7 Christmas foods with stories of faith and hope

Love came down at Christmas.

The sentiment of this Christmas hymn also describes the spirit behind these seven eateries built on the love of Christ for His people.

As you gather to fellowship with loved ones this Christmas, serve up some seasonal specials from restaurants and bakeries as big in heart as they are on taste.

1. Honey-baked ham that helps change lives: Breakthrough Missions

Few enjoy spending hours in a hot kitchen during the festive season.

But to Benjamin Tan, who has baked hundreds of hams since Breakthrough Missions added it to their menu in 2007, the hard work is worth it.

His life turned around in 2004, when he signed up for Breakthrough’s three-year rehabilitation programme that includes vocational training, reintegration support, Bible study and counselling. Now Benjamin is in charge of the kitchen at the Christian halfway house for men.

Benjamin with his wife, Anna, whom he met while working at Breakthrough Missions, and their children Daneil and Carol.

“Christmas is so meaningful to me because I celebrate how Jesus came down to earth for me so I can have eternal hope and meaning in this life,” he said.

The non-profit organisation does not charge for its rehabilitation programmes. Funds are raised through sales of their Christmas ham, as well as regular services such as house moving, Bible binding, picture framing and house painting. They also run a café, gift store, furniture shop and plant nursery.

Said Pastor Simon Neo, founder of the halfway house: “There are residents in the home who have stayed on for 10, even 20, years to work together with me. The longest-staying resident has been here for more than 30 years.”

Breakthrough is now raising funds for a two-storey building that will hold a larger central kitchen, workshops and facilities. Construction is slated to be completed in July 2026.

Their succulent hams, which go towards fund-raising, are a hit every festive period and are often sold out before Christmas.

• 3kg Honey Baked Ham $120
• 3.5kg-4kg Gammon Bone-in $250
• 5kg Gammon Bone-in $300

Call or WhatsApp 9233-9812 to order. Delivery is free.

2. Buah Keluak Turkey that brings joy to the elderly: S17 Community Kitchen

S17 Community Café was started in 2022 by Raymond Khoo, founder of The Saturday Movement that feeds and cares for needy elderly in the Lengkok Bahru area.

The social enterprise is an elder-friendly eatery that runs programmes to help those with dementia.

Raymond Khoo, founder of The Saturday Movement that feeds and cares for 500 needy elderly in the Lengkok Bahru area.

S17 runs parallel to The Saturday Movement, which now serves more than 500 beneficiaries scattered among eight blocks in the Lengkok Bahru neighbourhood. They are aged 65 and above and are mostly retired from low-income jobs. 

The Saturday Movement provides meal vouchers which equates to free meals twice a week. Each of its meal vouchers redeems an Indonesian-style nasi padang set of a meat and two sides worth about $6.50. This allows the beneficiaries to enjoy companionship, food and activities.

Each Saturday, hundreds of elderly from the rental flats congregate at Block 57A Lengkok Bahru with their neighbours. Volunteers wheel in those who are not so mobile, and everybody has lunch together, eating the same food, sharing the same joy.

In order to raise funds, Raymond, formerly the chef owner of The Peranakan restaurant, supervises an annual Christmas menu for the public, the highlight of which is their popular Buah Keluak Turkey.

The turkey is marinated with buah keluak (an Indonesian nut) and stuffed with nasi ulam (fragrant herb rice). Buah keluak sauce and a tub of sambal belacan are included.

Nasi Padang and satay are also available daily (9am-3pm) for takeaway or dine-in at S17 Community Kitchen.

Buah Keluak Turkey (5.5kg) $188
WhatsApp 8023-4345 to order (5 days pre-order is required). Pick-up from 11am to 9pm.

Where: S17 Kitchen, 57 Lengkok Bahru, #01-489, Singapore 151057

3. Asian Favourites for festive fellowship: Penang Place

When restaurants were hard hit by the effects of COVID-19, veteran restauranteur Paul Ooi of Penang Place saw business dip by 50%.

Yet he was strangely unfazed. This was because, in his personal experience, God had been faithful many times over.

When Penang Place moved to Suntec City in 2020, it was with the prayer backing of pastors and missionaries whom Paul had written to “to stand alongside us in prayer”.

“We ventured into business for the first time (in 2003) because God had given direction,” he recalls. He had been retrenched the year before at the age of 48 while being the sole breadwinner for a family with six children between seven and 16 years old. “Our back was against the wall. But we had Jesus.”

When the restaurant moved to Suntec City in 2020, it was with the prayer backing of pastors and missionaries whom Paul had written to “to stand alongside us in prayer”.

During COVID, Paul said: “The Lord spoke to me: The situation may be scary, but you must not be scared. Obey God at all costs, and be strong and courageous. God is with us (Joshua 1:8-9).”

A portion of their profits goes towards helping the needy through Love in Action Missions (LIAM).

This Christmas, the sumptuous Penang buffet spread, with freeflow chilli crab, is back for festive fellowships.

Spicy chilli crabs are a departure from the Christmas tradition, but the dish is an iconic Singapore delicacy “and we communicate love by giving our customers a dish they really like”, said Paul.

Chilli crabs join a spread of Penang favourites including Penang char kway teow, assam laksa, beef rendang, chicken satay, lobak, chendol, pulot hitam, goreng pisang and durian ice cream. 

