Festive feasts with local twists available even after Dec 25

SINGAPORE - It's holiday time, so why not enjoy it till the new year!

York Hotel is offering its takeaway Masala turkey till January 1. Borrowing the recipe from the popular Masala chicken of famous Soon Heng Curry Fish Head, the roast turkey is served with the slightly spicy and sweetish Masala sauce that usually accompanies the smaller bird, a dish from its 'treasured dishes of Singapore' menu at White Rose Cafe.

Milder in taste than the South Indian masala chicken, it's unlikely to turn your whole clan into cry babies.

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After the closure of the curry fish head institution in Little India after several decades in operation, the Soon Heng restaurant chef joined York Hotel and added their famous signatures to the hotel's menu.

You can also order the fish head curry too as a takeaway.

Thickened with coconut milk and fried grated coconut and piquant with the tang of tamarind, the curry should appeal to all in the family. It's not ferociously spicy, so you can slurp up the sauce. But the faint-hearted might still feel the peppery sting.

Also good are Soon Heng's Black Ink Squids. It's quite addictive so get a pile of rice ready.

Sick of too much Western flavours this season?

Then celebrate with at York Hotel's Penang hawkers buffet - on till January 1 at the White Rose Cafe at the hotel. Enjoy street favourites from the Penang hawkers like Char Kway Teow, Prawn Mee soup, Cuttlefish Kangkong, Oyster Omelette and crispy Ban Chiang Kueh.

For Christmas orders and the Penang buffet details, visit: http://yorkhotel.com.sg/promotions.aspx or call White Rose Cafe at +65 6830 1156

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Over at Marina Mandarin Hotel, local flavours also partner traditional Western spread at its Aquamarine and Peach Blossoms restaurants.

At Aquamarine, the festive meals highlight a Peranakan turkey that should please Baba and Bibik and fans of Straits Chinese cuisine.

Not to be outdone, the Cantonese chef at the hotel's Peach Blossoms has come up with a Chinese-style Smoked Turkey and Drunken Turkey that have received murmurs approvals from food writers at tastings.

The Smoked Turkey is delectably braised in soya sauce, wine and spices - something akin to the Cantonese Soya-Sauce Chicken. The chilli and spring-onion dips are delicious but the turkey is already delicious on its own.

Following the same recipe for Drunken Chicken, the Drunken Turkey surprises with a good balance of flavourings. The boozy Hua Tiao flavour is delightfully discernible but doesn't knock you out. 

If you prefer to dine-in, these turkeys are available at the restaurant this Christmas and New Year.

Peach Blossoms' 7-course Christmas menu showcases the Smoked and Drunken Turkey, as well as Roasted Turkey Roll  with Chilled Smoked Duck Breast, Meat Salad with Mixed Fruits and festive Log Cake with Chilled Puree of Avocado and topped with Almond Flakes. 

It is available on December 24 – 25, 2013. Minimum of 2 persons is needed at a table to enjoy this feast. Priced at $98++ (with complimentary bottle of red/white wine) or at $138++ (with complimentary half bottle of champagne)

For reservations, please go to http://www.peachblossoms.com.sg/peach-blossoms/reservations


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Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve at Peach Blossoms

Although the theme is Nutcracker Toy Soldiers, Chinese flavours still rule at the revelry on Christmas Eve.

Start with Chilled Smoked Duck Breast Meat Salad with Mixed Fruits, before making your way to the Pan-seared Kurobuta Pork Strip with Superior Soya Sauce, Steamed Rice with Diced Foie Gras and Turkey.

Count down to the new year with gourmet calories like Marinated Turkey Roll with Superior Soya Sauce matched with Deep-fried Prawn coated with Cheese; Pan-seared Chicken Chop in Roasted Sesame Dressing accompanied with Asparagus; and Poached rice with Seafood in Chicken Bouillon served with Multigrain Crispy Rice.

At the stroke of midnight, step out to enjoy a spectacular drop of balloons in the atrium.

For dining reservations, click here http://www.peachblossoms.com.sg/peach-blossoms/reservations

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Beef attack

Hate birds for year-end festivities, check out Royal Plaza On Scotts' handsome Beef Ribs glazed with the chef's lip-smacking, tangy and savoury BBQ sauce. The slow-roasted beef is cooked till tender while retaining a meaty bite.

It is available for takeaway and is highlighted on Carousel buffet restaurant's festive spread too (on rotation with other roasts). The roast turkey is a mainstay during the season and is good too.

The festive spread boasts both Asian and Western fare. Popular with fans are the fresh oysters, seafood like the lobsters, 'torched' sushi, Western dishes, roasts and French pastries.

Carousel restaurant is again picked as a top restaurant for buffet in AsiaOne People's Choice Awards, which will be presented in 2014. 

If you like this restaurant, you can vote for it at: http://web.asiaone.com/a1/PCA2014/vote.html

- chenj@sph.com.sg