Savouring Concetto by Saveur

Concetto, the Italian offshoot of Saveur, opens at The Cathay. It seems that this little shopping mall is currently the destination for affordable downtown dining. We spied a sizable crowd at Eighteen Chefs and Saizeriya. Anyway, the well-loved Saveur guys behind their signature French fare at friendly prices have applied the same philosophy of making fine Italian food more accessible to the masses at Concetto. Dishes are created using techniques usually found in higher end restaurants, at prices that do not burn a hole in the pocket.

Backed by an investor in the medical field, the founders bring you
dishes crafted from local fresh produce, cooked a la minute and dressed to
the nines at Concetto. They draw on their past experiences at
Guy Savoy, Fifty Three, Jaan and Tetsuya's.

Simple furnishings with a raw industrial look.

Modern interpretation of old school formica chairs
and tables. The vibe reminds us of a classroom which
perhaps suit the predominantly young clientele here.

Youth is Energy! We salute the young chefs toiling over our food at the
open concept kitchen and the eager, sweet-young service staff. Admittedly,
service is a little raw at the edges (i.e. we were served desserts before mains
& appetisers came last) but nothing that a little training and ironing out
of kinks wouldn't fix.

Lovely granite bench by the window to place
your barang barang.

A bible verse on the menu as a reminder of His goodness. Time to say grace
and tuck in!

Woooo fresh pasta handmade daily like those at Jaime's Italian here.

Grilled Octopus with fennel salad and anchovy dressing.
($10.90) Pity the lack of greens even though the octopus
slices were remarkably fresh.

Duck Tortellini with poached egg, new potato and
parmesan emulsion. ($12.90) The play of textures was
delightful on the palate but the lions doubt that they'd
order this dish again.

Crab Risotto ($12.90). The lions did not request for an al dente
bite as instructed on the menu so it came rather comforting
soft instead. The broth was rich and addictive though.
What they soon realised was that portions were really
small in fine-dining fashion. They advise anyone, even
the ladies, to order two dishes at least per person to fill
a hungry stomach.

Even the Pistachio Panna Cotta ($6.90) came in a dainty
glass that was one-third filled. But boy, was it heavenly.
The pistachio crumble at the top was tinged with a kiss
of salt, adding an interesting dimension to it.

Two levels of dining space.

Main kitchen at the bottom with a small one at the mezzanine top supporting
the operation.

A little indoor herb garden.

Even though most dishes were tagged with reasonable prices (i.e. wagyu beef at $26.90!) given the quality of fine ingredients used and sleek presentation, portions were really modest. After ordering a couple more dishes to satisfy a growling appetite, the total bill matched what they would normally pay at a typical restaurant here. The lions glanced around and noticed that the pasta dishes came in slightly larger portions though. So be smart, rally a couple of friends to try a greater variety of dishes here and yeah, don't forget to order pasta. 

Concetto by Saveur
The Cathay
2 Handy Road
#01-11
Singapore 229233

The Best & Greasiest Lasagna at Benito's Pizzeria

Just before the start of the Lunar New Year festivities, the two lions succumbed to the goodies-no-enough temptation. Even though they were gladly inundated with containers of festive sweets and goodies by thoughtful friends, they still craved for that familiar bite. Yup, they had to travel all the way to Telok Blangah Rise for their pineapple tart of choice. The lioness' late Indonesian-born granny used to bake these babies for a living and Teck Neo's version by far is the closest in taste to those that used to come out of the oven at home. 

Their plans were soon derailed when they spotted a new neighbourhood pizzeria just beside Teck Neo and got sucked in trying to figure out if it was worth a try. By the time they had examined the menu and made the decision to stay for dinner, Teck Neo had shuttered for the day and would only open till after the holidays. Oh bother!

The lions were saved from their favourite calorie-laden tarts but oh no!
a timely distraction at Benito's Pizzeria with pastas, pizzas and lasagna.

We hope that it's worth the try!

Pizzas, pastas and some sides that include your usual onion rings and
wings. No GST and service charge here.

Benito's takes its slogan of "We welcome family" (sic)
seriously. There's a little play area of rainbow balls to
keep kids entertained while parents watch
re-runs of "Friends" on TV. Very homely vibe.

Coffee is available but the lions didn't give it a try
that night.

The Challenge: spicy sauce, mushrooms, ground beef,
beef pepperoni, onions, peppers and mozzarella.
Pizza snobs will lament that the dough's not the authentic,
chewy Italian dough. Still, it was a semi-thin crust pizza  
and quite tasty. (9-inch $20.90/12-inch $25.90)

Seafood Marinara: prawns, clams, smoked salmon cooked
in a spicy tomato sauce ($10.90) Hearty portion of prawns
and clams. This was absolutely heavenly as the sauce
was infused with strong, piquant seafood flavours.

Beef Lasagna: layers of lasagna topped with beef ragu, bechamel sauce
and finished with mozzarella and cheddar. ($10.90).
This was probably one of the best lasagna the lions and companions
had ever tasted. The lion loved the crusty bits of cheese that had
sorta caramalised at the side. And the layers were bathed in glorious oil.
Really sinful and yet after a few mouthfuls, it was not cloying on the palate
at all. Garfield would approve. Be prepared to wait a little longer for your
food here though.

Ironically, for a pizzeria, the pasta and lasagna dish overshadowed the meek pizza. The piece de resistance here is definitely the greasily divine lasagna. The lioness was a true convert after a few bites even though she would usually avoid ordering this plebian dish at Italian joints. With the exclusion of taxes and service charge, prices are kept affordable. For pizzas, order a 12-inch for better value. Breezy outdoor seating is available; otherwise sit indoors and catch the Italian chef belting out an operatic tune in dramatic falsetto from the kitchen. This is a homegrown restaurant that opened its doors last July and by the way, the moniker's a twist on the name of its local owner, Benedict.

