Christmas is definitely one of the best times to make merry with friends and family alike, and a scrumptious spread of a feast is something you absolutely cannot do without.

The time has come, once again, for the busiest yet most joyful period of the year! The holiday season is just around the corner, and we are sure that everyone is busy scrambling over presents, party arrangements as well as making Christmas dinner plans.

Are you racking your brains over where to have your Christmas dinner with your loved ones?

This year, Novotel Singapore on Stevens and Mercure Singapore on Stevens are pulling out all the stops to offer a series of dining options for the annual year-end celebrations from November to December 2018 to create a memorable Christmas for everyone.

Located on level 2 of the relatively new hotel is Food Exchange. Treat yourselves to their daily lunch buffet starting from $42++ and daily dinner buffet starting from S$68++ per adult,  while Fudebar’s Festive Takeaways offers free delivery for orders above S$200, if not otherwise is only S$30 regardless of location. To make this Christmas even sweeter, book before 14 December 2018 to enjoy 25% Early Bird Discount off Buffet at Food Exchange.

The team has prepared a sensational holiday spread that’s absolute value-for-money. Indulge in Food Exchange’s daily Festive Buffet lunch and dinner, with their 4 main special highlights available at Fudebar—Traditional Roast Turkey, Roast Ribeye Beef, Salmon Coulibiac and Honey Studded Gammon Ham.

You’ll also be glad to know that these highlights are also part of Fudebar’s Festive Takeaways, so you can host the perfect dinner in the comfort of your own home.

The restaurant boasts of a gorgeous, spacious interior that is perfect for gatherings with your loved ones, no matter how big or small the group. You can also opt for alfresco dining and enjoy the sights from their scenic infinity pool while you feast on their sumptuous buffet.

And as far as buffets are concerned, you can expect freshness, quality and variety offered. It encompasses all sorts of chef’s signatures that fuse together a medley of Singaporean, Indian, European cuisine and more. There are even fresh sashimi and seafood on ice and hot cooking stations that serve up a myriad of roasted meats, freshly made popiah and many many more.

HONEY STUDDED GAMMON HAM

Perhaps one of the biggest hunks of ham we’ve ever seen, this isn’t just any regular honey-baked ham. Each carved slice of ham is an honest chunk of goodness condensed in its purest form that even your kids would scramble to have more of. It comes along with garden vegetables, mashed potatoes and roasted pineapples for that pop of fresh sweetness.

Honey Studded Gammon Ham is also available for Festive Takeaways at S$88 nett.

ROAST RIBEYE BEEF

Like any other good feast, you can’t go wrong with beef. This 5kg roast can be considered a flavour powerhouse, bursting with its natural beef juices. Let your senses take flight with how tender it is with its gorgeously pink interior.

So, go on. Help yourself to as many slices as you can!

This Roast Ribeye Beef (approx. 5kg) served with garden vegetables, rosemary roasted potatoes, mash potatoes and natural jus is available for takeaway at $98 nett.

SALMON COULIBIAC

Salmon aficionados will definitely not want to miss out on Food Exchange’s amazing Salmon Coulibiac. A massive slab of fresh, moist salmon is encased in a perfectly crisp, golden-brown pastry and is baked to absolute perfection.

The salmon is accompanied by tarragon beurre blanc, garden vegetables as well as mashed potatoes.

The Salmon Coulibiac is also available for Festive Takeaways at S$98 nett.

TRADITIONAL ROAST TURKEY

Weighing in at approximately 6kg, this eye-catching table centrepiece is served with turkey stuffing, brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and turkey gravy. Be blown away by the incredibly moist and succulent roast turkey. If your mouth wasn’t already watering while watching the chef make a show out of carving the meat, a mouthful slathered with the hearty turkey jus would be enough to change your perception of dry turkey meat.

Traditional Roast Turkey is available for Festive Takeaways at S$128 nett.

