Food

Along with the log cake and turkey, the festive ham is another must-have dish during Christmas. The huge chunk – usually pork but may also be chicken or turkey – is either wet or dry cured and may or may not be smoked. There are many variations of ham available and all are generally considered acceptable for Christmas. There have also been deviations from the original honey-glazed hams. Some restaurants and hotels have rolled out hams with a local flair for instance, and I’ve aimed to list some of the noteworthy ones down below.

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Few other things are as evocative of the leisurely life as spending the afternoon socializing with friends and family over scones, cakes and finger sandwiches laid out nicely on a three-tier stand. Afternoon teas have only increased in popularity following the new normal as more folks take it slow and focus more on personal wellness. 

In this article, I try to show all the updated afternoon tea offerings at the moment. For the month of November and December, some hotels are starting to roll out their Christmas-themed afternoon tea promotions.

As WFH becomes less common, afternoon teas are reverting to their original place as mainly weekend affairs so it is advisable to book ahead if you wish to come on a Saturday or Sunday. Weekday seatings are usually not booked out, but it is advisable to check ahead as there are hotels that have made their afternoon tea sets available only on weekends.

You can also join our telegram channel here and receive updates on NEW afternoon tea offerings, exclusive promotions not found anywhere else as well as other F&B flash deals.

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As the F&B scene in Singapore evolves, I have witnessed how many high-end restaurants have resorted to offering abridged versions of their tasting menus or even ala-carte versions. terra Tokyo Italian is one of those venues, having recently launched their more accessible ala carte dinner menus as well as lunch sets that start from just S$45. I visited terra after a year to check out the new menu, prepared by their new chef – Shozo Sugano – who had trained in Italy for 8 years.

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Dining at Ki-sho isn’t merely about eating—it’s an immersion into kappo-style omakase, where every course unfolds like a scene in a poetic performance. New Chef Taro Takayama’s new 9-course dinner menu (S$360++) is a study in transformation and transience, channeling the Japanese philosophy of mujo—impermanence. I return to Ki-sho after 8 months to check out how the venue has evolved. This time, I discover how each dish flows naturally into the next, capturing fleeting moments through seasonal ingredients, delicate textures and restrained yet emotional presentation.

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Visiting Restaurant Jag after 3 years, in its current space at the second floor of STPI, I could not help but immediately make the comparisons with its previous Duxton Road incarnation. The previous one was cozy, even tiny and as it was in a heritage shophouse, it was also rather dim. That is such a contrast from the Restaurant Jag of today. After moving to Robertson Quay in 2023, the new space – while still in a heritage shophouse, takes up the corner unit with plenty of windows for diners to gaze out and admire views of the Singapore River. 

As a Michelin-starred restaurant, the venue has all the trappings that this title suggests – beautiful interiors, a well thought-out menu by Executive Chef Laurence Tan and superb service. The latter is especially admirable and I have to say, even within the sphere of Michelin-starred restaurants, Jag is probably at another level when it comes to anticipating guests’ needs. Again, I was impressed by how the staff remembered all my dietary restrictions during the course of the meal. They’d also notice how I devoured (or didn’t) each course and would ask for my feedback whenever there was a dish that I did not seem to like as much as the others. No words from me but they had an uncanny way of telling. 

During this particular dinner at Restaurant Jag, I had their Grand Dinner Tasting Menu which had 14 “experiences” in all – consisting of full-fledge courses plus palate cleansers along the way. Restaurant Jag’s Autumn Tasting Menu is an elegant journey through seasonal produce, executed with finesse and a sense of storytelling.

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Most Singapore residents love a good omakase and the proliferation of venues serving this multi-course Japanese meal attests to that. When it comes to great omakase places, restaurants like Shinji, Ki-sho and Sushi Jiro easily come to mind. For those on a budget and looking for cheap omakase options on the other hand, names like Ryo Sushi and Teppei often pop up. 

I have tried my fair share of omakase in Singapore and after some time, I realized you don’t really need to go to those familiar names to enjoy a great meal. Without further ado, I present some of my favorite restaurants which are relatively under-the-radar. Some are new, others have been around for ages but they are all not as popular as the big names despite having great propositions in their own right. 

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Hidden within the confines of the lush Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree, Forage is a new restaurant offering an immersive harvest-to-table menu that is perhaps apt for the location – surrounded almost completely by a lake and the dense Singapore jungle. Helmed by Chef de Cuisine Marcus Tan who has come from restaurants such as Lerouy and St. Pierre, the cuisine in Forage is decidedly Asian but with a western touch in terms of preparation and plating.

mandai rainforest resort

A visit to the 40-seater restaurant is quite an adventure in itself as it is located at the northern edge of the same peninsula that houses other attractions such as Singapore Zoo and Night Safari. Once one enters the resort, the hustle and bustle that is usually associated with being in Singapore disappears and instead, one is greeted by greenery everywhere as well as the sight of the Upper Seletar Reservoir. I truly cannot think of another more tranquil place to dine.

dining area of forage, mandai rainforest resort

The venue itself is situated at a high point to allow guests to fully appreciate views of the reservoir as well as the jungle beyond. Seats are situated in a way that all will allow for full or partial facing to the window. If I do have any gripes though, it’s that of the presence of circular shapes on the window panel which somehow prevents one from getting a truly unobstructed view. But I suppose those circles are there to prevent people, or perhaps birds, from accidentally bumping on the glass.

Guests can choose a 5-course Discovery Menu (S$138) or an 8-course Experience Menu (S$198), both beginning with warm house-made bread, butter and playful amuse-bouches. Courses highlight the best of land and sea—think delicately balanced flavors, fragrant oils, and garnishes of thyme, rosemary, ginger flower, lemon basil and pandan harvested just steps away. Even the often-discarded parts of vegetables find purpose here, transformed into flavorful stocks and sauces. For this particular occasion, I had the 5-course menu.

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Located amongst the lush greenery of Dempsey Hill, Torno Subito brings a playful, Italian coastal vibe to Singapore’s dining scene. Part of celebrity chef Massimo Bottura’s international portfolio, this restaurant channels the spirit of a classic Italian trattoria with a modern twist. Its retro-inspired decor, open kitchen and lively atmosphere make it a conducive spot for both casual gatherings and special celebrations. Torno Subito’s menu focuses on approachable yet inventive dishes, often blending Italian tradition with local flavors in unexpected ways. In that sense, one should not come here expecting the usual Italian classics. 

I came here during a Saturday evening. I was amazed by the expansive space – something that few, if at all, Italian restaurants in Singapore possess. Both sides of the restaurants were flanked by columns that reached out to the high ceiling. Blues and reds permeated the restaurant’s interiors, with a few art works here and there adding a nice touch. For this particular occasion, I tried dishes from their revamped ala carte menu. 

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