365days2play*Media Invite*
Every year in December, I start getting a huge headache. No I’m not worrying about the year-end performance appraisals. It’s the big headache of what to do for Christmas! Should I go for a Christmas buffet at some hotel? Should I keep it simple and have a home cooked meal with my parents and the Partner? Should I throw a party for some friends? In the past few years, I’ve actually done all of the above in the same year. Hey there’s Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day you know.
This year, I’m definitely still going to throw a Christmas party, now that I’ve got this humongous oven bought just a month ago. Actually, I bought 2 ovens. Talk about being a shopaholic! But this year, I’m thinking, maybe, just maybe, I should forgo the restaurant celebration. As with Valentine’s day, prices are horrendously jacked up during the Christmas period. While it’s great fun to enjoy a meal at the restaurant and to enjoy the taller than tall Christmas tree that the hotels usually have, one has to fork out extra $$$ to dine under tinsel and mistletoe. Most Christmas buffets cost around $100 or more for the big hotels. Serious money for just 3 hours of enjoyment.
The other day, Swensen’s invited me down to sample their Christmas menu. After the very enjoyable event, it suddenly dawned upon me that maybe I can consider celebrating Christmas at Swensen’s! Swensen’s have come up with 12 festive ice creams just for Christmas. I tried some of them and they not only taste great, they look great! What’s not to like about ice-cream, especially ones decked out with cute little gingerbread men and Christmas candy canes? I’m seriously thinking of taking my parents out for ice cream. It’s not going to break the bank and I will still be able to spend quality time with my parents! Now is that having the ice cream and eating it or what!?
If you’ve always dreamt of a white Christmas, here’s your chance to get up cold and personal!
Chocolate Twinkle $9.90 — I ordered this. A sweet mixture of Star Cookie, Dip Cherry, Smarties, Candy Cane, Choc Cream, Choc Fudge, Sticky chewy choc ice cream, and frosted choc malt ice cream for the chocolate fanatics. Apparently this is the most chocolaty one out of the 12 and if I may add, the most festive looking one for me. I didn’t quite like the top layer of cream though. I wanted to dive into the ice cream asap and the cream was in the way. Does it not look festive with the candy cane and star shaped cookie??
Christmas Nutcracker $10.90 — The Partner ordered this. Rich Macadamia nut ice cream with chocolate sauce, choco fudge top, peanut, macadamia nut, cherry and a crunchy dip almond wafer. I actually thought this tasted more chocolaty! Perhaps it was the generous amount of chocolate fudge. Also loved the numerous whole macadamia nuts, which provided a good crunchy texture to ice cream. I don’t know about you ice cream eaters out there, but I like to add hard bits like almond flakes to my ice cream to provide some texture.
Gingerbread House ($10.90) — A delightful arrangement of Ginger boy, cappuccino cookie ice cream, ginger cubes, chocolate fudge and almonds. One of the Gingerbread boys lost an eye. Can you tell which.
Pa-rum-pam-pum Raisin ($8.90) — Classic Rum and Raisin ice cream with a serving of fruitcake topped with butterscotch sauce. The bloggers’ ice cream order of choice.
Tin Roof Sleighride ($8.90) — Packs as much delight as a ride in Santa’s sleigh with its Sticky Chewy Choc and choco peanut buttercup ice cream with a Star cookie, salted cashew nut, choc sauce, choc cream, and butterscotch sauce with a decorative flag. Easier to eat the ice cream from a dish or wide glass as you can target your favourite ice cream first.
Merri-Mint Macaroon ($10.90) — Refreshing mint ice cream decorated with green and pink macaroons, and topped with marshmallows.
Strawberry Shortcake ($9.90) — A strawberry avalanche of Strawberry ice cream, strawberry cheesecake ice cream, strawberry sauce, shortbread, strawberry topped with a green cherry.
Click here to read more about the 12 Swensen’s Sundaes of Christmas
Now don’t you think they all look so festive? If you’re lost as to what to do for Christmas, now you know where to go without having to burn a hole in your pocket.
*Many thanks to Cecelia and Nicole of Publicist PR Communications for the kind invitation and for hosting the lunch.