HOT LINE

From North Indian tandoori selection with glorious chutneys and curries to local delights (including, but not limited to seafood stir-fry beehoon, chilli crab, satays and laksa), you’d be left spoilt for choice. We’d definitely recommend grabbing some of the Mutton Masala and Cereal Prawns for the ultimate feasting experience.

SEAFOOD ON ICE

If there’s an obvious indicator that accurately showcases the standard of a buffet restaurant, it would definitely be their live seafood offerings. In terms of the freshness and quality, Food Exchange is definitely not one to disappoint.

Tuck into a sizeable variety of crustaceans and shellfish from snow crabs, prawns, mussels and scallops, or help yourself to the salmon gravlax that’s presented next to a whole fresh salmon.

DESSERTS

Remember to save some space for their artisanal desserts, all of which are perfectly sized into tiny bite-sized portions so you can sample the entire lineup available. While they’ve got classics such as chocolate eclairs and cupcakes, the one you cannot do without has to be their durian with sponge cake, which was the most decadent way to end our meal with.

Suddenly Christmas feels too far away, and we completely understand that feeling. Fortunately, the wait isn’t long as both the Festive Takeaway and Festive Buffet start on the 15th of November and will go on till the 31st of December. Remember to book before 14th December 2018 to enjoy 25% Early Bird Discount off Buffet at Food Exchange as an extra Christmas gift to yourself.

Christmas doesn’t really get any better than this, so whether it’s to snag an eye-catching dinner centrepiece or to stuff yourself silly with so many enticing eats, you’d have to be crazy to pass off this opportunity.  So come and celebrate Christmas with Novotel Singapore on Stevens and Mercure Singapore on Stevens!

Fudebar Festive Takeaway
Period: 15th November 2018 – 31st December 2018

To order, email h9543-FB11@accor.com.

All prices are inclusive of service charge and government taxes. Delivery charge of $30 per location applies. Complimentary delivery for orders $200 and above. All orders must be made at least 24 hours in advance.

Food Exchange Festive Buffet
Period: 15th November 2018 – 1st January 2019

Weekday Buffet Lunch, Monday – Friday, 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm $42++
Saturday Buffet Lunch, Saturday, 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm $52++
Sunday Buffet Brunch, Sunday, 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm $88++

Daily Buffet Dinner, Monday – Sunday, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm $68++

Christmas Pricing
Christmas Eve Dinner, 24th December 2018, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm $88++
Christmas Eve Dinner, 24th December 2018, 8:30 pm – 10:30 pm $88++
Christmas Day Brunch, 25th December 2018, 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm $88++

New Year Pricing
New Year Eve Dinner, 31st December 2018, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm $98++
New Year Eve Dinner, 31st December 2018, 8:30 pm – 10:30 pm $98++
New Year Day Brunch, 1st January 2019, 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm $98++

To book a table, visit www.foodexchange.sg.

Food Exchange
Novotel Singapore on Stevens
28 Stevens Road
#01-01, Singapore 257878
Tel: +65 6491 6100
Nearest Station: Orchard/ Stevens

This post is brought to you by Novotel Singapore on Stevens and Mercure Singapore on Stevens. 

Sporting a fabulous, dimly-hued space with lots of warm lighting and greenery, Winestone is a wine lover’s oasis away from the hustle and bustle. The wine bar boasts its own wine retail store, restaurant and cocktail bar and prides itself on serving modern European dishes as well as affordable and delicious wines that serve to both complement the food and round out the experience.

When it comes to proper wining and dining, casual and comfortable are always the vibes that we go for—and immaculate service as well for that matter—, which is what makes Winestone our immediate go-to whenever we crave for good wine that won’t take too much of a toll on our bank accounts.

New to Winstone’s repertoire of food and wine offerings is their brand new 5-course gourmet Spanish Wine Pairing Dinner Menu that you can enjoy this festive season. An opportunity for any romantic looking to impress, the dinner menu comprises a host of Spanish classics as well as 5 different wines from Spain to accompany each course.

