CUCINA POP COMES TO SINGAPORE
The last few months have seen some terrific new restaurant openings in Singapore and none is more exciting than FOO’D by Davide Oldani. One of Italy’s most distinguished celebrity chefs, such is his popularity people have been known to wait up to eight months for a reservation at his Michelin-starred boutique restaurant near Milan.
His first venture into Asia, FOO’D is located in the impressive Victoria Theatre & Concert Hall building at 11 Empress Place. The concept is Cucina Pop, an affordable fine-dining experience offering diners a superb selection of signature à la carte dishes such as his caramelised onion served with 20-month aged Grana Padano and octopus carpaccio with yellow frisée salad, orange and tomato.
Open for lunch and dinner, Monday through Saturday, aside from its à la carte options, FOO’D offers a choice of extremely well-priced pre-theatre menus and a selection of three-to seven-course degustation menus. Delights such as lobster bisque and herb sorbet served with chunky bread await and his signature Spanish suckling pig with mixed berries and celeriac puree, pan-fried branzino with vegetable and squid ink caviar and a superb lemon curd presented with meringue, lettuce gelato and cocoa crumble.
The wine list is stellar and features a substantial collection of carefully curated Italian wines alongside a good range of New and Old World favourites. The list is boosted with a number of exotic rarities too like the acclaimed 1997 Chateau Petrus, Pomerol and the sublime 1986 Château Cheval Blanc, Saint-Émilion. The menu is completed in style by around a dozen sparkling wines and premium NV champagnes. Booking is highly recommended.