In a special collaboration with eight well-known restaurants, omy.sg and Lianhe Wanbao, together with veterian food critic Ah Lun (黄卓伦) will be bringing a group of readers on an exclusive festive gourmet food trail for four consecutive Saturdays.
Each week, a group of 80+ readers will visit two restaurants together with Ah Lun to sample their Chinese New Year and Christmas special dishes.
Other than eating, participants were given the rare opportunities to meet with the restaurants’ chef who answered their questions and even shared a few cooking tips on the spot.
Last Saturday was the first event. omy Blog Club bloggers, Stephanie He, Jeanine Quee and Jacqualine Chan were invited to join Ah Lun for the food trail. I was there too as a working staff.
We visited Ngee Ann City Crystal Jade Palace (义安城翡翠皇宫) first for a Chinese New Year meal and Swissotel Merchant Court next for a Christmas meal. The festive bells and whistles came really early for me this year!
To find out more about the event, you can read the bloggers’ reviews; omy.sg’s event report or watch omy.sg’s vodcast coverage.
The Chinese New Year menu at Crystal Jade Palace consists of:
发财鱼生~ 三文鱼大捞生 Salmon Yu Sheng
盆满钵满 ~ 皇宫金装鲍鱼盆菜 Peng Cai
鱼跃龙门 ~ 过桥活鱼 Fish Soup
贺岁双仙 ~ 椰香仙翁米+酒香脆皮煎堆 Desert Platter
Surprise Dish – 八宝饭 Eight Treasures Glutinous Rice
![At Ngee Ann City Crystal Jade Palace At Ngee Ann City Crystal Jade Palace](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6051/6331378539_7f7c696fe0_z.jpg)
![Yu Sheng to start the day - 发财鱼生~ 三文鱼大捞生 Yu Sheng to start the day - 发财鱼生~ 三文鱼大捞生](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6112/6332132212_f0efef8b98_z.jpg)
![Getting ready to lo hei Getting ready to lo hei](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6230/6332134960_44ff51c387_z.jpg)
![Lo hei aftermath Lo hei aftermath](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6216/6331380729_bfcc4f046e_z.jpg)
![Peng Cai! This pot alone cost $428 - 盆满钵满 ~ 皇宫金装鲍鱼盆菜 Peng Cai! This pot alone cost $428 - 盆满钵满 ~ 皇宫金装鲍鱼盆菜](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6221/6331377085_918d6b0cb5_z.jpg)
![Everyone was very happy when the Peng Cai was served Everyone was very happy when the Peng Cai was served](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6053/6332131310_ce1ddfca7b_z.jpg)
![The Peng Cai was individually portioned so everyone gets a taste of everything inside The Peng Cai was individually portioned so everyone gets a taste of everything inside](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6224/6331378399_56d56a7232_z.jpg)
![One serving of Peng Cai, with abalone, oyster and other expensive new year goodies One serving of Peng Cai, with abalone, oyster and other expensive new year goodies](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6216/6331380957_9a348fe126_z.jpg)
![One of the stage games One of the stage games](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6041/6332132330_7b4bd3bebf_z.jpg)
![Crystal Jade chef demonstrating how to cook a fish soup dish - 盆满钵满 ~ 皇宫金装鲍鱼盆菜 Crystal Jade chef demonstrating how to cook a fish soup dish - 盆满钵满 ~ 皇宫金装鲍鱼盆菜](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6093/6332132482_993613b8cb_z.jpg)
![Individual serving portion of the fish soup Individual serving portion of the fish soup](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6104/6331379781_0740645f84_z.jpg)
![Jacqualine and her husband making a Chinese lantern Jacqualine and her husband making a Chinese lantern](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6095/6331377963_8815f29df4_z.jpg)
![Chinese lantern making contest - the little boy won Chinese lantern making contest - the little boy won](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6216/6331381377_4800818408_z.jpg)
![Surprise Dish - Eight Treasure Rice Surprise Dish - Eight Treasure Rice](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6103/6331377465_2116920d1b_z.jpg)
![Individual serving portion of the Eight Treasure Rice Individual serving portion of the Eight Treasure Rice](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6111/6331379355_7928010aa0_z.jpg)
![Desert - 贺岁双仙 ~ 椰香仙翁米+酒香脆皮煎堆 Desert - 贺岁双仙 ~ 椰香仙翁米+酒香脆皮煎堆](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6236/6332134282_f2b6f28bef_z.jpg)
![The wonderful Crystal Jade Palace chefs who whipped up the feast The wonderful Crystal Jade Palace chefs who whipped up the feast](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6215/6331377593_e85b5d695a_z.jpg)
The Christmas menu at Swissotel Merchant Court consists of:
热汤 ~ 花椰菜羹 松露油 Pumpkin Soup
前菜 ~ 凉拌园蔬 蜜冻梨 Salad
主菜 ~ 烤火鸡卷 杏果馅 Turkey Main
甜品 ~ 圣诞布丁 香草雪糕 Christmas Pudding
Surprise Dish – Entire buffet floor was opened to participants
![Getting everyone seated at Swissotel Merchant Court Getting everyone seated at Swissotel Merchant Court](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6110/6332130844_af09268d38_z.jpg)
![Pumpkin soup - 热汤 ~ 花椰菜羹 松露油 Pumpkin soup - 热汤 ~ 花椰菜羹 松露油](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6212/6332133080_8e66d103ac_z.jpg)
![The salad - 凉拌园蔬 蜜冻梨 The salad - 凉拌园蔬 蜜冻梨](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6106/6332133994_34015d8147_z.jpg)
![Turkey main - 主菜 ~ 烤火鸡卷 杏果馅 Turkey main - 主菜 ~ 烤火鸡卷 杏果馅](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6227/6332133822_a0922f4e58_z.jpg)
![Stage game where we got one participant from each table to dress up as Santa Claus Stage game where we got one participant from each table to dress up as Santa Claus](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6038/6332132716_ba0d2b8fc6_z.jpg)
![Christmas Pudding - 甜品 ~ 圣诞布丁 香草雪糕 Christmas Pudding - 甜品 ~ 圣诞布丁 香草雪糕](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6229/6331380445_55d95204b8_z.jpg)
![The Swissotel chefs The Swissotel chefs](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6229/6332133354_cab02bb736_z.jpg)
![Surprise Dish - the buffet line was opened to all participants! Very generous of Swissotel, but most cannot eat anymore. Surprise Dish - the buffet line was opened to all participants! Very generous of Swissotel, but most cannot eat anymore.](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6213/6331379503_384c759945_z.jpg)
The last time I worked on the food trail events, my waist grew thicker by quite a few cm, thanks to the endless rich feasting for 5 consecutive Saturdays. There is really such a thing as an overload of good food; not that I am complaining! 🙂