Showing posts with label italian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label italian. Show all posts
Zafferano presents New Dishes by Chef Emanuele Faggi
Labels:
cityviews,
downtown,
downtown line,
italian,
may return,
must go,
raffles place,
restaurants,
romantic,
special occasion
·
If there is anything more alluring about dining at Zafferano, is the fact that the new Head Chef Emanuele Faggi possesses the same charisma, in and out of the kitchen - both to bedazzle your tastebuds and to charm your socks off when he out working the dining room.
The young budding talent is a Tuscan native, who interned at the famed L'Albereta Resort led by legendary late Chef Gualtiero Marchesi. Following that, his culinary journeys whisked him away to 2-Michelin starred Cracco Ristorante where he honed his skills for five years under the wings of Chef Carlo Cracco. One precious value that is heavily emulated through the meal is the conscious effort to reduce food wastage, with various food discards or "trash" reappearing on dishes such as carrot skin powder and onion skin powder repurposed as flavouring agents. Meaningful, and I might add, brilliant all at once.
[Friday Date-Night]: Rosso Vino
Labels:
affordable,
date night,
italian,
large groups,
restaurants,
robertson quay,
will return,
winebar,
wines
·
Located along the banks of Robertson Quay, Rosso Vino prides itself as being one of the best Italian restaurants in the island. Being relatively new to Italian cuisine, we were thrilled to be invited to try out some of the classics on their menu.
To start, we had the Bruschetta Rosso Vino and Carpaccio Di Manzo. The Bruschetta Rosso Vino is a trio of Smoked Salmon, Diced Tomato and Mozzarella and Anchovies Bruschetta. As someone who usually strays away from tomatoes due to its distinct taste and smell, the diced tomato was surprisingly refreshing and easy to swallow. I never thought I would say this, but that was delightful and pretty addictive. Contrastingly, the smoked salmon piece was not outstanding and the mozzarella one was way too salty for my liking. Perhaps a better ove would be to order the Brushcetta Rosa, where you can better indulge in the Diced Tomato Bruschetta, which really helps to whet your appetite for the upcoming feast.
The Carpaccio Di Manzo had unbelievable thin slices of beef tenderloin served with parmesan cheese and mixed salad. The beef was so thin and moist that they broke apart easily while the cheese added a nice subtle touch of saltiness to the beef.
For our mains, we ordered the recommended Cavatelli Ragu di Maiale in Salsa Di Pomodoro and Branzino alla Toscana. The homemade pasta's name was a handful, but the reason behind its popularity was clear. The Cavatelli pasta itself was firm, with a slight bite to it, yet easy to chew through; quite the perfect al dente if I would say so myself. The addition of red wine imparts a light oaky fullness to the sauce. Each pasta piece enrobed in the rich sauce made for a very pleasant experience.
As one who is particularly averse to fishiness, I was amazed at how subdued the dish of Branzino all Toscano was. The fish was moist and flaky fresh and the tomato based stew providing relief from the fishy qualities. What's left was a really fragrant, juicy and fat fillet of white meat, it's sweetness further enhanced by the layered tomato stew.
Pair your mains with a glass of wine or rose, both giving additional dimension to the dishes ordered and adding brownie points to the romantic night out.
Rosso Vino
15 Merbau Road
S(239032)
Reservations: CHOPE
Operating Hours:
Mon - Sun: 3pm - 1am
Words and photos by Belinda Yong who wishes that every time of the day is food o'clock. She loves trying new cuisines and creations, and prays hard for a higher metabolism.
Humpday Quick Picks: Jade, B Burger, One Farrer Park Hotel X Da Paolo
Labels:
burgers,
dim sum,
farrer park,
fullertonhotel,
italian,
one farrer,
pop ups,
quick picks
·
JADE unveils a NEW Dim Sum Experience on Weekends and Public Holidays
Jade has done away with their popular a la carte Dim Sum Buffet in favour of a more refined and no less delicious weekend dim sum experience. The Gourmet Dim Sum Treasures with set meals starting at $68++ per person and capping off at an extravagant $108++ per person for the Royal Peacock set aims to allude diners with an exquisite line up of courses ranging from dim sum to braised birds nest and crabmeat broth and my all-time-favourite sautéed Boston lobster which the kitchen perfects to the T every time.