Priced at only S$98++ per pax (minimum 2 people to dine), it’s really a steal. And to make this dinner even more spectacular for you, we’re giving you an additional 20% off this menu from now until 28 Feb 2019. All you have to do is to quote ‘ladyironchef’ upon making your reservation to enjoy it!

Having undergone a series of intense tasting sessions, Winestone’s sommeliers have specially curated a very specific wine list for the menu, with one unique label served with each course. Every label presents its own unique style and flavour notes that not only serves to complement the dish that it’s served with but to also give guests a memorable wine drinking experience overall.

For expert wine drinkers, we reckon that you’ll be thoroughly impressed with their selection, and for novices like us, rest assured that your palate is in good hands.

JAMON IBERICO

Designed to ease the palate in, the Jamon Iberico—that consists of two fried eggs, bread topped with a house-made tomato jam and shavings of Jason iberico—is a roller coaster of tastes, textures and flavours.

First, you get the distinct saltiness and porky flavour from the Jamon Iberico, followed by the sweet, bright hit of the tomato jam and at the end, the richness from the fried egg. Accompanying the surprisingly heavy starter is a robust red from Spain that’s dry, has good tannins and sweet, fruity undertone—perfect for cutting through the rich flavours.

GAMBAS

Served on a stone tile is the Gambas, a deep-fried duo of crispy, battered prawns an and a cod brandade served with an aioli made using roasted peppers. A classic Spanish staple that consists of poached salted cod, olive oil and potatoes, their rendition is a great example of how simple and modest ingredients can be elevated.

The texture was smooth and the flavour of the cod was prominent. It was tasty enough on its own which rendered the aioli unnecessary for the most part and we especially loved its outer crust that was both light yet crunchy.

PAELLA

A twist on the classic seafood paella of Valencia, Spain, Winestone’s rendition truly takes it up a step—a rather bold step too, if we may add—by swopping spaghetti with the traditional Spanish short-grain bomba rice.

Cooked and served in a wide, shallow-based pan, the dish boasts a fragrant complexity of smoked paprika, saffron, parsley and fresh seafood and is delightful when enjoyed with the crisp, fruity white that accompanies it.

Every component was well executed from the delicate mussels to the fresh and plump, sweet prawns, yet, as much as we enjoyed the seafood components, there was something sorely lacking, and that was a paella’s signature socarrat, or in other words, the crusty layer that forms at the bottom of the pan.

We are huge fans of creativity and chefs who take risks, but perhaps doing without rice—a paella’s key ingredient—was pushing boundaries a tad much. If not for the deliciously fruity white that was served alongside it, we probably would not have been able to finish the entire dish.

ESTOFADOS DE CARNE

Steak or beef, in particular, is the ideal foil for a good red but as to which red best matches up to it, it really depends on how the beef is prepared.

The Estofados De Carne—essentially a Spanish beef and potato stew—served as one of the two main entrées in the menu is paired with Hado, a red from the Rioja region of Spain. Made with 100% Tempranillo grapes this style of wine has a tendency to be slightly higher in alcoholic strength but with good acid and tannins to cut through the intense fat and rich flavours well.

Allowed to simmer and reduce over a long period of time in a rich broth comprising beef stock and wine, the chunks of fork-tender beef developed a deep, dark brown sheen and a delicious complexity to it. Served atop a bed of roasted potatoes and topped with pickled jalapeños and dried chilli flakes, the dish was a delightful marriage of tastes and sensations that bolded well with the vino paired with it.

Just when we thought that we could rest our palates easy, especially after all the flavour-packed dishes prior, the dinner menu ends off with yet another bout of pure decadence.

Crispy on the outside, light and soft on the inside and generously covered with ground cinnamon and sugar, the Duo Creme Catalana With Churros is quite literally the only way—at Winestone at least—to end a meal properly. Accompanying the mammoth of a churro is a teacup-full of melted dark chocolate, a Spanish custard topped with blueberries and ice cream.

