The new conservatory-style Garden Court at Sofitel Wentworth Sydney is celebrating the festive season using the fine skills of celebrated French chef Philippe Mouchel and the restaurant's own talented Executive Chef Jess Ong.

In a premiere collaboration for the Garden Court, Mouchel and Ong are presenting a special a la carte menu and five-course degustation menu for both Sydney food lovers and visitors from December 4 to 15, 2007.

"We have combined the best of classic and modern French cuisine with fine Australian produce to create menus that really sparkle," said Ong.

Both chefs are protégés of nouvelle cuisine maestros - Mouchel worked with Rodger Verge, while Ong worked with Paul Bocuse and the Roux brothers Albert and Michel.

Mouchel is visiting from his own restaurant La Brasserie in Melbourne, where he has developed a devoted following and a reputation as one of the city's best international chefs.

"It is a rare honour and a unique opportunity for Sydney to experience his talent," said Ong, who previously headed the Summit restaurant and worked with cuisine industry legend Anders Ousback.

The December degustation menu is available in the evenings for $148 per person. It includes a new style spanner crab amuse with cucumber jelly and grapefruit emulsion; braised rockling fillet with bouillabaisse fumet, tomato and fennel, and for dessert - an almond and cherry clafoutis with pistachio ice cream.

The special a la carte is available for $78 for 2 courses, $94 for 3 courses, for both lunch and dinner.

A la carte includes country-style chicken liver and duck foie gras terrine, a pan-seared rib of beef, boulangere potato, shallot reduction and jus; roast rabbit saddle with confit of Provencale vegetables and a specialement Noel of roast pigeon, pan-fried duck foie gras and jus.

Desserts too are delectable and include warm chocolate fondant, coconut espouma, chocolate sorbet and exotic fruit soufflé with passion fruit ice cream. There is also a cheese plate of le Pont l'Evêque, Comte Gruyere, quince paste and walnut bread.

For those with less time, the Garden Court also offers a 30-minute pre-Christmas lunch of four light courses on one platter for $38 per person. Christmas Day lunch and degustation buffets will be released shortly.

Click here for more information about Garden Court.