syrup infused gin, cherry brandy and elderflower liqueur, garnished with dried rose buds. The two round shape pipettes are actually milk. Squeeze them into the mixture and give it a good swirl with the rosemary turning it into an adult Bandung drink.

Uni Pie Tee 3/5

Probably one of the most expensive pie tee I have eaten, the Uni Pie Tee ($15 for 2pc). It is stuffed with stewed radish and carrot, roasted hazelnut, cashew and topped with Hokkaido sea urchin. I do like the idea but I thought the sweetness of the urchin kind of throw the balance of the dish off.

Golden Kubun 2.8/5

The Golden Kubin ($15) is a Korean-Italian inspired dish. The spicy spheres of kimchi and seaweed arancini sits on a butternut squash puree and dollops of gochujang mayonnaise. Interesting dish but it tasted rather bland. It needs a heavier boost in flavours to justify the concept.

Tartaro 3.5/5

The Tartaro ($18)  is Muse's version of steak tartare that comprises of hand-chopped 200-day grain-fed wagyu tossed in sesame oil and layered with Korean honey pear, red chilli and egg yolk. I thought the soy based sauce was a bit too much and salty, masking the appreciation of the beef.

Chicken Roulade 3/5

Compared to the other dishes, the Chicken Roulade ($15) which consists of sous vide chicken thigh, yellow cauliflower puree and fried potato strips looks kind of sad. Supposed to be marinated in a Vietnamese-inspired blend of lemongrass, black pepper and soy sauce, it lacked the robustness I was looking forward to.

Royal Ratchaphruek 4.5/5

The dish that I like most is the Royal Ratchaphruek ($12). Like an Asian ratatouille, the dish is a medley of flavours and textures which is made up of slices of lotus root, sweet potato, zucchini, eggplant, carrot and potato, steeped in a tom yum broth that packed a real punch. Complementing the crunchy roots, this is uniquely addictive.

6-Day Baby Back Pork Ribs 4.2/5

The 6-Day Baby Back Pork Ribs ($16) is another dish which I enjoyed. The fork tender pork ribs are twice marinated and coated in sticky homemade BBQ sauce, with a hint of spiciness.

Sauteed Scallops on Japanese Somen Noodles 3.8/5

An instagram worthy dish on the menu is the Sauteed Scallops on Japanese Somen Noodles ($18). The pink broth is actually made of beetroot and dashi which goes well with the somen. However the somen was overcooked as it was quite soggy. Resting on top of the somen is the purple tuille, Hokkaido scallop and confit egg yolk.

Aurora USDA Prime Beef Angus Ribeye 4/5

Good for sharing is the Aurora USDA Prime Beef Angus Ribeye ($78). The piece of prime Angus beef is first sous vide then grilled to medium rare, served with Thai basil sauce at the side. It has flavourful and has a nice smoky charred flavour

Gula Melaka Panna Cotta with Umami Sea Urchin 3.5/5

I thought it was rather daring of Muse to pair Gula Melaka Panna Cotta with Umami Sea Urchin ($12). The sweet and briny combination was kind of unexpected. However I thought the balance was thrown off the balance by the sweetness of panna cotta, over shadowing the taste of the hokkaido sea urchin.

Slow-Cooked Black Glutinous Rice 3/5

Lastly we tried the Slow-Cooked Black Glutinous Rice ($8) which is an enhanced version of the pulut hitam. It has a layer coconut cream and topped with desiccated coconut flakes. I felt the rendition on the "dry' side. It need something more liquid or creamy to hold the elements together.

Overall I felt that the food at Muse Amuse has potential and I can taste the passionate in their creation However I think more thoughts are needed to refine the dishes. I also felt that the pricing is on the expensive side. Pretty dishes do not mean sales if customers do not think it is value for money.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Muse Amuse
289 South Bridge Road
Singapore 058835
Tel: +65 85000588
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Chinatown (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 12pm - 12midnight
Bar
Mon-Sat: 3pm till late
(Closed on Sun)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Chinatown MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk straight down Pagoda Street to South Bridge Road. Cross the road. Turn right and walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

Element @ Amara Hotel - An Array Of Festive Delicacies Alongside LocalAnd International Favourites.

