Binge – Festive Fine Dining That Don’t Bust Your Wallet

December is always a dangerous time. So much festive fare going round, how does one prevent one’s svelte girth from expanding? Plan your feasting, I say! Pick the ones worth expending your calorie quota on and forget the others. For if you must risk putting on a kilo or two this season, might as well ensure it’s worth it. Here are some deals we picked out for good food and good value.

Swissotel Stamford, Singapore – We adore the genius of the food at Jaan Par Andre despite its painful, perforate-me-with-a-fork pretentious name. Food here is fashionable, pretty, avant garde, monstrously clever, perfect for festivities, and totally not-doable in home kitchens. Look out for Chef Andre Chiang’s signature Lemon Sous Vide, lemon foam encased neatly in a deceptively glassy sheet of gelatine, and his other gorgeous dishes. A meal there is quite a roller coaster for the senses – visual, tactile, olfactory and all – plus you get a beautiful view from the top floor of Swissotel The Stamford. For first timers, go for his three course festive set lunch all December (except 25 and 26 Dec) at $58++. From Christmas Eve to boxing day, treat yourself to his 7-course degustation from $240++.

For dinky drinks, keep in mind the Tiger and Heineken Beer Bucket Special at Introbar at the Equinox Complex where a bucket of six bottled beers is going for $30++ throughout December. Upstairs at City Space, drink in the view of the skyline with a bottle of Moët & Chandon Brut Imperial Champagne at $75++ per bottle, and the Rose Imperial Champagne at $95++ per bottle on 24, 25 and 31 December, and 1 January. Enjoy live jazz, too. (Minimum spending of $150 applies for window seats; book early.)

2 Stamford Road

Tel: 65-6338 8585

The French Kitchen – Absolutely love it here, for the food, service and value at TFK is always seriously top notch. Time to feast up with their festive three course lunch (7-23 Dec and 27-30 Dec) at $48++, which also comes with amuse buche and sorbet and a choice of dishes for each course. Highlights include roulade of sea trout fillet, foie gras terrine and marinated venison, Angus beef tenderloin, slow-cooked duck leg confit and Champagne Savarin. For more profound indulgence, their four course Christmas Eve Lunch ($88++) and six course Christmas dinner (24 and 25 Dec at $118++) must be among the best value in town for fine dining. The latter features trio of Slow-poached hen’s egg, black truffle coulis and smoked duck breast, guinea fowl and roasted chestnuts, roasted venison saddle and citrus scented baby baba.

7 Magazine Road, #01-03 Central Mall

Tel: 65-6438 1823

Four Seasons Singapore – The hotel’s restaurant One Ninety also offers perfectly good value, plus it surrounds you in totally hushed plushness. For Christmas Eve and Christmas, it’s serving an indulgent five-course traditional dinner (S$98++ and S$136++ with wine pairing) with dishes like Slow Cooked Salmon Royal Fillet with Golden Caviar, Fennel and Clementine Salad; Foie Gras Terrine with Champagne Jelly; Hazelnut Brioche and Caramelized Calvados Apple, Lobster Ravioli with

Winter Truffle Broth, Traditional Roasted Turkey with Chestnut Stuffing, Sole Fillet with Baby Spinach, White Butter Sauce and Herbs and Chocolate Yule Log with Marron Glace, Prune and Brandy Sauce. What’s nice is, they think of the kids, too, rather than keep them as an afterthought. Small people 11 and below have a special 3-course meal at $45++. How sweet is that?!

But if you’re going to be turkeyed out, check out Jiang Nan Chun’s Birds Nest Brunch ($63++) – great for good ole Mom and Grandma (good for skin!)....and if she's been really really nice, maybe even...dare I say it?....the MIL! It’s an a la carte buffet arrangement offering 100 of Jiang‐Nan Chun’s most popular creations including dishes with bird’s nest in unlimited servings. Just be warned there are two seatings – 10:30 am - 12:30 pm, and 12:30 pm - 2:30 pm.

190 Orchard Boulevard

Reservations: JiangNan Chun Tel: 65-68317220;

OneNinety at Tel: 65-68317250

Ristorante Bologna, Marina Mandarin – I always like this restaurant for its lovely Italian food and excellent value. Sadly, it is either forgotten by the fashionable crowd, or mistaken for being highly expensive as it resides in a luxury hotel. But hear this – Ristorante Bologna offers some of the best Italian fare in town, and it is an award winning restaurant, too and well worth putting in your restaurants-to-do list. From 3-23 Dec, it’s serving a festive buffet with choice of a la carte main course ($46++ weekdays) and a four course set dinner at $68++ Monday to Saturday while on Christmas Eve, its six course dinner is priced at $98++. I don’t know what they are serving up, but from experience, it’s always worth every penny and calorie invested.

6 Raffles Boulevard

Marina Square

Tel: (65) 6845 1111

Email: diningexpress.mms@meritus-hotels.com