Binge - Absolutely Gorgeous Christmas Confection!

It’s almost the end of November already and need to ramp up Christmas preps if we all want to Christmas fabuliciously. Don’t need to pound the pavements to find out what’s out there. Just scroll through our earlier Christmas postings and see the goodies the restaurants and shops have rolled out for the season. And there’s more….Here are the latest yummy highlights. (Pictured, Garibaldi Xmas log)

Cova Pasticceria-Confetteria - Check out Cova’s cute Santa toadstool house, Dolce Fungo, and Buone Feste, an elegant cream coloured creation adorned with white roses. These come in a choice of two flavours: the Aurora (S$56 nett for 500g) a light vanilla sponge cake layered with chocolate and pastry cream and Sacher (S$58 nett for 500g), a rich dark chocolate sponge cake layered with chocolate cream and apricot marmalade. Its handmade panettone is back for the second year in Singapore, specially air-flown from Milan. It comes in several sizes, and can be specially decorated too if you order a week in advance. Panettone priced from $12 to $98, and decorated versions from $78 for 500g. Finally, if the legs need a rest after last minute shopping, drop in for Cova’s X’mas tea spread from 18-25 Dec ($35++ to $48++); or brunch there on Christmas day or New Year’s Day with its buffet spread with choice of entrée. ($68++ per adult or $88++ with free flow of Prosecco, house wine or soft drinks; $28++ per child 5 -12 years old)

#01-20A Paragon

65) 6733 0777

De Ste – Don’t you absolutely love these? Beautiful, edible and truly different from the pack!...Definitely for the tables of hostesses with the absolute mostest. They are the work of Chef Stefano Deiuri, the chef-owner of DeSté, who wanted to offer “something uncommon, something wondrous to wow people, yet in line with the Christmas theme”. The edible Christmas candle ($80) comprises chocolate and hazelnut mousse, crunchy praline and coconut cream, while the christmsa log (pictured above) has a rock chocolate exterior filled with chocolate mousse, yuzu sabayon, mascarpone and raspberry ($85). They also have a Christmas ball ($69) which comes in mascarpone cheese and rock chocolate. Available in limited quantities only.

DeSté is located at 20 Upper Circular Road, #01-39/41, The Riverwalk.

New Stores Alert: A new DeSté chocolate boutique will be opening in November at Mandarin Gallery, #02-26, 33 A Orchard Road;and a third opening in December at 313@Somerset, 313 Orchard Road, #01-25/25A. And you heard it from SimplyFab first!

Haagen Dazs – Ooh, little dinky treats which don’t have to cost an arm and a leg. That’s why we like these pretty babies: they call them Häagen-Dazs Gateau, handcrafted single serve (ie manageable temptation which one can yield to) ice cream desserts that come in six grown up flavours. Sweet Elegance is strawberry ice cream on a bed of cookie crumbs and covered with chocolate; Luscious Moment, dark chocolate with cookies and cream ice cream; Coffee Fantasia, coffee ice cream encased in a white chocolate dome and Macadamia Romance, macadamia nut ice cream encased in a pretty pink chocolate heart. Yes, corny names all round, but just think of the eating! Makes a nice gift, dainty dessert or just a treat for our highly deserving selves. Available in single piece, 3-piece and 5-piece gift sets at S$9+, S$25+ and S$40+ at all Häagen Dazs cafes.

- Ee Waun