Where to find the best Christmas turkeys for your year-end parties and gatherings

Nothing brings about more Yuletide joy than a warm and intimate party with your family and friends at home, while enjoying a grand and delicious meal. And what’s a Christmas party without some hearty festive nosh? It goes without saying that you’ll need the grande dame of all Christmas feasts, the turkey, to be the centrepiece to your dining table. With so many options available for you to take home, we suss out a few unique picks that will not only sate appetites, but impress your guests as well.

Claypot rice roast turkey
The good ol’ comforting claypot rice gets a Christmas makeover in this intriguing concoction by SPRMRKT. Everything you love about this smoky and hearty dish — the fragrant and crispy claypot rice, sweet lap cheong (Chinese sausage), shiitake mushrooms and salted fish — is stuffed into a turkey which is then roasted to crisp perfection. It’ll be a delightful surprise when you carve it open. Of course, for the conventional types, there’s the Traditional Roast Turkey with choice of stuffing – wild rice with Kurobuta pork sausage or spicy harissa chicken sausage with bread crumbs and raisins. All turkeys are served with a rich house-made turkey jus and cranberry sauce. Still longing for more meat? Get the succulent Roast Beef, which is rubbed with fresh rosemary and thyme and served with a robust black peppercorn sauce.

SPRMRKT, STPI Level 1, 41 Robertson Quay, Singapore 238236, T: 9736 4032 / #02-13 Cluny Court, 501 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 259760, T: 9736 4170.

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Har Cheong roast turkey
Another bird given an interesting local twist, this Cantonese-style turkey, is inspired by the beloved Har Cheong Gai (prawn paste chicken) dish. Marinated for 24 hours with prawn paste and traditional Chinese yellow rice wine, it is then roasted for two hours to golden perfection. The result? Juicy and tender flesh which peel off the bone, and a piquant flavour that is an explosion to the senses. Accompanied by Asian-style bread stuffing, roast potatoes, festive vegetables and seasonal greens with house-made dressing, make sure you pair the meat with their house-made truffle brown sauce. They also have a Traditional Roast Christmas Turkey with cornbread stuffing and served with roast potatoes, braised brussels sprouts with bacon, braised red cabbage, maple caramelised chestnuts, cranberry sauce and giblet gravy.

Crowne Plaza Changi Airport, 75 Airport Boulevard, Lobby Lounge, Lobby Level, Singapore 819664, T: 6823 5367.

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Winter Truffle Roasted Tom Turkey
Truffle fans will get a kick out of this richly flavoured turkey. The bird is brined in salt water and spices prior to cooking and then marinated by rubbing a signature blend of spices on the skin, and truffle paste in the cavity of the bird, which allows the fragrance of the truffle to penetrate through the meat, according to its Executive Chef Eric Neo. The bird is then roasted for about 1.5 hours till a yummy golden brown, then lavishly brushed with truffle paste. As if that’s not decadent enough, fresh winter truffle is shaved generously over the turkey, resulting in a strong, robust flavour of earthy truffles combined with the tenderness of the turkey meat. It’s accompanied with baked potatoes, winter vegetables, mushroom stuffing and giblet gravy. Also try the juicy Roasted New Zealand Grass-fed Beef Sirloin that is grilled just right, and which comes with roasted yukon potatoes, winter sprouts, chargrilled corn and red wine shallot sauce.

InterContinental Singapore from Bugis Junction, 80 Middle Road, Singapore 188966, T: 6825 1132

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Lavender roast turkey
Health enthusiasts will love this rendition of the Christmas bird, which is roasted to tender perfection with the healthy spice of lavender. The subtle but aromatic flavours of the herb do not overpower the dish; instead, they give an intriguing floral twist, enhancing the fragrance of the poultry. It is accompanied by a fruity stuffing made of roasted oranges, apples, lemon and bread — a perfect tangy complement to the richness of the meat. If that’s not your cup of tea, you can go for the Traditional Roast Turkey which comes with a decadent duck foie gras stuffing, chestnuts, and a cranberry and port wine sauce.

Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel, 320 Orchard Road, Singapore 238865, T: 6831 4708.

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Nasi Lemak Christmas Turkey
The Nasi Lemak craze is still going strong, so of course it has to make an entrance, even during the Christmas season. Available at The Fullerton Hotels, this bird, which was introduced last year as well, is first marinated in a paste ground from fresh chillies, pandan and kaffir lime leaves, shallots and lemongrass for three to four hours before it is roasted to a beautiful brown hue. A crumble of crushed ikan bilis and roasted peanuts is sprinkled over the top for a satisfying crunch. It is served with steamed coconut scented rice, shredded egg omelette, cucumbers, peanuts, whole ikan bilis and a fragrant onion sambal which is made from scratch. Or go for its Traditional Whole Roasted Turkey with dried fruits, celery and pumpkin bread stuffing, that is accompanied by brussels sprouts, chicken chipolatas, glazed chestnuts and a roasted potato medley with cranberry sauce and giblet gravy.

The Fullerton Hotel, 1 Fullerton Square, Singapore 049178 / The Fullerton Bay Hotel Singapore, 80 Collyer Quay, Singapore 049326, T: 6877 8943.

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Tandoori Turkey
Award-winning Indian restaurant Punjab Grill is offering a twist to the classic Indian Tandoori Chicken Tikka with its signature Tandoori Turkey and Stuffed Tandoori Turkey Marinated in yoghurt and a special blend of rich Indian spices, the whole turkey is grilled to perfection and boasts juicy meat with a smoky aroma. Accompanied with assorted vegetables, it’ll be a flavourful addition to your table.

Punjab Grill, B1-01A, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, South Podium, 2 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018972, T: 6688 7395.

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Limoncello Di Sorrento Whole Turkey
Marinated for 12 hours in limoncello, fresh basil, rosemary, bay leaves, garlic and extra virgin olive oil; this hearty bird which is roasted till crisp, has a refreshing citrus tone unlike other turkey offerings. It comes with caramelised black figs on the side and roasted almond stuffing. You could also go for the boneless Roasted Turkey Breast, an equally delectable option intriguingly stuffed with Iberizo Chorizo, wild pomegranate confit and pecan nuts.

Regent Singapore, A Four Seasons Hotel, 1 Cuscaden Road, Singapore 249715, T: 6725 3244.

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Assam turkey
This one’s for the chilli lovers. This succulent turkey, which is marinated with ginger flower and tamarind and served with achar (pickled vegetables) and spicy gravy, is packed full of flavour. Expect an intriguing taste profile of sweet, sour and spicy when you bite into the luscious meat. Get your water jugs ready! They also have the usual Whole Traditional Roast Marinated Turkey with chestnut stuffing that comes with roasted potatoes, seasonal vegetables, cranberry sauce and giblet gravy. Other fulfilling meats include a honey glazed gammon ham and a slow-roasted leg of lamb.

Atrium Restaurant, Level 4, Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium, 317 Outram Road, Singapore 169075, T: 6731 7172.

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Satay Roast Turkey
Hotel Fort Canning is known for their locally-influenced turkey offerings, and this year is no different. Their new Satay Roast Turkey pays homage to the beloved street food that has its humble beginnings from the travelling satay man. Their bird is first marinated overnight with an aromatic blend of fresh lemongrass, turmeric, galangal, cumin and coriander powders, which they say has been enhanced with “a touch of Chef’s secret ingredients”. The rich spices are lovingly massaged into the turkey before it is slow-roasted for hours to achieve a caramelised and charred exterior, while retaining its succulent texture. A delicious house-made ground peanut dip and classic accompaniments of ketupat (rice cakes), onions and cucumbers are served to complement the meat. You can also get their signature turkeys — the Chilli Crab Roast Turkey and Salted Egg Yolk Roast Turkey — or the Traditional Roast Turkey for traditionalists.

