Celebrate the magic of Christmas at Hilton Orchard Singapore

Christmas has dawned upon Hilton Orchard Singapore, and with it, a magnificent festive spread from its esteemed F&B establishments - Estate, Ginger.Lily and Osteria Mozza graced the hotel with an air of seasonal enchantment.

Fresh Seafood Platter

Embarking on the festive celebration, we commenced with the Fresh Seafood Platter. A sumptuous assembly featuring Maine Lobster, Irish Oysters, Alaskan King Crab, and Scallops – a true indulgence for seafood aficionados, capturing the essence of the ocean in a single feast.

Pan-Seared Foie Gras

Next, we had the Pan-Seared Foie Gras. An ode to decadence, the foie gras was artfully paired with onion and chestnut puree, dragees alsace crust, and a tantalising balsamic glaze. This symphony of flavours elevated the delicate foie gras to a sublime experience.

Christmas Cravings

No festive celebration is complete without Christmas Cravings. A culinary voyage through the Classic Beef Wellington, Whole Roasted Turkey with bread stuffing, and the Honey Glazed Bone-in Ham, offering a trifecta of festive delights that beckon the spirit of Christmas to the table.

Smoked Turkey and Candied Bacon Pizza

Osteria Mozza contributed to the festive revelry by creating the Smoked Turkey and Candied Bacon Pizza. Adorned with squash, cranberries, and fried sage, this festive pizza danced on the palate, marrying unique holiday flavours with the joy of traditional pizza craftsmanship.

Grilled Sandwich

Adding a touch of warmth to the festive menu is the Grilled Sandwich, a treasure trove of flavours with layers of turkey prosciutto, Swiss cheese, pepperoncini, and pickles. The peppery zest of the pepperoncini harmoniously blended with the tangy pickles for a delightful finish.

Raclette Cheese

A personal favourite emerged as Raclette Cheese, beckoning to be savoured with bread, ham, and pickles. The rich, melted goodness of the raclette infused each bite with a delightful blend of textures and flavours.

Not to be overlooked are the Executive Pastry Chef's creations, offering visual delights and an exquisite array of log cakes with unique flavours distinct from the classic renditions. The festive sweet delights are tantalising for those with a penchant for confectionary delights.

In conclusion, Hilton Orchard Singapore has woven a tapestry of festive delights that cater to the eyes and promise a culinary journey rich in flavours and creativity. This Christmas, the hotel stands as a beacon of gastronomic joy, inviting patrons to celebrate flavours that encapsulate the season's magic.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Hilton Orchard Singapore
333 Orchard Road
Singapore 238867
Tel: +65 67374411
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Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Grill Ninety Nine @ Arab Street - Halal Restaurant Offering Quality & Affordable Western Cuisine

Less than 5 minutes walk from Bugis MRT station will bring you to Grill Ninety Nine at Arab Street. Serving western cuisine that is prepared using halal-certified ingredients, Grill Ninety Nine prides itself on its meat offerings, featuring good quality beef and lamb from New Zealand.

Crispy Crab Cakes 4.5/5

Appetisers may not be the primary focus of your meal, but you must try its Crispy Crab Cakes ($12.90) which is also available as a burger variant. When so often crab cakes are loaded with fillers, crusts that are too thick or over-fried even, these were thin and crisp, with the inside moist and well-seasoned to bring out the delicate flavours of the crab leg meat.

Cream of Mushroom 3.5/5

Cream of Mushroom ($6) is made in-house too. I loved the peppery-ness of it, which elevated the aromatic and earthy flavours of the mushrooms. It is very creamy and heavy, hence do share if you are going for it.

Ribeye Steak 4/5

Grill Ninety Nine's signature items are undeniably its steaks, served with a choice of black pepper, mushroom or brown sauce. We tried Ribeye Steak ($29.90 for 200g/ $45 for 425g). Lightly seasoned with salt and pepper, it was skillfully grilled to the doneness we requested. What made it even tastier was the fresh medley of herbs, in particular rosemary, that accented its fats and juice. Steaks are served with either fries or mash potato. We had ours changed to their new side item, sweet potato fries, for tasting purposes. It is available as a side for $9.90.

A highlight on its menu is the offering of Raclette Cheese at $8.90, which you can add as a topping on your mains, be it steak, burger, pasta. Prepared a la minute after your main is served, get your phone ready to capture the wow moment as you see a huge dollop of warm, gooey raclette cheese being scraped and allow to fall onto your plate.

Oven Roasted Angus Beef Ribs 3/5

The much anticipated Oven-roasted Angus Beef Ribs ($49.90) didn't quite hit the mark. The portion definitely sells, which was a feast for the eyes when it was served to us, but the sticky glaze that coated the meat was too sweet, and the meat was not as tender as expected.

