The Square Restaurant Novotel Tasting Session - Christmas 2015
177A River Valley Road
#07-00 Novotel Clarke Quay Singapore Hotel
Opening Hours:
Daily: 6am - 10:30am (breakfast),
12pm - 2:30pm (lunch),
6pm - 10pm (dinner)
http://www.novotelclarkequay.com/dining_viewItem_41-en.html
This was an invited media review. I did not pay for the meal during the free hosted tasting session.
Your Christmas Story 2015
(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 7
Ambience & Setting: 8
Food & Beverage: 8
Service: 7
Value for Money: 7
Budget about SGD $64 ++ per person.
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Returned to the The Square Restaurant Novotel at Clarke Quay for their "Your Christmas Story 2015", a sumptuous buffet spread with a selection of international and local specialities! Held from 1st December 2015 to 3rd January 2016 at The Square Restaurant Novotel, expect to feast on festive delights such as roast turkey, honey baked ham, lamb rack, apple strudel, and more!
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| Christmas House Of Treats |
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| Santa Claus Cup Sock |
The Stollen Bread is baked fresh in-house, and closely resembles the traditional German version of Weihnachtsstollen. Studded with dried fruit and coated with icing sugar, this sweet fruit bread works as an appetizer, or as a dessert!
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| Stollen Bread |
I remember that talented Head Pastry Chef Siak made incredibly delicious desserts during my last visit. The Passion Fruit Cake is just as tasty, with a moist, soft vanilla sponge cake, layered with sweet and fruity passion fruit, topped with fresh mango and strawberries that lend a tart, sour sweet flavour. Good!
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| Passion Fruit Cake |
I had this in the form of a Kueh the last time, and the balance and flavours of the Pandan Kaya / Screwpine Leaf & Coconut Egg Jam Cake is just right. The cake has that moist, soft texture, and the yummy floral pandan kaya / screwpine leaf & coconut egg jam taste is sweet with a slight sticky texture. Lovely.
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| Pandan Kaya / Screwpine Leaf & Coconut Egg Jam Cake |
The Lamb Rack In Rosemary Jus is fork tender with a savoury sweet flavour, a floral aroma from the rosemary jus, but a slight gamey taste. Sliced a little thin for my liking, I would have preferred a thick cut. Decent in taste, add a dollop of mint sauce for greater flavour.
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| Lamb Rack In Rosemary Jus |
The Grilled Pumpkin was tender and sweet, with a slight smoky flavour from grilling. Great taste, but boring and one-note if eaten on its own, it's best paired with savoury dishes.
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| Grilled Pumpkin |
The Roast Turkey is hand carved, and the meat borders between moist and dry. With a choice of 8 different condiments and sauces to enhance the flavour, you can have it sweet, savoury, or spicy!
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| Roast Turkey |
The Waldorf Salad is so fresh, with an excellent array of textures! Love the varying degrees of crunchy lettuce, walnuts, and apples! I appreciate that it's light on mayonnaise dressing, which helps keep it light on the palate.
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| Waldorf Salad |
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| Waldorf Salad |
The chilled Potato Salad features large slices of potato, sweet raisins and cranberries, and crunchy diced cucumber and walnuts. Nice texture of soft against crunchy.
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| Potato Salad |
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| Potato Salad |
The chilled Smoked Chicken & Orange Salad was nice! The thin, tender slices of chicken are moist from the orange juice, and have a hint of tea smoked flavour with a savoury and slightly earthy taste.
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| Smoked Chicken & Orange Salad |
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| Smoked Chicken & Orange Salad |
The Christmas Canapes will be passed around to diners during their meal. The Smoked Salmon With Chipotle Mayo has tender slices of salmon fish, coated in a tangy, spicy sour chipotle mayonnaise sauce. The well executed Grilled Tuna With Teriyaki Sauce is savoury and meaty, with the fish flesh coming off easily, and has a hint of sweetness from the teriyaki sauce, garnished with sesame seeds. The Watermelon With Feta Cheese is juicy and fresh, while the feta cheese lends a savoury earthy taste that coats the palate along with the watermelon juice. Overall, all 3 were above average in taste.
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| Christmas Canapes |
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| Smoked Salmon With Chipotle Mayo |
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| Grilled Tuna With Teriyaki Sauce |
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| Watermelon With Feta Cheese |
The tasty and savoury Grilled Ham, Grilled Pineapple is decently executed. The pineapple is juicy, with a hint of smoky flavour from grilling. The honey baked ham is studded with cloves, and the thick slices have a meaty, satisfiying chew, savoury with a hint of sweetness.
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| Grilled Ham, Grilled Pineapple |
Loved the excellent Apple Strudel, with its crisp, flaky puff pastry, and generous stuffing of sweet, caramelised diced apples within! Tasty, makes for a great dessert. Highly recommended!
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| Apple Strudel |
The hand made Quattro Formaggi Pizza features a thin yet chewy pizza dough base that's made in-house. Topped with 4 types of cheese, it can get rather filling!
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| Quattro Formaggi Pizza |
Be sure to catch the "Your Christmas Story 2015" festive buffet spread at the The Square Restaurant Novotel, from 1st December 2015 to 3rd January 2016, and be spoilt for choice with its wide array of Christmas favourites!
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 Reserve a table now @ The Square Restaurant Novotel |
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