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The Modern Italian Table

These new menus from some of Singapore’s top Italian restaurant­s prove that there is more to the popular European cuisine that just pizza and pasta

- By Anton D. Javier

LA STRADA

Enjoy re-imagined modern Italian fare from the kitchen of La Strada, which is now under the stewardshi­p of Les Amis alum, Chef Peter Teo. While the restaurant gives off a cosy, neighborho­od vibe, the food here boasts elegant fine dining characteri­stics — from techniques to plating.

The true spirit of Italian cuisine lies in the freshness of the ingredient­s used in each dish and this is perfectly exemplifie­d in one of La Strada’s stunning starters: Japanese Amera Tomatoes. Here, sweet and juicy tomato disks are meticulous­ly placed atop zucchini and capsicum and finished with a shallow pool of basil-infused oil for a hit of herbaceous­ness. Also enjoyable is the Mushroom Cappuccino. While not a new concept, this creamy and foamy concoction is full of earthy, moreish flavors; each sip a delight from the awabitake and ceps mushrooms.

Where pasta is concerned, the seafood options shine brightest, such as the Obsiblue Prawn Linguine and the off-menu Japanese Sea Urchin Tagliolini. The sauces are light and coat each noodle strand delicately, allowing the natural sweetness of the seafood to shine through. Finally, the Roasted Whole Organic Chicken with acquerello risotto should not be missed — slightly smoky, juicy, and with an ever so subtle fruity note because of the chicken’s pineappler­ich diet.

ZAFFERANO

While most Italian chefs are notorious for sticking to tradition, especially when it comes to food, there are also a handful who dare to venture beyond the norm. One such chef is Andrea De Paola of Zafferano, who recently unveiled a new chef’s menu that brings together personal memories of his Italian upbringing and culinary elements of Asia, which he has called home for almost a decade.

This cross-cultural exchange is immediatel­y evident in the Scampi e Fegato D’oca starter, where a slightly smoky chargrille­d langoustin­e is on a bed of cubed aged foie gras and finished with a light drizzle of kombu and ginger dashi. Continuing on with the Japanese theme is the house-made Tagliolini pasta, which is crowned with hiika squid from the Miyagi prefecture and Kaluga caviar, adding texture and a delightful brininess. It is then paired with a seafood velouté prepared with Venus clams, langoustin­e, and lobster.

While the meal continues with more Japanese ingredient­s, such as Japanese red sea bream and A4 Kagoshima wagyu, it ends on a very strong Italian note with the Gianduia dessert. The sweet treat highlights the classic pairing of chocolate and hazelnuts with Valrhona Araguani 72% dark chocolate with Tonda Gentile hazelnut and Ron Zacapa Centenario 23 rum.

Visit Zafferano at Ocean Financial Centre, 10 Collyer Quay, Level 43 Tel: 6509 1488

DOLCE VITA

Tucked away on level 5 at Mandarin Oriental, Singapore, Dolce Vita is an institutio­n well-loved for its Italian cuisine that is specially created with fresh seasonal produce and the finest ingredient­s in mind. We urge you to pay a visit because this period, Chef de Cuisine Giorgio Maggioni recently unveiled a lineup of new creations that feature the season’s best bounties.

There’s no better time to enjoy asparagus than now, so enjoy the season’s harvest at Dolce Vita, which is simply blanched and marinated with fresh orange for a refreshing and zesty profile. Meanwhile, the Fegato d’anatra e Piccione is an antipasto that brings together creamy foie gras terrine with warm sous vide pigeon breast and served with an oven baked pan brioche on the side — a delightful starter that expertly combines various temperatur­es and textures.

But if we had a choice to enjoy only one dish from the seasonal menu, that distinctio­n would go to the Spaghetti Chittara, which is a pork-based pasta with a rich homemade luganega ragout that’s prepared with red wine, herbs, and yellow datterino tomato coulis and simmered for six hours. What results is a rich and complex meat sauce that perfectly pairs with the toothsome noodle.

Visit Dolce Vita at Mandarin Oriental, Singapore, Level 5 Tel: 6885 3500

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Visit La Strada at Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Road, #01-13 Tel: 6735 6656
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