Jawbreaker 3.5/5

Moving on to burgers, Jawbreaker ($22) offers your ravenous soul with a triple handmade beef patty piled between freshly baked brioche buns. Each patty is about 150g and in between patties are pickles and inhouse sauces. I like the buns used here, they didn't go all soggy even then they had to hold what was being stuffed between them. The spices and herbs used in the patty flavoured the meat well, but the juiciness of the patties fell short from expectations. Without the natural fats and juice from the meat, it lacked the beefy flavour that I seek. Nacho cheese is used for the burgers here, and personally, I feel that hard cheeses that are sharper in flavours work better in burgers. That said, the whole visual entertainment and satisfaction derived from eating a three-tiered patty burger are still considered tummy and senses filling.

Nutella Brownie Milkshake 3.5/5

On the drinks menu, what stood out is the Nutella Brownie Milkshake ($10) that comes with a rich and moist brownie stick. I think this combination will also work should there be a hot version of it.

Waffle with Ondeh-Ondeh Ice Cream 3.8/5

Desserts are simple, such as cakes, scoops of ice cream or housemade soft-serve ice creams. We tried the combination of Waffle with Ondeh-Ondeh Ice Cream. The waffle was soft with a crispy exterior, and interestingly as they sopped up the ice cream, they attained a slightly chewy texture which accentuated the characteristics of Ondeh Ondeh experience. A handful more grated coconut would have made this dessert more complete.

Written and photography 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.


Grill Ninety Nine
142 Arab Street
Singapore 199828
Tel: +65 62927363
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Nearest MRT: Bugis (EW Line, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily 12pm - 10pm

Direction:
Alight at Bugis MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk down Victoria Street towards Arab Street. Turn right onto Arab Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

D9 Cakery @ Hilton Singapore - Endless Saturday High Tea

D9 Cakery at Hilton Singapore has recently launched a "Endless Saturday High Tea". What might bring this up onto the top of your High Tea list, could well be their 6-metre long D9 dessert showcase.

Laksa 3/5

Still, I held on to that temptation and started off with the savouries first - a bowl of piping hot Laksa and Satays that were freshly grilled before me. The Laksa gravy was rich and coconuty with crunchy sprouts and succulent prawns to whet my appetite.

Satay 3/5

Beef and Chicken Satays are available. The beef was rather tough but the satay sauce saved the day with its robustness and nuttiness, which tempted me to reach out for even more Ketupat!

Dim Sum 2.8/5

Other Asian delights include the quintessential Dim Sum such as Har Gow, Siew Mai, Custard Bao and Red Bean Bao.

Roasted Chicken Tortilla Wrap 3/5

Pulled Pork Sliders 3/5

From the finger bites, you can make your own savoury platter with the Smoked Salmon Sandwich, Roasted Chicken Tortilla Wrap followed by some hot items such as the Pulled Pork Sliders, Croque Monsier. The pulled pork sliders may just set you off for some beers or wines I reckon.

Swiss Raclette Cheese 3.5/5

Cheese platter isn't available because it is replaced with something even better - an a la minute Swiss Raclette Cheese! Time seemed to claw as I waited for the cheese to be heated up. Finally, it started to bubble and a string of gooey cheese flowed onto my toast and potatoes like honey. As it cools really quickly, do have it fast the moment you get back to your seats.

Scones 4/5

When I think of high tea, freshly baked scones always come to mind. I love the fact that 2 different textures are both available, soft and crumbly. Together with the dollop of cream and tart strawberry jam, they are the nutrients for stress relief.

Artisanal Sweets, Hilton Cheesecakes, Green Tea Cake, Red Velvet, Chocolate 4.5/5

The 6-metre long D9 dessert showcase is what you are here for. At first glance, one may thought they are meant for sale but they are really part of the buffet. Like jewellery on display, its a pleasure to behold them before pulling open the case and lift each petite cake onto my plate.

What awaits at the same aisle is a gorgeous lemon chocolate fountain with an array of berries, sweets and chocolate for you to coat and deliver the smooth chocolate into your mouth.

When each dessert is vying for your attention, its easy to miss out the Teppanyaki ice-cream located at the entrance. Like pure chocolate sorbet made on the spot!

I hardly had time to finish the desserts. So do leave aside a considerable amount of time to slowly appreciate each of them. Served with 10 choices of free flow TWG Teas of the finest European & Asian blends, have fun choosing different teas or coffee to complement the different flavour and sweetness. Yes, if only this High Tea is really endless.

Hilton Endless Saturday High Tea
Price:
$41++ per adult with free flow of coffee and TWG teas
$76++ per adult with free flow of selected wines and beer
$21++ per child (5-12 yrs old, below 5 dine for free)
Timing:
1st Seating: 12pm - 230pm
2nd Seating: 3pm - 5pm

Words and photos 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.


D9 Cakery 
Hilton Singapore
Lobby Level
581 Orchard Road
Singapore 238883
Tel: +65 67303392
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Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk towards Wheelock Place via ION. Exit Wheelock Place and turn left towards Liat Tower. Continue walking along Orchard Road. Journey time is about 8 minutes. [Map]