To start, a trio of contemporary bites feed the visual senses. The plumpness hiding some divine ingredients such as scallop dumpling topped with fish roe, golden sea urchin siew mai and foie gras and truffle shrimp dumpling. Luxe versions of the ordinary really; it's obvious that Jade values quality over quantity. You might even contemplate chasing the meal with an astutely paired glass of wine (or champagne if you're feeling fancy). Prices start from $19 per glass or $98 per bottle.
Another worthy contender on the Purple Finch menu ($68++ per head) is the savoury Wok-fried Rice Flour Rolls with Scallops in X.O. sauce. It's a tricky one, assuming the appearance of a regular fried carrot cake, this one is a textbook of textures - the flat surfaces of the rice flour rolls carrying smoky wisps of charred flavour while its centers retain that delectable chew. Pan-fried scallops up the ante and the XO sauce has an addictive fragrance that will have you wiping out the plate before you can even say 'Hey, PRESTO!'
Jade
The Fullerton Hotel Singapore
1 Fullerton Square
t: 6877 8188
Operating Hours:
Daily: 11 30 - 3pm; 6 30pm - 11pm
~~~
B Burger - Classic American burger joint with a Japanese Twist
Just when you think the burger culture is dead, along comes the fashion forward crew of Benjamin Barker with their latest foray into the meat sandwich business - B Burger, cleverly located in Cineleisure. The aim, to capture the hearts and stomachs of the younger audience, a move so brilliantly encapsulated in its usage of hipster graphics, Instagram worthy motifs and cute packaging.
Just based on concept alone, I'm sold. The artsy murals and neon lights a resounding representation of my deep profound love for burgers. Touted to be a burger and concrete paradise, I was quick to jump the gun where criticisms are made - it's ballsy, it's reckless and done so with youthful abandonment. That's B Burger in a nutshell. Now, the real question is if it lives up to expectations. After a quick taste test, I would agree with the latter. The concretes and milkshakes were splendid. The burgers on the other hand are your basic offerings with smushy overly sweet buns that did nothing for its overall integrity. Best of the lot, the Bomchika Wow Wow (yes, you get quite a kick from plain placing your order over the counter) ($10.90) combines the winning combination of fried chicken and egg between black buns mindlessly employed for aesthetic purposes. The Baller Burger ($10.90) is a close runner up with the thin layer or nori adhered to the bottom of the umamified stack adding extra dimension.
Affordability is key here so don't expect a deliverance of gourmet burgers. Do however save space for the concretes which are worth every single calorie you're splurging on. The S'mores Milkshake ($6.90) is a good thirst quencher - signature creamy vanilla ice cream made in house swirled with Nutella and topped with smatterings of crushed graham crumb and toasted marshmallows. The Peanut Butter Jelly Concrete ($7.50) has got a wild-child personality - two scoops of vanilla concrete tainted with malt powder for a bit of nostalgic factor. This concoction championed by bits of smooth peanut butter that stick to the roof of your mouth and imparts bursts of saltiness between mouthfuls of jelly laden mess. If you've got stomach for desserts, don't think twice. Even the Death by Chocolate successfully ropes in the non-dessert fans.
B Burger
Orchard Cathay Cineleisure
8 Grange Road
#01-01/01A
S(239695)
Operating Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 10pm
~~~
One Farrer Hotel and Spa X Da Paolo Group collaboration
Italian Dining Experience
Running till the end of December, this Friday night pop-up features the best of Da Paolo Group's famous homemade cuisine with One Farrer Park Hotel's latest focus on its new "Total Lifestyle Environment" led dining concepts. Available only on Fridays and running till the 29th December, the 6 course menu is priced at just $75++.