Served as the vino pairing of choice is the Zeta Cava Brut, a sparkling white that boasts fragrant aromas of citrus and apple. Fresh-tasting, crisp with small bubbles, the decadent edge of the dessert was instantly cut through, making for a pleasant, clean finish—a brilliant pairing.

Whether you’re looking to celebrate an anniversary, or simply to leave an impression on a first date, Winestone is probably one of the top places where you can take someone for a memorable wining and dining experience. And don’t forget to quote ‘ladyironchef’ to enjoy a further 20% off your bill from now until 28 Feb 2019—exclusively for our dear readers!

Winestone
Mercure Singapore on Stevens
30 Stevens Road, #01-09
Singapore 257840
Tel: +65 6491 6100
Website: www.winestone.com.sg
(Closed on Sundays)
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 12am (bar snacks are served after 10pm)
Nearest Station: Stevens / Orchard

This post was brought to you by Winestone. 

A restaurant, boutique wine bar and wine retail store all rolled out into one, Winestone—located in Mercure Singapore on Stevens—is a new kid in town that we love. It makes a perfect hangout venue for lovers of good food, better wine and swanky interiors.

As far as proper wining and dining is concerned, this bar and bottle shop has all your needs covered. Expect quality wines to set you back not more than S$10 a glass to S$42 a bottle. Not only that, the restaurant also dishes out Mediterranean platters that pair excellently with your vino of choice.

We particularly love the Winestone Express Platter that has it all from cured cold cuts, cheeses, olives, bread and even a glass of either white or red wine thrown in for good measure, but charcuterie and cheeses aside, the restaurant also boasts an extensive lunch and dinner menu that sees flavours and culinary techniques stemming from all corners of the Mediterranean from Italy all the way to Egypt.

Our readers can quote ‘ladyironchef’ to enjoy ladyironchef’s Set Dinner that includes a starter, 2 mains and 2 glasses of house pour wines at only S$90++.

Among the many swanky looking bars and restaurants nestled within the Steven’s Road enclave, this is quite possibly the most inviting and cosy one of the lot.

The warm hues, high ceilings, and low and slow music in the background all make for one heck of an intimate wining and dining experience.

3-COURSE LUNCH SETS

If you ever run out of lunch options in town, then allow Winestone’s lunch set to take you on a Mediterranean trip. At just S$35++, you get to enjoy a starter, a main and a dessert of which you can pick and choose from their lunch menu.

To start, we ordered the Falafel, Hummus, Minted Yoghurt, Olives, Semi-Dried Tomatoes (S$14++). Inanely crispy and brimming with a cumin-packed aroma, this spiced Middle-Eastern starter comes highly recommended.

To properly stand up against the spicy qualities of our starter, we got the 200g Grain-Fed Roasted Beef Fillet, Mashed Potato, Portobello, Charred Beans and Mushroom Sauce (S$30++). Properly seared on the outside and pink in the middle, the beef was tender with a prominent flavour coming through that was only made better with the umami-packed mushroom sauce.

Our dessert of choice for our lunch set was the Churros, Chocolate Sauce (S$12++). Served with bits of fresh fruit, whipped cream and chocolate, these golden nuggets of fried dough no doubt hit the spot.

For a truly seafood-oriented combination, go for the Pan-Seared Scallops, Chorizo, Crushed Peas (S$16++) to start with, followed by the Pan-Seared Seabass, Prawn Kataifi, Green Beans, Pesto and Tomato Shellfish Broth (S$26++).

The flavours were clean and delicate but still packed serious flavours. We particularly enjoyed the slices of chorizo that gave our starter some heat and a salty kick.

For dessert, we highly recommend the Catalane Tart, Berries, Lemon Sorbet (S$14) that promises a refreshing, zesty appeal that does well to balance out the palate.

