Christmas goodies with a local twist to excite even the most jaded palates

As the familiar sound of jingles fills the air, the holiday season we all look forward to beckons.

Yet, we find ourselves in a common conundrum: What type of Christmas food should we order?

If like us, you feel that the usual Western dishes are getting old, and crave something fresh to titillate your jaded palate, here are some of our top choices for Christmas foods with a local flavour:

Percik-style Roast Turkey

Hotel Jen has put a spin on the traditional Western roasted turkey with an "ayam percik"-style offering, making use of spices such as turmeric, cumin, coriander and lemongrass.

What's more, each 5kg to 6kg bird comes with five sides like prawn and green mango salad, crab claws in Ah Hoi's chilli crab sauce, Asian-style stuffing, crabmeat fried rice, roasted root vegetables and brussels sprouts, and even a dessert in the form of a chilled mango and pomelo soup with gula melaka. Portions are enough to feed 10-12 persons, and all for $198. What a steal!

Price: $198 for the Asian Roasted Turkey-Percik style
Where: Hotel Jen Tanglin Singapore
When: Nov 24 - Dec 31

Turkey Masala

For those who hold a penchant for stronger, bolder flavours, the Turkey Masala is definitely for you.

This Northern Indian-inspired dish comes with a marinated minced chicken stuffing with mint and cashew nuts, and sides like jeera pulao (cumin rice), vegetable kurma, and a thick tomato butter sauce to slather all over the meat. If you're thinking of hosting a party, rest assured that this turkey (good for 5 to 6 pax) is also Halal-certified.

Price: $155 (4.5 - 5.5kg)
Where: Gourmet Carousel, Royal Plaza on Scotts
When: Dec 1 - Dec 25, 11am to 9pm

Ee-fu Noodles and Canton Wok-fried Claypot Rice

Westin's all-day dining restaurant, Seasonal Tastes, has unveiled a mouth-watering menu for this festive season, and at the top of the list are all-time favourite Chinese dishes of Ee-fu Noodles and Claypot Rice.

Combining local and western flavours, the Ee-fu Noodles are specially braised with sliced roast turkey, wild mushrooms, with a fragrant touch of truffle oil, decadent and delicious.

The Canton Wok-fried Claypot Rice is made with smoked country ham, assorted seafood, asparagus, and spiced walnuts, giving the typical Asian dish an extraordinary twist.

Price: $68 (serves 8-10)
Where: The Westin Singapore, Daily Treats, Level 1, collection between 10am - 11am and 3pm - 4pm
When: Dec 1 - Dec 31

Peranakan Roast Turkey

For those with Peranakan roots or who enjoy Nyonya delicacies, this turkey may be the perfect choice for you.

Besides being marinated with nyonya spices for 24 hours, the turkey is also filled with a unique Buah Keluak Polenta raisin stuffing that is sure to evoke a sense of nostalgia as you feast with your loved ones.

Price: $108.80 (5kg)
Where: Collection from Jack's Place Outlets, order online at http://eatzi.com.sg/catering/festive2016.php
When: Nov 1 - Jan 1

Read also: 'Tis the season for sweet and savoury

Durian Yule Log Cake

Calling all durian lovers - The Durian Yule Log Cake offered by AquaMarine at Marina Mandarin is a dessert you will never want to miss. This vanilla sponge filled and coated with copious amounts of pulpy durian mousse will certainly satiate the palates of durain aficionados.

Price: $65 (1kg)
Where: Marina Mandarin hotel, order and collection at Cafe Mocha (Lobby), from 10am to 7pm
When: Nov 21 - Dec 25

Salted Egg Chicken Floss Yule Log Cake

The salted egg yolk trend shows no signs of abating, with many restaurants islandwide designing new dishes to satisfy the cravings of salted egg yolk lovers.

The Pine Garden is no exception. Its fluffy Vanilla sponge roll is filled with a rich salted egg and custard cream mixture and enhanced with mildly spiced chicken floss to create a distinct flavour.

Price: $38.70 (0.8kg), $58.50 (1.2kg), $117 (2.4kg)
Where: The Pine Garden (Ang Mo Kio), order online at https://www.pgcake.com/products/salted-egg-chicken-floss-log-482
When: Nov 14 - Dec 27

Read also: The best Christmas log cake promotions in Singapore this 2016

Pandan Kaya Yule Log Cake

Inspired by the local favourite from our childhood, Pandan Kaya cake, Swissotel Merchant Court has introduced a new Christmas special - the Pandan Kaya Yule log cake. The kaya filling complements the pandan flavour perfectly, creating a warm and homely feeling. This flawless combination is bound to tantalise your tastebuds.

Price: $65 (1kg)
Where: Ellenborough Market Cafe, Swissotel Merchant Court
When: Nov 16 - Dec 26

Calamansi log cake

Forget conventional log cakes, because Pan Pacific is offering a unique log cake experience with a refreshing twist this Christmas.

Specially catered to Singaporeans seeking a more localised take on traditional confectioneries, the fresh calamansi flavour, well complemented by coconut cremeux and pandan sponge, will certainly satisfy the pickiest of taste buds.

Price: $72.80 (1kg)
Where: Pacific Marketplace, Pan Pacific hotel
When: Nov 18 - Dec 26

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