Acqua e Farina @ The Rail Mall - Authentic And Hearty Italian Fare In Homely Italian Family Restaurant

Along the stretch of dining options at The Rail Mall is a cosy little Italian restaurant, Acqua e Farina. It is helmed by Chef Antonio Manetto and Chef Roberto Galbiati, who are natives from Southern and Northern Italy respectively. They bring together a full menu of authentic Italian cuisine for diners to enjoy.

As the restaurant's name suggests, Acqua e Farina, which is Italian for water and flour, reflects the Chefs' goal of showcasing their Italian fare using simple traditional recipes and top-quality ingredients.

The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating. I have passed by this restaurant several times but always assumed it has a more formal setting. What I loved most about our dining experience here was how warm and cosy it was! Stepping into the restaurant felt like stepping into an Italian friend's home.

Drinks

We went with a glass of Limoncello Prosecco ($13) and a Blood Orange San Pellegrino ($4) for drinks. If you are a fan of wines, the restaurant features an entire wall of wines you can pick from. The Chefs also offer recommendations based on preferences.

Capesante con Funghi 4.2/5

First up was the Capesante con Funghi ($28), with pan-fried Hokkaido scallop dressed in a creamy and richly earthy mushroom sauce paired with baby spinach and croutons. We had the tasting portion here, while the full portion includes three scallops.

Gamberetti con Pancetta e Spinaci 4/5

Our next starter was the Gamberetti con Pancetta e Spinaci ($27), which has pan-fried shrimp wrapped in pancetta, served with sautéed spinach. My dining companion and I found the prawn a touch drier than we would like, but we appreciated the balance of flavours. I especially liked that it wasn't too salty.

Fettuccine Nere alla Polpa di Granchio 4.5/5

Our first main was the Fettuccine Nere alla Polpa di Granchio ($34), homemade squid ink pasta with crabmeat tossed in tomato sauce. The pasta is made fresh daily, and diners can also request for gluten-free spaghetti. I don't often choose my pasta with a tomato base, but I would come back for Acqua e Farina's rendition.

Their tomato base has a touch of cream and hence is not as acidic as usual. The slight creaminess complemented the chunks of sweet crabmeat.

Pizza Quattro Formaggi 4.5/5

The Pizza Quattro Formaggi ($34) is one of the restaurant's only two pizzas with a white cheese base. The other nine pizzas on the menu use a red tomato base.

If you are a cheese fan, I am sure you will enjoy this. It uses four types of cheese - Mozzarella, Gorgonzola (Blue Cheese), Smoked Scamorza and Asiago. Chef told us this is one of the top two popular pizzas here. It's not difficult to understand with its generous topping of cheese and a whiff of truffle fragrance on a crisp and slightly chewy base.

Linguine alla Bottarga e Capesante 4.2/5

Acqua e Farina regularly launches special menus which keep things fresh and fun, especially for their regular diners. It was coincidentally Mother's Day weekend when we were here, and we had the pleasure to try one of the dishes on their Mother's Day Special menu, the Linguine alla Bottarga e Capesante ($38). The linguine tossed with cured fish roe, garlic, chilli, and herbs was appetising, and we polished this off quickly.

Dessert Platter 4/5

The Dessert Platter ($19) is the easiest way to try an assortment of their dessert offerings. Each platter comprises mini portions of Crème Brûlée, Lava Cake, Panna Cotta and Tiramisù.

The highlights for us were the Lava Cake and Crème Brûlée. The former had the perfect cook and was not too sweet. We wished the caramelised layer on the Crème Brûlée could be thinner, but we enjoyed the smooth and fragrant custard.

