Buona Terra @ Scotts Road - Tranforming Italian Cuisine Into A Contemporary Work Of Art

I am actually surprised that Buona Terra located at Scotts Road has been around since 2012. It has been 8 years, and I only knew of the restaurant when it was awarded its first one Michelin star in 2019. Having passed the beautiful black and white colonial bungalow along Scotts Road on many occasions, it never occurred to be the restaurant is actually located at the cosy wing of the bungalow, hidden from the urban jungle in Orchard area.

Crispy Potato and Cod Fish Mousse 4/5

I had the Buona Terra Experience 5-course Menu ($178) for lunch. The lunch started with 3 snacks item and a basket of housemade bread which comprises of Onion Foccacia, Dried Tomato Soft Roll and Sourdough.

Butter Cone with Scallop Tartare and Caviar 4.5/5

Tomato Ball 4.2/5

The three snack items are Crispy Potato and Cod Fish Mousse, Butter Cone with Scallop Tartare and Caviar, and Tomato Ball. I was really impressed with what I see and taste so far. I was sharing with my dining companions, I didn't feel like I am dining in an Italian restaurant, it felt more like a French restaurant.

Snail Ragu with Martini Sabayon 4/5

The amuse bouche is Snail Ragu with Martini Sabayon. The creamy sabayon is actually is a mixture of cream, egg yolk and four kinds of pepper (Jamaican, Javanese, Indian and Sarawak). It is even smoked with applewood chips just before servicing.

Beef Carpaccio with Porcini Mushrooms 4.8/5

The Beef Carpaccio with Porcini Mushrooms uses Kagoshima Wagyu Sendai A5 Sirloin. A lot of prep work is behind the beautiful dish. The wagyu is coated in seasoning and chilled in the chiller for a couple of hours. The rub is then washed off, and the wagyu is then chargrilled and smoked with cherry wood before leaving it in the freezer. It is then thinly sliced for serving.

Seared Scallop, Jerusalem Artichoke, Sea Asparagus and Anchovy Sauce 4/5

Next from the sea, we have the Seared Scallop paired with Jerusalem artichoke, sea asparagus and anchovy sauce. The live Hokkaido scallop is super huge, plump and sweet.

Tagliolini with Crab and Caviar 4.5/5

A staple in Italian cuisine is their pasta. Made inhouse is the Tagliolini which has a firmer bite compare to others. The texture of the pasta really stands out for me. The texture reminds of the Chinese Ee Mian texture.

Chargrilled Dry Aged Mieral Pigeon with Figs and Pumpkin, Amaretto and Moscato 4.2/5

The Chargrilled Pigeon is from Mieral, France dry-aged for 10 days and served in two ways. I am not sure whether it is due to the dry-ageing, I find that it has a deeper flavour. In fact, you don't get that liver-like taste which most diner may dislike.

Salted Milk Ice Cream, Dulce De Leche, Italian White Truffle 5/5

Diners can choose to add on $50 for the pre-dessert with 5g of white truffles. The Salted Milk Ice Cream with dulce de leche is topped with shaved Italian white truffle. Ice cream and white truffle is an unusual pairing, but the combination tasted heavenly.

Pear and Ricotta Cheesecake 4/5

Dessert is Pear and Ricotta Cheesecake which is beautifully presented with a scoop of pear sorbet. What I enjoyed is the multi-textural and flavours in each bite.

Fruit Gelee

Baci di Dama

Wrapping up the 5-course meal is a trio of Fruit Gelee, Baci di Dama and Cannolo. The fruit gelee reminds me of my childhood day. My favourite goes to the cannolo for its delightful crunch and nuttiness.

