• Interviews
  • Fashion & Watches
  • Gourmet & Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Next Gen
  • Events
  • Interviews
  • Fashion & Watches
  • Lifestyle
  • Events
  • Gourmet & Travel
  • The Peak Exclusives
    • The Peak Power List
    • The Peak Next Gen
Subscribe Now!
  • Also available at:
Privacy Menu 1
SPH Magazine

MCI (P) 064/11/2022. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No. 202120748H. Copyright © 2023 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.

  • Interviews
  • Fashion & Watches
  • Gourmet & Travel
  • Lifestyle
  • Next Gen
  • Events

Gourmet & Travel

Sommelier’s Choice: Butcher Block’s N. Faizal shares wine tips and picks for Christmas

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Gourmet & Travel

Sommelier’s Choice: Butcher Block’s N. Faizal shares wine tips and picks for Christmas

N. Faizal, Sommelier & Restaurant Manager at Butcher’s Block in Raffles Hotel Singapore shares his favourite ways to enjoy the year-end festive season with wine.

by Kenneth SZ Goh  /   December 8, 2022
N. Faizal Restaurant Manager and Sommelier butchers block raffles hotel

Photo: Raffles Hotel Singapore

Working in the restaurant industry during the year-end festive season can be hectic as most people are eager to wind down with convivial gatherings. Having worked as a Sommelier for seven years, N. Faizal, Sommelier and Restaurant Manager at wood-fire restaurant Butcher’s Block in Raffles Hotel Singapore knows better and appreciates festive get-togethers with his colleagues.

He says: “Having a proper sit-down meal with my fellow colleagues and chefs, who are part of your restaurant family, is one of my favourite memories of the Christmas season. It’s one of the most special times in the year, where we gather round, eat and drink wine to our heart’s content, creating meaningful moments.”

https://www.thepeakmagazine.com.sg/gallery/gourmet-travel/sommeliers-choice-christmas-wine-tips-and-picks-n-faizal-butchers-block-raffles-hotel/
Sommelier’s Choice: Butcher Block's N. Faizal shares wine tips and picks for Christmas
image

Prior to working at the heritage hotel, Faizal honed his craft at several renowned establishments overseas including the one-Michelin-starred Le Cigalon in Switzerland, the Australian embassy in Jakarta, and the Mouton Cadet Wine Bar, which is part of the Cannes Film Festival.

Getting into the festive spirit at Butcher’s Block, Faizal has selected the 2015 Chateau Musar from Lebanon by the glass to complement the multi-sensory dining experience of smoking, roasting and grilling meat and seafood over the fire in a menu by Chef de Cuisine Jordan Keao. He shares his tips and picks for wines to celebrate Christmas with.

Butcher's Block
image

What’s your favorite wine to bring to a Christmas dinner party?

Champagne! I believe you can never go wrong with a good bottle of Champagne. It is perfect for any occasion and there is something about the fizz that never ceases to put me in a good mood.

What’s your favourite Christmas food and wine pairing?

It is an earthy styled Pinot Noir either from Burgundy or New Zealand, which does justice to a plate of smoked ham. The Smoked Western Plains ham from Australia at Butcher’s Block is served alongside a preserved lemon gribiche, and creates a perfect marriage of flavours when paired with a bold Pinot Noir.

Best tip for serving wines at a Christmas party at home?

This is the time you can whip out your fancy glasses at home! Do make sure you give them a good wash and polish first though.

It’s time for desserts at a Christmas party. What is your go-to wine?

I would go for Sauternes (French sweet wine) or Port wine. Another option is a simple bottle of Maury from the Roussillon wine region in France. The Mas Amiel AOC Maury is a great selection as it reminds me of a dark black forest cake in glass.

All I want a wine for Christmas is…

Whatever wine that is gifted to me. The more wines the merrier!

Read Next

Chef Guillaume Galliot on pairing wine with cuisine at the Wine Pinnacle Awards

Why Japan's koshu wine is getting more popular

The Mascot wine tells the story of Napa Valley winemaking royalty

PeakMonogram

Alain Julien/AFP
  • TAGS:
  • Butcher's Block
  • Christmas 2022
  • Raffles Hotel
  • Sommelier
  • Tips
  • Wine
SHARE THIS ON

Trending

Gourmet & Travel

The best new resorts in Southeast Asia in 2023

Gourmet & Travel

The best bread baskets in Singapore's top restaurants 2023

Gourmet & Travel

The best salt-baked chicken in Singapore

Gourmet & Travel

Le Matin Patisserie expands to bistro fare to go with its famous ...

Gourmet & Travel

Foodie Holiday: Chef Tristin Farmer’s food guide to Bangkok

Gourmet & Travel

Travel 2023: The best tourism villages for your next holiday

Gourmet & Travel

New York for foodies: 4 must-visit Italian eateries in 2023

Gourmet & Travel

Why Champagne Bollinger is renowned for its Blanc de Noir champag...

Gourmet & Travel

Valentine's Day 2023 for 5 types of foodies

Gourmet & Travel

How this top Swiss hospitality school trains tomorrow's hoteliers...

Gourmet & Travel

Valentine’s Day for foodies: 5 romantic fine-dining restaurants t...

Gourmet & Travel

Travel 2023: The best places to visit for Spring flower blooms in...

Editor’s Picks
  • Gourmet & Travel The best new resorts in Southeast Asia in 2023
  • Gourmet & Travel The best bread baskets in Singapore's top restaurants 2023
  • Gourmet & Travel The best salt-baked chicken in Singapore
  • Gourmet & Travel Le Matin Patisserie expands to bistro fare to go with its famous French pastries
  • Gourmet & Travel Foodie Holiday: Chef Tristin Farmer’s food guide to Bangkok
  • Gourmet & Travel Travel 2023: The best tourism villages for your next holiday
Newsletter Subscribe
Enjoy in-depth interviews from business leaders, profiles on Singapore's movers and shakers,
sharp commentary, and more in your inbox every week.

Will be used in accordance with our Privacy Statement
Footer Menu
  • About Us
  • ADVERTISE WITH US
  • Contact
  • CONDITIONS OF ACCESS
  • PDPA
  • PRIVACY POLICY
SPH Media

MCI (P) 064/11/2022. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No. 202120748H. Copyright © 2023 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.