Overall, our dinner at Acqua e Farina was a fantastic experience put together by the quality food and servers who go the extra mile to provide a comfortable environment for diners.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Acqua e Farina
The Rail Mll
400 Upper Bukit Timah Road
#01-15/16
Singapore 678050
Tel: +65 69708191
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Nearest MRT: Hillview MRT (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 1130am - 230pm, 530pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Hillview MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left onto Upper Bukit Timah Road. Walk down Upper Bukit Timah Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Wooloomooloo Steakhouse @ Maker's Mark 3-Course Festive Set Lunch Menu For Only $48++

For the upcoming festive period from 26 November to 30 December 2020, Wooloomooloo Steakhouse is launching a special weekday 3-course set lunch menu with Marker's Mark, the premium handcrafted bourbon whisky from Kentucky, USA. The 3-course lunch menu priced at $48++ consists of an appetiser, main course and dessert. The menu will showcase a few dishes incorporating Marker's Mark in them.

Make It Mine 4.2/5

Warm Christmas Chocolate 4/5

Before proceeding to lunch proper, you can start with a few glasses of  Maker's Mark festive cocktails, swinging into the festive mood. Make It Mine is a refreshing citrusy cocktail with pleasant notes of cinnamon. For something warm and soothing, opt for the Warm Christmas Chocolate.

Onion Focaccia 4.2/5

Upon settling down at the table, complimentary freshly baked Onion Focaccia with caramelised onions with whipped butter at the side was served. The focaccia was warm, airy and fluffy with a hint of oregano.

Flammekueche 4/5

For the first course, diners can choose from the Flammekueche, Roasted Carrot & Parsnip Soup or Wooloomooloo Salad. The Flammekueche is a delectable pastry tart with butter-poached onions, crowned with applewood smoked bacon and creme fraiche.

Roasted Carrot & Parsnip Soup 4/5

The Roasted Carrot & Parsnip Soup is a hearty and comforting starter, whetting the appetite. The flavourful soup even comes with brown butter croutons and crab floss for that extra textural contrast.

Wooloomooloo Salad 4/5

My personal favourite among the three starters is the Wooloomooloo Salad. Not only is it tasty, but it is also value for money with tender filet mignon, spinach, mushrooms and black truffle. What I really applaud is the tangy dressing that brings everything together.

Maple-Glazed Salmon 4/5

Moving to the mains, diners have a choice from the Maple-Glazed Salmon, Tiger Prawn Fettuccine, Snake River Farms Pork Chop, Great Southern Pinnacle Australian Grass Fed Sirloin and Morgan Ranch 300-day Grain Fed USDA Prime Rib Eye (addition $20++). 

Tiger Prawn Fettuccine 3.8/5

Wooloomooloo Steakhouse is famed for their steaks, but it does offer other yummy items for the non-beef eater. Seafood lover will rejoice in the delicious Maple-Glazed Salmon. The salmon is cooked to a beautiful pink with a layer of crispy caramelised skin from the glazed maple. Another seafood option is the Tiger Prawn Fettuccine, tossed in homemade pesto sauce, toasted pine nuts and parmesan paired with crunchy tiger prawns.

Snake River Farms Pork Chop 4.2/5

No surprise, Wooloomooloo Steakhouse does a good pork chop too. Their Snake River Farms Pork Chop glazed with miso is tender and juicy. Paired it with apple compote for elevated enjoyment.

USDA Prime Rib Eye 4.5/5

Not to be missed is the steak at Wooloomooloo Steakhouse. We had the Morgan Ranch 300-day Grain Fed USDA Prime Rib Eye (additional $20++) that comes with honey-roasted parsnips, truffle mash potatoes and charred broccoli. The Chef has also specially concocted the Maker's Mark peppercorn sauce to complement the beautifully grilled piece of steak.

Pecan Pie 4/5

Last but not least, diners can choose between two beautiful desserts - Pecan Pie or Apple Frangipane Tart to complete the 3-course meal. The Pecan Pie's sweetness and nuttiness work harmoniously with the signature caramel and notes from Mark's Marker cream for enhanced enjoyment. The Apple Frangipane Tart layered with slices of granny smith apple, is another delightful dessert that will sweeten your day.