The Salon, Hotel Fort Canning, 11 Canning Walk, Singapore 178881, T: 6559 6796.

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Roasted Turkey “Etruscan” style
Celebrate Christmas like the Italians with this turkey that is rubbed with fragrant Mediterranean fresh herbs and carefully cooked for five hours until it is tender. Golden acacia honey is drizzled all over the turkey, which is then roasted to crisp perfection in the oven before being topped with raisins, pine nuts and black and green olives. Expect a delightful mix of both sweet and savoury. To enhance the flavours further, pair the flesh with its tangy cranberry sauce.

Sinfonia Ristorante, #01-01 Victoria Concert Hall, 11 Empress Place, Singapore 179558, T: 6385 5588

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Soy-braised Turkey
This poultry will be a crowd favourite, especially among your older aunties and uncles. Inspired by the Hong Kong-style soy sauce chicken, this super-sized variant is moist and tender, thanks to a traditional Chinese-style braising method which requires the bird to be slow-cooked for no less than two hours with spices such as cinnamon, cloves and star anise together with dark and light soy sauces. Served with a choice of Pumpkin Rice or Egg Noodles in Soy Sauce with Blanched Seasonal Vegetables, it’s definitely a unique festive offering. For light nibbles, get the Breaded Turkey Rillettes ‘Cheong Fun’ with Creamy Tarragon Dip or the Mini Turkey Char Siew Bo Lo Buns. The former are rice rolls filled with creamy and flavourful turkey rillettes then coated with breadcrumbs and gently fried to a golden hue, while the latter are adorable fun-sized buns filled with sweet-savoury turkey meat.

The Deli, Goodwood Park Hotel, 22 Scotts Road, Singapore 228221, T: 6730 1867 / 6730 1868. Email or go online to order.
Turkey Stuffed With Biryani
Turkey lovers who also love their biryani will adore this marriage of two favourites. One Michelin-starred restaurant The Song of India has marinated its turkey overnight in a myriad of spices such as Kashmiri chilli powder, tandoori garam masala, mustard oil and cumin, before grilling it in the tandoor oven. The result is an evenly grilled crispy skin on the outside and juicy meats on the inside. Stuffed with a porcini mushroom biryani that has been slow-cooked with basmati rice and a blend of spices, it’s a heady combination full of rich flavours. The bird is served with a sweet, tomato-based wine sauce while its biryani is best paired with the accompanying creamy, yogurt sauce.

The Song Of India, 33 Scotts Road, Singapore 228226, T: 6836 0055.
Roasted Whole Tom Turkey
Grand Hyatt’s Roasted Whole Tom Turkey is simple but homey for those who prefer a lighter option. Marinated with salt, pepper, root vegetables, thyme and butter, it comes with a turkey gravy of roasted turkey bones and root vegetables and freshly made cranberry sauce infused with cloves, orange and red wine. If a whole turkey seems a bit much for you and your gang to swallow, try the tasty Roasted Turkey Roll instead, which is just the right portion and comes with chestnut and spinach stuffing as well as the same turkey gravy and cranberry sauce. Best of all, it’s boneless! Have vegetarians in your midst or you just want to provide some respite from the meat fest? Delight your guests with a plant-based Whole Celeriac “Ham”, which is marinated with festive spices such as soy sauce, thyme, garlic and bayleaf and finished with tarragon mustard on the side. Get these and more at Grand Hyatt’s newly launched online shop, the Santa Shop.

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Roasted Whole Turkey
The preparation for Carlton Hotel’s turkey takes about two days, so you can expect fragrant and juicy flesh that is jam-packed with flavour. The turkey is marinated with their house spice for one day before being roasted in slow fire for three hours to retain the tenderness of the meat. It comes with chestnut stuffing and cranberry and turkey jus, and is served with mix greens and mashed potatoes.

Carlton Hotel Singapore, 76 Bras Basah, Singapore 189558, T: 6338 8333.