Why so Generous, Fratini?

The lions met up with Mr Business Times and the makan gang, this time for an Italian feast at Fratini La Trattoria. They went for the assaggini (small plates) menu that featured a delightful flow of 12 Italian-style tapas for $70++. This experience is best savoured in a communal way with friends over hearty conversation and wine. The Barolo wine selected for the evening was excellent and the gang thoroughly enjoyed themselves with Chef Gabriel Fratini and his wife popping over to exchange witticisms and ensure that everybody was well-fed and satisfied. In his words, "Nobody leaves this place unhappy or hungry!" Glad the guy's back after more than a decade long hiatus. Do not expect haute cuisine here but straight-forward, accessible cooking done with Chef Fratini's signature non-traditionalist touches.

No fixed menu at Fratini; the food served depends on the day's
produce found at the market, freeing the chef to be absolutely creative.

Sexy... Now the meal commences after the wine is poured... ...

First up: Crab Salad with peppers and olives, and a light drizzle of truffle oil.

Prawn Cocktail in passion-fruit.

Seared Scallop in porcini sauce.

Squid with chick peas.

Fried Baby Octopus.

White Bait Omelette.

Beef Carpaccio with Tuna Sauce

Chicken stuffed with cheese and vegetables.

Baked razor clams.

Breaded Fish.

Braised Pork Ribs.

Seafood Fettuccine with crayfish and prawns.

Poached Pear with spices.

Passion fruit and chocolate tarts.

Tiramisu. - one of the best versions on the island
attested by the tiramisu-crazy Mr Causeway.

One of the downsides of dining without a menu for reference is that it's hard to take specific notes eg. the exact type of fish served, the ingredients of the accompanying sauces, etc. The busy wait staff was also too harried that evening (full house!) to explain the dishes clearly. Truth be told, the lions felt that the desserts somewhat eclipsed the rest of the more straight-forward dishes. But this Italian establishment certainly remains unrivalled in terms of value. Count the dishes served (from the pictures). Yup, they were so generous, they sneaked in more than 12 items. Well, it's a promise that patrons will leave absolutely satiated and happy!

Fratini La Trattoria
10 Greenwood Avenue
Hill Crest Park
Singapore 289201

An Afternoon Soiree at Jamie's Italian

Having tried Jamie Oliver's Fifteen in London just a month ago (worth a trip!) but not his other Italian baby, the lioness was thrilled when Jamie's Italian finally opened its newly minted doors in Singapore just over a week ago. She was looking forward to a relaxing luncheon with two of her girlfriends. But first, they had to brave the queue. A quick call to the restaurant a day ago almost turned their eager anticipation into disappointment as they were informed that the venue had, well, reached its capacity for reservations (kindly wait a month, pls). They decided to try their luck at securing a walk-in table on a weekday afternoon instead.


A long winding queue started to form half an hour prior to the start of
lunch operations on a weekday afternoon! Families, office workers, mothers with babies
in tow, etc were seen patiently waiting in line.

As the queue slowly began to filter into the restaurant once the doors were gingerly opened,
Murphy's Law came into play as the Lioness and her friends were the first group of patrons
in the queue who were apologetically told to wait for the next available table. They decide to cut
a tab first at the bar (see the cute box above holding the credit card).

Unlucky numero uno to wait at the bar for a table. Oh bother,
the girls decided to make the best out of things with an order
of cocktails to lift the spirits :) 

Cuchi's choice: Florence Fizz with limoncello,
pomegranate juice, elderflower cordial and Prosecco.

Miss Fine Palate went for Jamie's Italian Mojito.
Really good, only gripe, not enough rum lol.

Kudos to the good natured bartender trying to please
a bunch of alcoholics in the afternoon.

Miss Bollywood's Pear & Rosemary Martini was outstandingly
well-balanced and the best concoction of the three.

Service was excellent. Cuchi's complaint about her drink
was swiftly addressed and a stronger Negroni appeared.

Rustic interior with wood accents and a touch of industrial chic.

The Bar

Patrons waiting for that elusive table.

Browse the merchandise on display while waiting.

Pasta made daily on site.

Finally! Secured a table near the bright and airy area facing Sentosa. 

Casual but chic furnishings.

 

A peek of the open concept kitchen.

Bread basket - not complimentary like what you usually
expect at fine dining establishments. 

 

The famous Polenta Chips with parmesan. Addictive.
It was crispy on the outside and had the mushy and grainy texture
and taste of a certain instant porridge (in a good way!)
that the lioness had in her childhood.

Delightfully chewy risotto balls stuffed with fragrant porcini.

The grilled lamp chop lollipops received mixed reviews.
The lioness thought that it was surprisingly bland but
Miss Fine Palate liked it for having none of that unpleasant
gaminess.

Black Angel Spaghetti received thumbs up from the
lioness for its fragrant seafood stock. The scallops were
not the freshest though.  

Tagliatelle Bolognese. Hmm good but not outstandingly great
without the al dente bite.

 

Lemon meringue tart was a huge hit with the ladies.

Miss Fine Palate loved the panna cotta with berry compote.

Only for serious alcoholics, this tiramisu was drenched in
spirits.

Sakura tea - a refreshing end to a hearty Italian meal.



 

Admittedly, the sides and desserts at Jamie's Italian overshadowed the main dishes. Was the wait worthwhile? Perhaps not for some. But for die-hard fans who support the celebrity chef's philosophy of good honest food made without all the complicated fuss, come with no elevated expectations and you'll definitely have a great time. Oh, and we love the service as well.

Jamie's Italian
1 HarbourFront Walk,
VivoCity, #1 165-167
Singapore 098585 

Tel: 67335500
(Doors open at 12noon)