Cannolo

As this is the white truffle season, diner can choose to add them to enhance any dish at $88 for 10g or $10 per gram. For wine lovers, Buona Terra boasts a collection of over 250 labels include vintages and limited bottles that are rarely available commercially, earning the restaurant recognition among the 5 top wine lists for Italian wines in Singapore.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Buona Terra
29 Scotts Road
Singapore 2282244
Tel: +65 67330209
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line), Newton (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri & PH: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 1030pm
Sat & PH: 6pm - 1030pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Newton MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn right onto Scotts Road. Walk down Scotts Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 mins. [Map]

2) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop opposite Orchard Road (Stop ID 09023). Take bus number 124, 143, 162, 167 or 972. Alight 2 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 mins. [Map]

LaBrezza @ The St. Regis Singapore - A White Truffle Gastronomy

Hailing from Piedmont, the highly prized white truffles has arrived at LaBrezza at The St. Regis Singapore. Only available during this short winter season between 15 October - 30 November 2019, Executive Sous Chef Fabio Granata has crafted a special menu to incorporate this delicacy into Italian classics.

Organic Poached Egg, Spinach, Tre Latti Cheese Fondue, Alba Truffle Shavings 4.5/5

The strength of white truffles, as you will realise as you go along with the dishes, lies with their aroma. The most ideal way to treat white truffles is to slice them thinly only a finished pasta, eggs etc, allowing heat to release its aroma and flavors, rather than cooking or infusing them into other ingredients as we would with black truffles. I learnt that ingredients such as cream, milk, eggs, cheese harmonize and accentuate the characteristics of white truffles. That explains why Uovo Affogato, Spinaci, Uovo Fonduta E Tartufo ($56) is so imperative in the entire gastronomic experience. The garlicky scent wafting out from the warmed Alba truffle shavings teased my senses the moment this dish was served. While the green element can be interchanged with other vegetables, the cheese fondue and the poached egg are essential to this Italian signature. Made with sheep milk cheese, cow milk cheese and goat milk cheese, the cheese fondue was sharp but not too pungent, rich and creamy, and the egg yolk lava thickened its consistency even further. Accented with earthy nuances from the white truffle shavings, the way to balance the assertiveness of the dish, is to tear the toasted brioche served at the side, dip it in and then deliver the decadent goodness straight into your mouth. The toasty sweetness of the brioche coming through will bring all the elements together in harmony.

(Half portion) Traditional Egg Tagliolini, Butter-Parmigiano Emulsion, Alba Truffle Shavings 4.8/5

Along the same pairing principle, Tajarin Al Tartufo ($60) allows the delicate truffle shavings to soften and release their aroma and flavours into the pasta, and the earthy, garlicky notes of the truffle were even more pronounced in this dish. Coated with Butter-Parmigiano Emulsion, the pasta inherited an almost creamy texture. Carrying just a light saltiness from the cheese, the pasta was able to drew much flavours out from the earthy truffle shavings.

Braised Guinea Fowl, Soft Polenta, Brussel Sprouts, Alba Truffle Shavings 3/5

Just when I thought the experience would get even better with a meat pairing, the choice of lean meat in Faraona Con Panna E Tartufo ($70) didn't quite work with the truffles. Perhaps it lacks the fats and body to meld with the latter, I'm actually quite happy with just the brussel sprouts and polenta to mingle with the fungus.

Zeppole Puff, Chantilly Cream, Hazelnut Nougat, Alba Truffle Shavings 3.8/5

Complete this annual gastronomic journey with Zeppole, Nocciole E Tartufo ($49). If you find it disconcerting about this dessert idea at first, it all makes sense as you appreciate its profile through the various savoury dishes.

Additional shavings of Alba White Truffle is available at market price.

Written and photography by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food.


LaBrezza
St Regis Singapore Hotel
Level 2
29 Tanglin Road
Singapore 247911
Tel: +65 65066884
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 3pm, 7pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk towards Wheelock Place via ION. Exit Wheelock Place and turn left towards Liat Tower. Continue onwards to Forum Shopping Mall. Walk further down to Orchard Parade Hotel. Turn left onto Tanglin Road. St Regis is just beside Tanglin Shopping Centre. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]