The homegrown brand are kings of the good quality, Italian fare at affordable pricing and needless to say, the 6 course menu packs a couple of standouts. The Ravioli di Vitello con Pomodoro e Grana Padano for example, is a showstopper. These cookie cutter pillows containing braised veal, lit by adequate seasoning and just the right amount of unctuous fats to stand up to the silky sheets. They've also got the ratio of crabmeat to pasta spot on in the Spaghetti al Granchio. Fresh, tangy and slighty creamy but not in a faux pas kind of way, this dish will burrow its way straight into your heart.
Choice of mains include the Baked Chicken Roulade and the Pan Seared Barramundi. My preference lying with the former, the usual stodgy chicken dish breathed new life into with an injection of various textural references from sauted mushrooms to the ethereally light bed of truffle risotto engulfed in a moat of forest berry red wine jus to refresh the palette in between bites
You're not leaving an Italian feast without first digging into some form of dessert. Da Paolo showcases its signature tiramisu as part of the set and I'm betting my bottom dollar on it. The moist slice eats like a dream, sponge fingers soaked in just the right amount of liquored goodness to promote healthy conversations at the table.
One Farrer Hotel & Spa
Level 6, Poolside
1 Farrer Park Station Road
S(217562)
t: +65 67057825
OSO Ristorante: Italian restaurants takes to newer heights at its new location @ OASIA Hotel Downtown
Labels:
affordable,
business lunch,
italian,
large groups,
pasta,
risotto,
tanjong pagar,
will not return
·
The real question is whether or not the food delivers on the same front as its new established heights off the ground.
OSO Ristorante previously located on Bukit Pasoh Road maintains its rigour and unmistakable melancholy in its set-up. White, stiff starched linen greets table tops, the oddly angled ginormous mirrors pandering to your stalkerish ways of taking stolen glanced at your picture perfect date. Don't get me wrong, it's a gorgeous space, the dry aging cabinet behind the high counter and the cheese room stowed away at the entrance providing inspirations for the meal to evolve. However, the real anchor in the equation is the emergence of a blue oasis, the sight of OASIA Hotel downtown's swimming pool through tall glass windows that provides a stark contrast and balances out the grandeur in the space.
Rosso Vino: like an Italian Trattoria scene from Lady and the Tramp
Labels:
affordable,
family friendly,
hidden finds,
italian,
large groups,
restaurants,
robertson quay,
romantic,
will return,
wines
·
Stuck in its ways. stepping into Rosso Vino is like a step back in time. Red napkin lined bread baskets and waiters dressed in starched and stiffened white shirts; the joint cashes in on the nostalgic factor; instilling in its diners an enthusiasm quite similar to what you would experience when you were ten and were told dinner is at Jack's Place. Despite it's conservative decor and even more time-honoured menu, dining for the first time at Rosso Vino is a dangerous love affair. The said waiters and waitresses working the dining room with effortless hospitality; like they'd been doing this their whole lives. I bet a bottom dollar that partaking in their fettuccine bolognese would be like a magical scene out of Lady and the Tramp sans the waiter serenading you with his impeccable accordion skills (though they would if they could).
[Seasonal Specials] ilLido at the Cliff celebrates the White Asparagus
Labels:
hidden finds,
hotel,
italian,
must go,
restaurants,
romantic,
sentosa,
sofitel sentosa,
special occasion,
white asparagus,
will return
·
The White Asparagus is the harbinger of spring. These tender stems packing in some amazing sweet and clean flavors that fetch some insane prices at the onset of the season, and then subsequently making an appearance in every nook and cranny of Farmers markets all over Europe till the end of July.
Every year, there's a slew of restaurants that put these albino varietals on their special menus even on our local shores. From gnocchi to the classic egg Milanese, ilLido at the Cliff joins the ranks, even resorting to using white asparagus in a fancy dessert to seal the deal. There is an awkward, inexplicable backlash to this trick; but whether or not it showcases the vegetable in all its glory, you'll just have to hang in there till the finale for the verdict.
