WeekendinFEATURE
WeekendinFEATURE
Mountain biking on Whistler in the summer
CELEBRATIONS
City-seeing tours available in Joburg
Hotels are the most alluring during
the festive season, with the place
thoroughly decked in enchanting
Christmas decorations, whether it is
festive holiday strings of lights, majestic Christmas trees, or figurines
that adorn the compound. At Marriott Singapore, the Christmas cheer
is immediately apparent. Without
exception, Christmas celebrations
at the Marriott this year is a grand
affair of feasting on traditional
food, and sweet nostalgia for the
avid foodie.
A long dining table for a seating of nearly 20
simulates an actual Christmas dinner setting,
where family and friends congregate for an
indulgent night of feasting. Decadently decorated, shiny baubles and glittery reindeers run
through the middle of the table, evoking strong
feelings of festivity. Whiffs of the aroma of roasted meats and other delights gives you an idea
of what is to come. Ambient Christmas carols fill
the air, putting everyone in an extremely festive
mood.
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Marriott Cafe
What else sets the tone for a great Christmas
dinner than a warm comforting bowl of mushroom soup? The Cream of Wild Mushroom Soup
was rich and flavourful and the mushrooms
added a lovely texture. It is therapeutic and satisfying. There is the option of taking the soup
with bread buns, but I reckoned it was a more
sensible idea to save my stomach for the Christmas specials.
Or begin the festive indulgence with Foie Gras
Terrine, best accompanied with sweet fig jam. A
perfect combination of creamy and sweet, the
terrine can be used as a spread and eaten with
bread or alone in all its glory. This dish is served
at Pool Grill, the Hotel’s al fresco restaurant, with
a specially curated 4-course dinner. Other appetisers also include Kipfler Potato Salad with
Thyme Roasted Chicken and Cherry Tomato,
Caesar Salad, Classic Waldorf Salad, Norwegian
Smoked Salmon Platter with Lemon, Capers and
Dill Mustard Dressing, and cured meats.
The mains of any Christmas dinner determine
how good the meal is. With sumptuous dishes
like Traditional Roasted Turkey with Chestnut
and Foie Gras Stuffing, Bone-in Honey and
Clove Glazed Ham, as well as Slow-roasted Australian Sirloin with Caramelised Onion Gravy
and Horseradish Cream, Marriott’s Christmas
dinner this year will not fail to please. Fusing
classic Christmas dishes with contemporary
approaches, the roasted turkey turned out succulent and not dry unlike variations found elsewhere. Paired with sweet cranberry sauce, the
dish was complete.
The winner of roast meats that day had to be the
glazed ham. Aromatically infused with the subtle hint of clove, the ham was flawlessly roasted
while still retaining its moisture. The chef’s concoction of sweetened pineapple sauce creates a
perfect marriage with the ham, bringing out the
sweetness of the meat. On the side, the Garlic
Mashed Potatoes are delicious with the mushroom sauce. Other sauce choices include port
wine, onion gravy and mint demi-glace.
Complete the Christmas joy with traditional
dessert favourites such as the Sherry Trifle, Fruit
Mince Pies, Steamed Plum Pudding with Brandy
Sauce, Gingerbread and a wide selection of
Christmas cookies. Also drop by the Eggnog or
Mulled Wines stations to round up your festive
cheer.
If you ask the Executive Chef, Kevin Thomson,
about the choice of menu for desserts, he will
narrate a lovely story of how Christmas is traditionally celebrated in England. Sherry Trifle is a
sweet treat that is only made once a year in English homes and holds a special place in his heart.
So does the Plum Pudding, which is prepared
months before Christmas.
$98 for its lunch buffet and $108 for its dinner
buffet is worthwhile with its delivery of great
quality. Marriott Singapore promises to delight
everyone with a hearty Christmas feast that will
please the stomach and warm the heart.
Marriott Cafe | Marriott Singapore | 320 Orchard
Road | Singapore 238865 | T 6831 4605
www.singaporemarriott.com/Christmas
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