Apple Frangipane Tart 4/5

The Marker's Mark 3-Course Festive Lunch Set Menu at Wooloomooloo Steakhouse will be available on weekdays from 26 November to 30 December 2020, excluding weekends, 24 and 25 December 2020. I personally find that for $48++ this is a sell, especially if you enjoy having a nice steak for lunch.

This post is brought to you by Wooloomooloo Steakhouse SG.


Wooloomooloo Steakhouse
Swissotel the Stamford
2 Stamford Road
Level 3
Singapore 178882
Tel: +65 63380261
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Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 1130pm

Direction:
1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Raffles City Shopping Centre. Walk to level 3. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes.[Map]

Elemen (元素) Classic @ Great World City - Celebration Of All The Brand's Most Beloved Dishes, As Well As New Creations

Elemen restaurants known for serving modern interpretations of meatless dishes, using natural and wholesome ingredients have opened a brand-new dining concept at Great World City, aptly named  Elemen Classic. Different from the other concepts, the menu curates all the popular and beloved dishes of Elemen, as well as newly created ones that are exclusively available at this outlet.

Classic Appetiser 3/5

Our dinner began with a trio of the Classic Appetiser ($4.80). I feel that it is like an amuse bouche that gives us a glimpse of the different cuisines on the menu. From Chinese cuisine, we have the konnyaku jelly, peach gum and goji berries marriage in sesame dressing. The Japanese cuisine is a simple crunchy Japanese cucumber with sweet plum sauce. Wrapping up the trio is the cherry tomato with sour plum sauce that demonstrates Western cuisine.

Truffle Breadsticks with Blueberry Yoghurt Sauce 4.2/5

The Truffle Breadsticks with Blueberry Yoghurt Sauce ($3.80) may look like an unassuming dish, but this is surprisingly one of our favourites. We even asked for second serving. The breadstick has a mochi-like texture made with truffle butter, complemented by the homemade yoghurt sauce with a sweet-sour tinge.

Double-boiled Cordyceps Flower with Peach Gum in Superior Soup 4.5/5

Nourishing and rich in collagen is the Double-boiled Cordyceps Flower with Peach Gum in Superior Soup ($10.80). It is double-boiled for a good 4 hours to extract the robust flavours from the cordyceps and pech gum.

Stir-fried Brown Rice with Preserved Bean Curd 3/5

For something for substantial, there is the Stir-fried Brown Rice with Preserved Bean Curd ($16.80). It features fluffy brown rice tossed with savoury fermented bean curd. Besides the fluffy rice, there are king oyster mushroom and edamame for the extra textural enjoyment.

Kale Tofu with Wild Rice 4/5

Another rice dish on the menu is the Kale Tofu with Wild Rice ($15.80). The wild rice has been soaked with miso sauce, cooked in bamboo stem for the additional aroma. This is accompanied by blocks of silky homemade tofu.

Laksa Fettuccine 3.5/5

For noodle items, there is the Laksa Fettucine topped with arugula and mushroom. It may look rather plain, but the laksa sauce is legit. It complemented the al dente fettuccine excellently. It is ok there is no tau pok, cockles, fish cake, and/or prawn.

Truffle Broth Ramen 4/5

An all-time favourite at Elemen is the Truffle Broth Ramen ($14.80). I am surprised that the restaurant manages to achieve the creamy consistency reminiscent of tonkotsu. It is done by boiling a medley of ingredients such as arrowroot, turnip, mountain yam, tangerine peel for 3 hours. It also comes with handmade dumplings filled with shiitake mushroom, tofu and chestnut.

If you find yourself spoilt of choice, you can go for the six-course ($28.80), or eight-course ($32.80) set menus.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Elemen Classic
Great World City
1 Kim Seng Promenade
#01-122
Singapore 237994
Tel: +65 62356613
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Nearest MRT: Great World (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Great World MRT station. Take Exit 2. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]