Ma..DONNA!

By Dr. Michael Lim The Travelling Gourmet

The intrepid Travelling Gourmet visits an intriguing Italian Trattoria near his alma mater…

 MARGHERITA & Marinara are just two beauties you’ll enjoy meeting in Donna Carmela, one of my favourite Italian ristorante in sunnySingapore. This homely, family style Italian Trattoria is located in a quite residential area near my alma mater, namelySingapore’s famous NationalJunior College. The open bar by the entrance serves wine and cocktails like Brazilian Caipiranha. Simone, the friendly and charming owner, hails from Brindisi inItaly, as do the rest of his famiglia that run this trattoria. Simone always greets me with “Buona sera Il Padrino della Gastronomia!” when I arrive. It means “Godfather of Gastronomy”.

Luciano Pavarotti sings “O sole mio” in the background as you tuck into Antipasti like Caprese, and my favourite “Combinazione di Entrambi. This mixed cheese and Italian cold cuts platter is served with crusty bread, Mazetti Balsamico and Extra Virgin Olive oil. I adore the Pecorino (sheep’s cheese), red wine cheese, Mortadella, Prosciutto di Parma and other delights.

Yummy Combinazione di Entrambi

For a hearty soup, I recommend yummy, earthy Porcini Mushroom soup.

 Pasta Mania!

When it comes to pasta, I adore Ravioli Granchio ed Aragosta al Salmone e Caviale. Bite in to the ‘al dente’ (firm to the bite) ravioli to discover lobster and salmon. The luscious creamy sauce is made with salmon and caviar…I also like Lunette ai Tartufi, moon shaped pasta stuffed with aromatic, addictive Truffles!

Ravishing Ravioli Granchio ed Aragosta al Salmone e Caviale

The set lunch is a good deal because for S$25, you get Antipasti, Pasta or Pizza, Dessert of the day and coffee or tea. For an extra S$5, you will have soup too. Choose from 5 Antipasti like Carpaccio di Filetto di Manzo con Rucola which is Carpaccio of beef fillet with fresh Arugula and shaved Parmigiano (Parmesan cheese) There are 5 pizzas to choose from like Pizza Margherita which was named after the Queen of Italy, Marinara with seafood and Capricciosa which has ham, artichokes, mushrooms, olives and Oregano. Margherita is a very patriotic pizza because the red tomato, white Mozzarella cheese and green Basil are the colours of Italy’s national flag.

Some history here: Pizza Margherita was prepared by Italian chef Raffaelle Esposito. The pizza was first made in 1899 when Queen Margherita visited Naples to escape a cholera epidemic in the north of Italy. Queen Margherita liked the pizza so much that she wrote a thank you letter to Chef Esposito, who decided to name the pizza after the Queen, the Consort of King Umberto I.

You can also choose from 5 pastas like Tagliatelle Marinara with mixed seafood, white wine, chilli & garlic.

Sunday Brunch!

A delicioso (delicious) offer is the Sunday Brunch where it is only S$69++ for a buffet of Antipasti, 2 kinds of special Pasta, Grilled Agnello (lamb), Beef & Fish as well as a Dessert Buffet. Plus a free flow of Tintoretto Prosecco di Valdobbiadene, the celebrated Italian sparkling wine made by the “Charmant” method, Pinot Grigio white wine and red wines like Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Nero di Avola from Sicily and Chianti Classico from Tuscany!

An Assortment

of

Panna Cotta

La Dolce Vita

Ma…DONNA! Savouring Fragola (strawberry) Panna Cotta with a glass of redolent Donnafugata Passito Ben Rye 2007 from Sicilia with its voluptuous notes of candied apricots, peaches, lemons, caramel & toffee…is truly La Dolce Vita! Buon appetito!

Il Padrino della Gastronomia

Donna Carmela Trattoria

2, Greenwood Avenue

Singapore 289189

Tel: 64634206

Hours; Daily Lunch 12noon to 2.45pm

Dinner 6pm to 11pm

 Ambience 3.5*             Cuisine 3.5*                 Service ****