Inspired by the traditional holiday roast, this centrepiece pays tribute not to rosemary and thyme, but to the aromas of every childhood trip past a hawker roast stall. 

We swapped Western herbs for familiar hawker-stall aromatics. Chinese 5 spice, cinnamon and a glossy char siew-style glaze that caramelises in the oven. 

This dish captures the comfort of Christmas roasting, but roots it firmly in Singapore – smoky, sticky and unmistakably char siew at heart.