LUNCH
Mon-Fri
$42.89++/Adult | $21.50++/Child (5 to 10 Years Old)

Sat, Sun & on Public Holidays
$45.89++/Adult | $22.95++/Child (5 to 10 Years Old) 

DINNER
Mon-Thurs
$42.89++/Adult | $21.50++/Child (5 to 10 Years Old) 

Fri, Sat, Sun, Eve of & on Public Holidays
$45.89++/Adult | $22.95++/Child (5 to 10 Years Old) 

(Seniors 60 & above enjoy 20% off Adult Price )

Where: Suntec City Atrium, #02-314/315/316, Singapore 039593

4. Panettone with a purpose: YPH Papua

Order a pillowy panettone or a fragrant baba au rhum from non-profit organisation Yayasan Pendidikan Harapan Papua (YPH Papua), and you will be helping provide holistic education to children in interior Papua.

A 100% of the proceeds from their Christmas delicacies goes towards beneficiaries.

YPH Papua provides education for eight villages in Papua, an area where 88% of the villages in Papua are still categorised as underdeveloped. Thousands who live here would otherwise have no access to proper education and healthcare.

Before, teachers could only reach the villages several times a year to administer final exams. Now, the teacher lives in the village and provides education five days a week.

“The schools we open see the children go from having no access to education to becoming the next generation of educated Papuans who will make a difference in our country,” said YPH Papua.

Their classic bakes go towards raising funds. Panettones (500g) blend golden butter with free range egg yolks, wildflower honey and hand-cut citrus peel for a tender, aromatic crumb. Baba au Rhum is a 20cm cake soaked in rum and topped with Italian buttercream and strawberries.

• Classic Panettone $65
• Chocolate Panettone $70
• Rhum Panettone $70
• Baba au Rhum $65

To order, visit their IG @yphpapua, or their website https://www.yphpapua.org/, or WhatsApp them at +62-811-979-5700. Delivery charge: $10 per address.

5. Christollens that share Christ: Bakery Brera

“My bakery is my little mission field,” says Thrina Low, owner of Bakery Brera. “I’ve always wanted to be in missions. But, do you know, I’ve never even been on a single mission trip?

“But I believe God answered my prayer by giving me this bakery.”

“My bakery is my little mission field,” says Thrina, seen here with Bakery Brera’s popular Christollen and gingerbread.

She chose to serve freshly baked bread because of John 6:35: “Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

The boutique Bakery Brera is known for its big heart for the community. Designer breads and viennoiseries are served up with a side of genuine warmth and hospitality.

During the pandemic, Thrina regularly gave fresh bakes to frontline workers to encourage them. For several years, she has run internship programmes for students to impart work skills and life lessons. On festive occasions, she invites those who have no loved ones in Singapore for a meal at her home. Her online Brera community is a platform that regularly rallies people behind worthy causes.

This year’s festive offerings include:
Christollen ($38), Panettone Classico (fruit or chocolate, $58), Fruitcake ($45), Mini Mince Pies ($18 for 6), Christmas Basque Burnt Cheesecake ($73), Log Cakes (Peanut Butter or Pistachio Raspberry, $48-$68), and traditional Galette des Rois ($42).

Christmas Early Bird Online Discount: Spend at least $100 on Christmas bakes and get 10% off, until Dec 10 only.

Where: Bakery Brera, #01-05, 8 Empress Road, Singapore 260008,
Café Brera at Reunion, National Museum of Singapore, 93 Stamford Rd, #01-06, Singapore 178897

6. Set meals served with heart: Olive Vine Pasta Fusion

In December 2006, Ps Judith Halim heard God tell her to quit her job as managing director of a fashion company and start a cafe.

“God, if I heard wrongly, I’m in deep, deep trouble,” said Ps Judith, a sole bread winner at the time, caring for her husband who was battling a relapse of a rare strain of brain cancer.

Earnings from Olive Vine allows Ps Judith and Ps Jason to take care of 1,200 children in the Philippines and Indonesia.

God would lead her to start Italian restaurant Olive Vine, the profits of which go to Restore Global Missions (RGM). The missions organisation started by Ps Judith and her husband, Ps Jason Ong, takes care of an estimated 1,200 children in the Philippines and Indonesia.

Ps Judith and Ps Jason Ong, who was miraculously healed, also conduct weekly church services for indigenous communities.

Every Olive Vine recipe was God-breathed, says Ps Judith.

Popular orders at Olive Vine include:
Chicken steak with a choice of pepper/mushroom/BBQ sauce ($12.50)
Roast pork ribs in BBQ sauce ($21.90)
Beef stew with ciabatta ($16.90)
Korean chicken with pesto rice ($14.90)

Value meals which come with a choice of mains such as sweet and sour fish with rice, nyonya curry chicken with bread/rice, sambal shrimp fried rice, chicken avocado sandwich, or fish and chips, include a free drink and dessert.

Where: Marina Square #B1-17, Singapore 39594

7. Roast turkey and ham for a communal Christmas: Soul Food Enterprise

When Gerald Png and his wife, Anne, realised that their daughter Cheryl had learning difficulties, he was concerned about her future.

To ensure that she would have a job in the future, they set up Soul Food Enterprise nearly 20 years ago because Cheryl enjoys cooking. But beyond caring for his own, Gerald also hires and trains other young people with special needs or who are differently-abled.

While Soul Food’s popular Christmas takeaway menu is closed, limited lunch or dinner reservations for their exquisite festive dine-in meals are still available on December 9-12.

Each meal includes a starter of smoked salmon with beetroot, communal mains of roast turkey and maple glazed ham with sumptuous sides, chocolate tart for dessert and Illy Coffee/Clipper Tea.

$75 (nett per pax)

Call 64720266/96368737 for reservations/enquiries.

Where: 535B Clementi Road, Ngee Ann Poly Blk 75, The House, #01-07, Singapore 599492

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