Miam Miam: New Pasta & Pancake Creations
Labels:
bugis,
cafe,
casual,
family friendly,
fusion,
italian,
japanese,
large groups,
pasta
·
Miam Miam's newest menu addition is the alluring Mentaiko King Crab Pasta ($19.80). This Squid Ink Pasta Dish features juicy Alaskan King Crab slathered with cod roe mayo! The first bite will surely knock you off your feet, for the dark strands of pasta belie some real powerful spiciness that keep you coming back for more. You'll end up with some goth lips and stained teeth, and with a satisfied grin to show them off!
[NEW] PizzaExpress: Renowned global chain makes it first foray into Singapore
Labels:
italian,
large groups,
must go,
orchard,
pizza,
prosecco,
will return
·
Do we need another pizza joint? I say YES!
PizzaExpress has finally opened its doors in Singapore, at Scotts Square, on 29th July '16. As the 576th outlet in the world, the 51-year old PizzaExpress has launched its first outlet at Scotts Square, all in good time too since the Orchard region sees a dire need for wine and dine revamp. The arrival of Japan Food Town in Wisma, a strict contrast to the popular London chain featuring its signature marble counters and tables as focal points. The 3000 sq foot restaurant located in the basement level of Scotts Square churns our gorgeous smells of freshly baked dough and melted cheese amongst boisterous laughter. Calabrese and dough balls along with a mouth-watering array of homemade pizzas are the name of the game here. A liberal touch of local flavors (chilli crab pizza, which has yet to be launched on the menu) thrown in the menu to prevent locals from feeling alienated whilst most of the menu runs in a more classical vein.
Knicker + Bockers: $12.90 customisable pizzas in the heart of the CBD
Labels:
affordable,
CBD,
italian,
lunch,
raffles place,
takeout,
will return
·
CBD warriors can now rejoice in having another tasty and reasonably priced option to satisfy their hunger pangs during the workday. Located at the basement of Ocean Financial Centre. Knicker+Bockers is an New York inspired pizzeria offering handcrafted pizza with unlimited toppings. Yes, you heard that right. Unlimited toppings! At only $12.90 for a 10-inch pizza, this is a really good deal.
First off, the menu reads more like a checklist of your heart's desire - 8 kinds of cheese, check; 20 different options for healthy veggies, check; 16 varieties of gourmet meat toppings and 6 choices of seafood garnishes, check and check!
iO Italian Osteria: like eating at Nonna's place
Labels:
affordable,
desserts,
downtown,
dtl2,
hidden finds,
hillv2,
hillview,
italian,
large groups,
pasta,
pizza,
will return
·
Visits to iO Italian Osteria always bring a smile to my face. Warm affectionate service staff with occasional burst of passive-aggressive enthusiasm. "Eat the food when its hot, OK?" bellows Chef Anna Borrasi as she thrusts the piping hot and and saucy looking Raviolocci with beef filling into your hands. The imaginary wooden rolling pin she was holding in hers proving to be a tad menacing at this point. Not to say that there is an air of 'Italian Mafia' spirit here, but that's exactly what I'm saying..and here family matters are not to be trifled with. So put away your phones and devices and try to enjoy a good time in good company.
iO Italian Osteria: True Italian Style
Labels:
affordable,
hidden finds,
hillv2,
italian,
large groups,
must go,
seafood,
upperbukittimah,
will return
·
iO Osteria has a few problems. For one, service is a nightmare, the dining grounds akin to a battlefield soaked with the grievous stares of diners turned away at the door when trying to snag a seat without making a reservation. The enthusiastic Italian staff exchanging a flurry of heated conversation over a wrong order at the bar whilst chiding a local young girl who asked us twice about dishes that didn't belong to us. I hope these issues get resolved. I really do. Because food at iO Osteria is unbelievably good, and if you close your eyes amidst all the chaos, you will feel that a part of you is zipped away to Italy.
The Waterfall @ Shangri-La Hotel: New Salumeria Menu & other heirloom signatures
Labels:
expensive,
hidden finds,
hotel,
italian,
large groups,
orchard,
shangri la hotel,
special occasion,
will return
·
Don't get chasing waterfalls...
Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to
Classic TLC lyrics that teach us not to get ahead of ourselves. Chef de Cuisine Marco De Vincentis threads on safe grounds with his expertise spreading to the new salumeria menu of exclusive imported cold cuts and cheese as well as 26 new a la carte heirloom creations that highlight his Southern roots, seeing that he hails from Naples - a scenic city hugging the Southern coasts of Italy.
