Monday, August 12, 2024

Casa Vostra @ Raffles City - Popular Homegrown Takeaway and Delivery Brand Opens a Brick-and-Mortar Restaurant

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Conceptualised as a takeaway and delivery concept by Chef Antonio Miscellaneo of La Bottega, Casa Vostra has transitioned into a full-service restaurant at Raffles City. The menu now features a wholesome range of home-style Italian fare, extending beyond Casa Vostra's Newpolitan® and Doublecrunch® pizzas, including house-made pasta, house-cured charcuterie, and other Italian classics. Every item on the menu is made from scratch using carefully sourced and directly imported ingredients, free from preservatives and artificial additives.

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Frittatina 3/5

We started with a couple of antipasti, beginning with the Frittatina ($8), a Napoli street snack. It is a deep-fried ball of pasta typically moulded with eggs, salami, and cheese. Casa Vostra's version is available in Carbonara or Lasagna flavours. The latter had a moreish crusty exterior that broke into oozing and creamy layers of flavorful minced beef and house-made lasagna sheets.

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Bresaola 4/5

Bresaola ($14) is a classic dish featuring beautiful slices of home-aged beef served with rocket and Parmigiano Reggiano.

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Chef Antonio's trademark Newpolitan® Pizza is made using a mix of selected Italian white and brown flours, fermented through different stages and temperatures for 36 hours. Baked in a wood-fired oven at 460°C, Casa Vostra's Newpolitan® features charred, bubbling crusts that are softer and floppier than most pizzas. Categorised into Red and White Sauce, we tried the Gamberi ($28) and 4 Formaggi ($22), respectively.

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Gamberi 3.8/5

Gamberi was delectable with San Marzano DOP, topped with chunky Argentinian prawns flavoured with a sweet umami tomato and prawn reduction, finished off with lemon zest for a lift. The crust was amazingly fluffy and soft, with an almost melt-in-your-mouth centre. However, I found the crust lacking in flavours, especially the tang of a well-fermented dough.

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4 Formaggi 3/5

4 Formaggi was rich and assertive with Fior di Latte, Taleggio, Gorgonzola, and Parmigiano Reggiano. Its taste could benefit from a dough with a more developed flavour profile.

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Mortadella 3.5/5

Doublecrunch® Pizza draws inspiration from the traditional street food Pala Romana, featuring Italian ingredients sandwiched between airy and crispy pizza pastry. Mortadella ($22) had a very enjoyable texture, given by the combination of the airy and crispy pizza pastry contrasted with meaty and saltish mortadella (an Italian luncheon meat). It was complemented by milky burrata, bits of crunchy pistachio, and Parmigiano Reggiano.

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Crab Tagliatelle 4/5

Housemade pasta is also a key offering; each portion is made fresh and available in various traditional shapes and forms to carry different sauces and ingredients. The Crab Tagliatelle ($26) was delicious. Its al dente tagliatelle was generously coated with garlic-infused olive oil, tossed with meaty jumbo crab meat lumps, and accentuated with bursts of tangy sweetness from tomato confit.

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Agnolotti del Plin 3/5

Agnolotti del Plin ($23) is a stuffed fresh pasta dish that tastes pretty rustic. It has a much thicker-than-expected pasta dough stuffed with pork stew, served in a chicken jus and butter sauce.

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Tiramisu 2.8/5

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Panna Cotta 3/5

The desserts were all right. The Panna Cotta ($8) satisfied with a wobbly and creamy custard, while the Tiramisú ($10) was a tad too sweet for my liking.

Photos and words 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.


Casa Vostra
Raffles City
252 North Bridge Road
#01-49/50/51
Singapore 179103
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Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW, NS Line)

Operating Hours:
Daily: 1130am to 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to destination. Journey time about 2 minutes. [Map]


Sunday, August 11, 2024

Paradise Pizza & Elixir Coffee and Wine @ Holland Grove - Indulge in New Lineup of Artisanal Sourdough Pizzas, Pastas and Sides

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The introduction of Paradise Pizza was inspired by the popularity of the pasta and pizzas previously served by Elixir Coffee and Wine.

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Both brands are still housed under one roof in Holland Grove, allowing you to enjoy quality coffee and wines alongside a refreshed menu of sourdough pizzas, pasta and sides, all inspired by comfort foods from around the world.

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Beverages

We opted for a refreshing Yuzu Cooler ($6) and the chocolatey Marou Single Origin Chocolate ($7) for our beverages. For coffee enthusiasts, don't miss their brews made with beans from the award-winning Blacklist Coffee in Perth.

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Deep Fried Burrata 4/5

The Deep Fried Burrata ($24) immediately caught our eye from the list of starters. This hearty dish features a thin-crusted fried burrata ball served with pomodoro, arugula rocket, and balsamic caviar. The plate offered a well-balanced blend of savoury and sweet, with the balsamic caviar adding pops of sweet and fruity notes.

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Mentaiko Lemon Butter 4.2/5

The Mentaiko Lemon Butter ($22) pasta was a delightful surprise. The mafaldine’s curly edges excellently picked up the bright sauce, which, though initially more sour than expected, became increasingly enjoyable. The generous addition of tobiko provided extra bursts of salty notes and crunch.

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Jap A Dog 4.5/5

Paradise Pizza created Jap A Dog ($26), inspired by the popular hot dog chain in Canada. The combination of Arabiki sausage, furikake, kewpie mayo and bonito flakes was harmonious and reminiscent of an okonomiyaki. Make sure to dig into the pizza while it's hot to appreciate the chewy, freshly made sourdough base fully! There are currently 7 other pizza flavours to check out, including interesting options like Hot Assam and Black Truffle, as well as classics such as Pepperoni and Margherita.

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Darn Good Tiramisu 4/5

We completed our meal with the Darn Good Tiramisu ($14), crafted with mascarpone and Blacklist’s espresso, following the same recipe as the restaurant’s sister brand, Fat Belly. While I found it slightly too creamy for my liking, the flavours were spot on, making it a satisfying end to our meal.

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.


Paradise Pizza & Elixir Coffee and Wine
Parksuites
24 Holland Grove Road
#01-18
Singapore 278803
Tel: +65 6908 5547
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Nearest MRT: Buona Vista (CC, EW Line), Holland Village (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Wed-Sun: 11am - 9pm
(Closed on Mon-Tue)

Direction:
Alight at Buona Vista MRT station. Take Exit A or C. Walk to bus stop at Buona Vista MRT station (Stop ID 11361) along Buona Vista Road. Take bus number 92. Alight 4 stops later. Cross the road and walk to Holland Grove Road. Walk down Holland Grove Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Alight at Holland Village MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop along Holland Road (Stop ID 11261). Take bus number 7, 61, 75, or 165. Alight 3 stop later. Walk straight down Holland Road to Holland Grove Road. Turn left onto Holand Grove Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]