Photo credit: Amara Hotel

Coming to the end of the year, Element at Amara Hotel marks this festive season with a premium celebratory spread. Among the usual buffet spread, you will expect an enhanced seafood spread alongside your mouth-watering grilled and barbecued delights.

The seafood station will drawn you in with its arrangement of Alaskan king crab legs, scallops, crayfish and Fine de Claire oysters. A dash of tabasco and lemon juice shall wake up your taste buds for the rest of the spread.

What caught my eyes when I first stepped into the restaurant was the rows of sushi, in which amongst them was my favourite Salmon Aburi! Each piece was lined with a good amount of fats that melted in my mouth within seconds. The charred mentaiko sauce together with the fatty sweetness proves to be most popular as well, as they were snapped out most of the time.

The Ebi Tempura is a must-have. The golden batter was light and airy, and the prawn within was still firm and bouncy. I made my own mini soba meal with tempura! Another signature dish here is the salmon confit to be enjoyed with tangy tomato salsa to compliment its strong flavour.

Another premium seafood addition is the Cod Fish with Bonito Flakes at the hot station. That, together with salmon aburi, really excite my appetite. Each slice was succulent and meaty, with the savoury bonito flakes teasing out its delicate sweetness. Alongside, there are Stir-fried Beef Fillet with Chilli Bean Sauce and Wok-fried Clams with Sambal Belachan to fire up your senses.

Multi-cultural flavours is also what characterised this festive spread. Ramen lovers must give their Chicken Ramen a try. The broth was pretty hearty, and noodles springy and al dente. The best part is that I could D.I.Y with mushrooms and wakame!

For a even heavier taste, you can go for their Mutton Skewers, as well as the Chicken Bryani with Papaddum.

To round up the evening, indulge yourself in their homemade Ice Creams and Waffle. My favourite is the strawberry ice cream which bursted with tanginess whenever I bit into its frozen strawberry chunks.

Create your own high-tea session with their range of petite cakes. I like the Tiramisu's well-soaked sponge and light cheese filling. I also enjoyed the Blueberry Cheesecake for its fluffy texture and lemony taste.

Photo credit: Amara Hotel

Closer to the Christmas week, favourites such as live carvings of Roast Turkey, Turkey Roulade with Truffle Mushroom Stuffing, Duck Rillettes marinated with red wine, duo of Liver Pate with Foie Gras amid sweet treats like assorted Log Cakes and Christmas Cookies will be offered to provide the full experience of festive celebration.

Festive Buffet Lunch
Date: 1-24 Dec and 27-31 Dec 2016
Price: 58++ per adult and $29++ per child

Festive Buffet Dinner
Date: 1-23 Dec, 25-30 Dec 2016 and 1-2 Jan 2017
Price: $78++ per adult and $39++ per child

Christmas Eve & New Year's Eve Buffet Dinner
Date 24 Dec and 31 Dec 2016
Price: $88++ per adult and $39++ per child

Christmas & New Year's Buffet Lunch
Date 25-26 Dec 2016 and 1-2 Jan 2017
Price: $68++ per adult and $34++ per child

Written by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Element
Amara Hotel
165 Tanjong Pagar Road
Singapore 088539
Tel: +65 68792555, +65 68792607
Facebook 
Website
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Breakfast (Daily): 6am - 1030am
Lunch (Mon-Fri, except PH): 12pm - 230pm
Brunch (Sat-Sun, PH): 1130am - 330pm
Dinner (Daily): 630pm - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk towards Gopeng Street and turn into Tras Street. Walk to Amara Hotel. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]