What's that? - salumeria consisting of exclusive, imported cold cuts and cured meats, as well as artisanal cheeses from the counter. We hearsay they have a creamy Burrata Pugliese Pomodori Marinati stashed somewhere in there too!
Contrary to popular belief, The Waterfall is not a buffet restaurant (thought I might get that assumption out of the way first to avoid some quizzical looks as I dive deeper into the mechanics of the Italian feast that we indulged in here) - residing in the lovely enclave of the hotel poolside, the rustic charms of the colonial decor takes one back into a seemingly different era, where its acceptable to be sipping on mai tais in broad daylight while trying to make a white plastic pool deck chair look sexy.
None of that nonsense for now. Let's talk food.
{Wordless Wednesdays}: Bottura
Labels:
affordable,
cityhall,
food tasting,
italian,
media event,
pasta,
promenade,
sunteccity,
will not return,
wordless wednesdays
·
 |
| Arancini al Ragu ($8) |
I initially condoned this to the 'Shall keep mum' folder on my desktop, but what the heck.. it's better suited for my 'Wordless Wednesday' movement.. simply because that's exactly where a meal at Bottura left me. At a loss for words.
And not in a good way too.
'The Italian Table' @ Zafferano: magnificent Saturday Italian brunch
Labels:
alfresco,
brunch,
buffets,
champagne,
cityviews,
italian,
must go,
raffles place,
romantic,
will return
·
If there's one thing we take seriously here, its brunch.
Hence when we heard of Zafferano rolling out its new and super indulgent Saturday Italian brunch, we stopped in our tracks and listened eagerly.
Every first and last Saturday of the month, Zafferano serves one of the most luxurious brunches around, it's arrangement gearing towards a buffet style but with hints of ala carte's service finesse. Start off with a 7 different antipastis including fresh oysters and a selection of frito misto, 3 authentic pastas and a traditional saffron risotto and finally a choice of main course. Depart on a sweet note with a quick trip over to the dessert counter, there, a humble but cleverly curated selection of pastries await.
Alkaff Mansion: Italian BBQ Nights
Labels:
affordable,
alfresco,
barbeque,
buffets,
family friendly,
hidden finds,
italian,
ribs,
romantic,
special occasion,
will return
·
A good 2 years later and here I am back at Alkaff Mansion, a lofty colonial manor nestled on top of a verdant knoll filled with luscious foliage and leafy pastures. No doubt, things have changed since my last 2 visits (the first being my cousin's wedding, and the next being a HGW tasting; you can read about it here), with speedy progressions in the marriage and a blessed baby girl born; however, things have hardly changed at Alkaff - it's pish-posh mannerisms and restrained grandeur prevail, the infrastructure still spick and span, as if it hadn't aged a day.
Well, as much as I wasn't there to inspect for the natural degradation of the establishment, one can't help but feel like a jealous schoolmate during a class reunion, positively green eyed from the lack of ageing signs, especially with my tragic loss of vitality over the last two years, attributed to my love for alcohol and the wretched night life. I digress. The rising smoke from the BBQ beckons.
Basilico @ Regent Hotel: Viaggio Italiano
Labels:
affordable,
basilico,
big groups,
buffet dinner,
buffets,
cakes,
cheese,
desserts,
italian,
may return,
regent hotel,
special occasion
·
Viaggio Italiano at Basilico reaches its halfway mark after Executive Chef Angelo Ciccone took diners on a culinary tour of Sicily and Sardinia. Now from the 1st July to 30th Sep 2015, Basilico explores the flavors of South Italy which counts for a great part of the history of Italian cuisine and continues in the last leg of the Italian epicurean journey showcasing dishes from North Italy from 1st Oct to 31st Dec' 2015.
