Good Value Truffle ‘Pizza’ & Lobster Risotto On Basilico’s Anniversary Menu
12 signature dishes to celebrate the Italian restaurant’s 12th birthday.
Now that buffets (aside from a la carte-style ones) have become but a distant memory in the midst of a pandemic, Italian restaurant Basilico at the Regent Singapore is offering a tempting promotion to make up for the absence of its famous buffet spreads. A “Best of the Best” menu of 12 of its most-loved creations over the years, curated by executive chef Angelo Ciccone, to celebrate its 12th anniversary. Prices are pretty decent for the quality you get: from $65 per person for one large, luxe main dish (some showered with fresh Italian truffles and lobster), accompanied by good-quality antipasti, cheese and dessert at weekday lunch (it costs $80 for dinner daily). We had a taste of several of the offerings and here’s what we think you should order.
Focaccia al Tartufo (created in 2011; 8 DAYS Pick!)
While this is called a focaccia on the menu, it looks and tastes like a stuffed pizza. And it's absolutely divine: tender, crisp-edged crust housing a super flavourful blend of three oozy, creamy cheeses — Robiola (a mix of goat, cow and sheep's milk), mascarpone and provolone. It is then showered with freshly shaved black truffles from Norcia, an Italian town in Umbria famous for the fragrant fungus. There’re eight slices per serving — which is a whole pie — and it's totally worth the inevitable carb coma.
Risotto alla Pugliese (created in 2009; 8 DAYS Pick!)
In terms of bang for your buck — this dish will give you value in every al dente grain of carnaroli rice. The grains are infused with the umami juices of shellfish stock cut with the acidity of prosecco, then draped with sashimi-style Sicilian red prawn, cooked king scallop, lobster and a gleaming dollop of caviar. The sweet, cool, springy raw prawns, in particular, are wonderful against the warm, creamy rice.
Pentolone Di Carne (created in 2017)
This dramatic-looking dish can only be ordered if there are two customers eating the same thing as the portion is pretty large. It’s served in a cast iron pot draped with a flaky layer of focaccia over the top which the server cracks open to reveal wagyu beef bombetta (a minced patty stuffed with cheese), lamb chop, pork collar and root veggies smoking seductively on smouldering hay. We especially love the delicate bread drizzled with fruity olive oil, which you then use to mop up the savoury jus.
Porchetta alla Romana (created in 2013)
This may not look or sound very exciting, but it's very well-executed Italian-style sio bak. Or in Basilico’s words: “slow-cooked Roman-style crispy pork belly infused with wild fennel seeds, braised sour cabbage and caramelised apple”. It’s crispy, succulent and soft in all the right places, the rich flavours counterpointed by the sweet-tart cabbage and apple.
The set meal also comes with antipasti & cheese
The set meal includes a platter of cold cuts like 24 months-aged Parma ham, Milano salami, buffalo mozzarella with heirloom tomatoes and marinated artichokes.
The details
Basilico’s 12th anniversary menu is available for weekday lunch & daily dinner from $65 at Regent Singapore, 1 Cuscaden Rd, S249715, till 31 August. Tel: 6725-3232.
Photos: Florence Fong & Basilico
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