Another main option that deserves a mention is the Rigatoni Pasta, Sun-Dried Tomato, Grilled Zucchini and Eggplants, Pomodoro, Parmigano (S$25++) that sees a gorgeous medley of colourful components perfect for a photo.

From the crunch of almonds, the soft, tender veggies to the slightly chewy al dente pasta, this dish is truly a treat to behold that marries both texture and taste wonderfully. We liked that the pesto flavour was kept relatively mild to allow the individual flavours to shine through.

LADYIRONCHEF EXCLUSIVE SET DINNER

As mentioned, our readers can quote ‘ladyironchef’ to enjoy a starter, 2 mains and 2 glasses of house pour wines at only S$90++.

The set dinner consists of an appetiser of homemade Hummus With Lebanese Bread (S$8++), two mains—the Cataplana (S$24++) and the 150 Days Grain-Fed MS2+ Beef Tenderloin (250g) (S$87++)—as well as 2 glasses of wine.

If you are craving for seafood, then we are pretty sure the Cataplana is perfect for you. It comes with squid, mussels, clams, tomatoes and capsicums that swim in a thick and hearty seafood broth.

Or if you are a die-hard carnivore like us, then the beef tenderloin—that features foie gras, asparagus, vine tomatoes and a punchy green peppercorn sauce—will have you smiling from ear to ear.

WINESTONE EXPRESS PLATTER FOR ONE

From the bright, salty notes of the pitted olives to the robust, meaty qualities of the cured meats, these items play a fundamental role in allowing one to truly savour the subtle yet complex notes of wine.

The Winestone Express Platter (S$22++) is served promptly in under 15 minutes—perfect for all you hungry and impatient diners—and comes with a mixture of cold cuts, cheeses, olives, bread and a glass of wine.

But these aren’t your typical store-bought nibbles, we’re talking about the Rolls Royce of charcuterie and cheeses here—from Jamon Iberico De Cebo, Brie De Meaux and more!

GRASS-FED ROASTED LAMB RACK (200G)

Another red meat option that you can consider is the Grass-Fed Roasted Lamb Rack (200g) (S$52++). Served with eggplant prepared in two ways, pomegranate, mint and salsa verde, this supposedly gamey meat is given a lift of freshness that works surprisingly well.

But of course, what better way to complement the dish than a glass of vino to truly round out those intense meaty qualities?

PELLEGRINO PIZZA

Great for sharing, the restaurant also brings to the table a taste of Italy in the form of the nation’s iconic pies. We sampled the Pellegrino Pizza (S$28++) and we can swear by the food gods that this was possibly one of the best renditions ever.

Although it lacked the traditional thin crust, we liked that the dough was fluffy yet crispy around the edges and the amount of toppings that went on this pie is by no means stingy. With every bite comes a medley of tastes from salty prosciutto, creamy mozzarella, briny olives and fresh basil.

Winestone’s concept revolves around the keywords: simple, attractive, authentic and affordable, so one thing you can probably expect is quality wines at affordable prices, from S$10 for a glass and S$42 for a bottle.

Wine lovers will be spoiled for choice with so many different bottles to choose from, from well-known vineyards to some lesser known regions and appellations across Europe.

Whether it’s a robust red or a crisp, bright white, there is bound to be a vino you will love.

Time to round up your best pals or even that special someone and make a trip down to Winestone! We promise you that the tummy fillers here are anything but boring and the wines are even better.

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Winestone

Mercure Singapore on Stevens
30 Stevens Road, #01-09
Singapore 257840
Tel: +65 6491 6100
Website: www.winestone.com.sg
(Closed on Sundays)
Monday to Saturday: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 12am (bar snacks are served after 10pm)
Nearest Station: Stevens MRT and Orchard MRT
Bus Number: 105, 132, 190, 972

Book a table: https://bit.ly/2GKKNBa

This post was brought to you by Winestone.