Exclusive to the dinner seating, the Basilico's Basilissimo dinner menu comprises of an antipasti and dessert buffet that is tagged along with ala-carte main course options. Needless to say, the antipasti spread was rad, and the same can be lamented of the interior design of the establishment. Beautifully cool marbled counter tops and opulent lamp shades casting muted lighting across the luxurious space. What lavish interiors. It just oozes money. And, it is in this space that, you know that your stomach is in capable hands.
8 Affordable Date Night Dinner Places (Part 1)
Labels:
affordable,
barfood,
beer,
cocktails,
comfortfoods,
italian,
japanese,
lists,
lobster rolls,
must go,
pasta,
pizza,
quick picks,
sushi,
will return
·
1. Saboten
For the girl who's got a craving for fried food
Got a hankering for fried food?
Then ascend to golden crust haven at Saboten where you'll be greeted by a plethora of gob-smacking choices of the crisp skin variety. My choices would be the loin set (toss the black pig version aside unless you enjoy biting on ends of white fat - its obvious the marbling isn't that spectacular in their care), Fried Shrimp as well as the Hiroshima Oyster Katsu for the win.
Caffe B: Affordable Set lunches in MBS
Labels:
affordable,
beef,
cocktails,
fusion,
italian,
japanese,
marina bay sands,
pasta,
setlunch,
will not return
·
Caffe B set in lush satin settings, a secretive sort of environment fine-tuned by plenty of luxe design decisions, offers diners an oasis perfect for constructive business meetings. These are complemented by bespoke light details, grand chandeliers overhead and raw metal grills reminiscent of Aztec cultures, that work effectively as partitions, offering enclaves for private discussions. The veteran F&B patron in the mall has recently rolled out an inexpensive $25++ three-course set lunch menu to lure in the office crowds. Ok, so let me deliberate before you go down.
Dolcetto by Basilico: Delizioso
Labels:
affordable,
bakery,
boulangerie. bakery,
cakes,
chocolate,
desserts,
Gourmet Chocolate,
italian,
must go,
orchard,
regent hotel,
salads,
sandwich,
tart
·
To say that this post is overdue is an understatement as the memories of Christmas fade into the background, and a heavy stream of red takes to the street. Yes, Chinese New Year is around the corner, hinting the procession of lo hei and festive goodies. Still, what's good is always worth sharing and my trip to Dolcetto at the Regent Hotel Singapore sure does justify a post, even if it might be a very tardy one.
Not a desserts fan, get a load of the sandwiches, daily soup and salads at Dolcetto. Being a take-away extension of the famous Basilico upstairs, you'll be guaranteed similar standards of food in tidier portions. Having visited Basilico before on a business lunch; an affair that resulted in me feasting flagrantly with wild abandon in front of my Chairman, grunting as I tugged on the cheesy strings of the white truffle infused calzone and getting carried away helping myself to one too many smoked buffalo mozzarella balls, I swore I almost choked when he asked me asked me if I was enjoying the food! ; As I perused the display at Dolcetto, I was thrilled to see that congruent offerings were carried downstairs. Take for example the Buffalo Mozzarella Salad, served with a simple balsamic vinegar dressing and the sweetest tomatoes ever. Perfect if you are allowing yourself to go big on the indulgent stuff without inheriting too much guilt.
Senso: Sunday Prosecco Brunch
Senso Ristorante and Bar has got a special place in my heart (and tummy). Recollections from a somewhat suggestive first 'business lunch' with the current boyfriend (read more about it here) float as thick as smog around our window seats which were sadly occupied by another eccentric couple. To celebrate our monthsary, we turned to the trusty folks at Senso for a good time, armed with our Entertainer apps, we were ready to rock out the Sunday Prosecco Brunch in style and reckless abandon. Working in the F&B industry, day-offs are rare and that explains our 'go big or go home' attitudes.
Priced at just 98++ with free flow of Prosecco, wines, beer, soft drinks, coffee and tea, it sounds like a steal, but truth be told, it gets better! Think a buffet of starters, Cause nobody does cold cuts better than the Italian!; fresh Italian breads, a galore of cheeses, salami, parma, prosciutto, smoked salmon, oysters. Tuck into a bowlful of the freshest prawns and revel in the crystal sweetness of these babies.
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