Spizza Mercato @ Capitol Piazza

Spizza Mercato, a new concept by The Senso Group, is located at the basement of Capitol Piazza. If you have been to Italy, you should have been to a “Mercato” before – the marketplaces typically found near fountains in piazzas all across Italy. I’m not sure whether it is by chance, Spizza Mercato is found to be just right beside a fountain. How apt.

Unlike the usual Spizza outlets, this restaurant comprises a retail section which offers gourmet products and kitchenware. While waiting for our food to come, I eagerly hop over to take a look (I have a thing with kitchenware!). With the pretty looking crockery, pots and pans, I fall in love with this corner instantly. It jazzes up the ambience by a notch. The shelf has almost of what you need to cook an authentic Italian fare. For a start, you can try recreating Spizza Mercato’s dishes by using some of their ingredients such as pastas, flour and pre-packaged sauces and soups. Cooking utensils are available as well, including individual pizza ovens! Wine and coffee lovers can choose from their Italian Wine selections or bring home Illy coffee pods.

Burratina 3.8/5

For antipasto, we had the Burratina ($22) for the evening. The Italian burratina cheese, imported from Italy, is served with Parma ham and a side of rucola salad. I like this combination. The savoury parma ham and the sharp rucola leaves brings out the milky flavour and creaminess of the cheese really well.

Insalata Greca 2.5/5

Insalata Greca ($12.80) their version of greek salad pales in comparison. It was too ‘airy’ for me.

Donna Pizza 3/5

Customers’ needs have been heard in Spizza Merato. Gluten-free pizzas are now readily available. Hooray for many! Despite Gluten-free, flavours are not lost in this Donna Pizza ($23).  I only wish that the ingredients can be slightly more generous, but thanks to the thin crust, I didn’t feel it was too doughy.

Gondola Isabella 2.8/5

Vesus the Donna Pizza, I find the Gondola Isabella ($25), any pizza can be made into the gondola, slightly too doughy. Perhaps it has turned cold by the time I tasted it, the cheese was kinda lumpy when we unravelled the inside. Extremely cheesy, it is meant for cheese lovers.

Green Spinach ‘TRIANGOLI’ 4/5

Compared to their pizza, I was more impressed with their pasta offerings. Handmade at the outlet itself, which was unexpected from a chain establishment. Green Spinach ‘TRIANGOLI’ ($18) was a favourite among many tonight. Together with the mushrooms in porcini & cream sauce, you may be surprised how a meatless dish can be so delectable. Each tender little pocket stuffed with spinach. The thought that the flavour of the spinach may be overwhelmed by the sauce, but it isn't. It is not easy to find a good triangoli. Many fail to get the right balance of the dough and stuffing, as well as cooking it to the right bite.

Squid Ink Taglierini 4.5/5

Squid Ink Taglierini ($20) is one of their signatures. Served in homemade Tomato Sauce with a generous portion of seafood, this dish is a must-try. I enjoy the lightness of the taglierini, which also comes with the right bite, firm but not hard. The tangy tomato sauce makes it even more appetising.

Panna Cotta 3/5

For desserts, we had Panna Cotta ($8) and Lemon Tart ($6.50) I much prefer the Panna Cotta. Its sweetness was just nice for me, while I find The Lemon Tart was slightly too cloying. For ladies, I would recommend two to share.

Lemon Tart 2.8/5

For a chain concept, I find their pastas quite exceptional. Its relaxing ambience adds on to the experience too. However, if you still want to have a Spizza’s meal at the comfort of your own home, easy-to-grab food items are available for takeaway or can be pre-ordered via Spizza’s mobile application or website then self-collected.

Written 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.


Spizza Mercato
Capitol Piazza
13 Stamford Road
#B2-52
Singapore 178905
Tel: +65 67021835
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spizza.sg
Website: http://www.spizza.sg/pages/mercato
Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1030am - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit D. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Catalunya @ The Fullerton Pavilion

Having a long week at work? Why not pamper yourself with a great weekend brunch with either friends or family. The weekend brunch at Catalunya  ($98++) is one its kind with a eclectic selection of antipasti, mains and desserts. Besides good food, there is also live DJ spinning in the house, giving the whole atmosphere a party vibe.

One advice to diner is to pace yourself at Catalunya. There is really a lot of food that was actually in a lost where and which to start with. In the end, I hit for the bar area where there is a spread of charcuterie, cheese, seafood (raw, marinated and pickled) and salad.

Scrambled Egg with Mushrooms 4.5/5

Besides the extensive spread of antipasti along the buffet line, Catalunya also offers an a la minute brunch menu with a condensed menu of Egg, Omelette and Sandwiches. The egg section comes with a choice of fried or scrambled egg on a bed of potato with choices of ham, chorizo and mushrooms.

Bikini 4.5/5

Vegetarian Bikini 4.2/5

One of the group's favourite is the Bikini, made of of Iberico Ham, Cheese and Truffle. This is also brought to the brunch menu from the restaurant's lunch/dinner menu. It also has a vegetarian version which mada of zucchini, cheese and pesto.

Spanish Omelette 3.5/5

No matter how you look at the glass, it does not look like a Spanish Omelette at all. The modern twist of the traditional spanish omelette comes with three different layers of potato form, egg yolk and onion.

Seafood Paella 4.8/5

When I said earlier that you need to pace youself earlier, I am not joking as we have not even reached the mains yet. Between 130pm to 330pm, the music in the restaurant will be pumped up with the staff dancing out with the mains. First out was the Seafood Paella. The rice was well infused with the robust stock that reminds me of their lobster rice dish in their dinner menu.

Salted Baked Catch of the Day 4.2/5

The next main dish to be up is the Salted Baked Catch of the Day. The fish covered with salted is brought to the main dining hall, flambeed on the spot, portioned and served to the guests. The fish is cooked to a beautiful moist texture.

Suckling Pig 4.5/5

Last of the main to be danced out of the kitchen is the Suckling Pig. This is probably the highlight of the whole brunch experience. Crackling skin and fork tender. there is nothing more perfect for a great Spanish feast.

Dessert 4.2/5

Not forgetting a delicious selection of yummilicious cakes and pastries to bring the whole brunch experience to a finale.

Besides the whole vibe and delicious spread of food at the weekend brunch, the other value for money reason is that one gets to try most of the items in Catalunya's dinner menu.


Catalunya
The Fullerton Pavilion
82 Collyer Quay
Singapore 049327
Tel: +65 65340886
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatalunyaSingapore
Website: http://www.catalunya.sg/
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Lunch
Mon-Fri: 12pm - 230pm
Dinner:
Mon-Sun: 6pm - 1030pm
Weekend Brunch
Sat-Sun: 1230pm - 330pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Raffles Place MRT. Take Exit A or B. Walk to Clifford Centre and then Change Alley. Take escalator to level 2. Cross the road using the OUE Link. Turn left towards Fullerton Bay Hotel. Walk to towards the bay and destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]