Story and photos by Dr. Michael Lim the Travelling GourmetTM
All rights reserved
Food photos are of real food with NO photoshop
The audacious and inspiring Travelling Gourmet goes to meet…
MASTERFUL Caruso on Bukit Timah Road…
Caramba! Caruso is not the famous tenor Enrico Caruso but rather a new authentic Italian Ristorante and Pizzeria specialising in Pugliese spezialitati from the “Heel” of Italy. Mio amico Leonardo Palmisano from Alberobello in Puglia welcomed me warmly, “Benevenuto Il Turista Buongustaio!” Il Turista Buongustaio means The Travelling Gourmet in Italian. The two Chefs furiously cooking in the open kitchen at the back of the restaurant, Mario and Mimmo are also from Puglia. If you feel energetic, simply climb 17 steps to the upstairs dining area. Nostalgic framed photos dot the walls. I like the black and white pictures of Sophia Loren smoking, Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck on a Vespa scooter in the hit movie “Roman Holiday” and many more…
I began with Burrata con Tartufo Nero or Soft Cheese with Black Truffles. The aromatic and heady aroma of Truffles sent me into an ecstatic dream of more gourmet delights to come. Try too the Burrata with Salmon accompanied by lettuce and cherry tomatoes.
Leonardo the owner…working hard in the open kitchen
Lovely Lamb as a main course cooked in the Italian style, Orecchiette Pasta with Seafood or with Meat are really satisfying Piatto secondi! I always like Orecchiette, the typical ear shaped pasta of Puglia. It must be served ‘al dente’ or firm to the bite in the middle. Once, 1 Michelin Star Chef Antonella Ricci taught me how to make Orecchiette using the thumb to make the depression. Orecchiette actually means “little ear” in the Italian language.
Dessert selections include that ever popular Titamisu made with Marsala wine. Tiramisu means literally “pick me up”. Panna Cotta which is actually cooked cream is much loved by the natives in Italy. After the Dolci, an Espresso is de rigeur followed by some Grappa and Limoncello as a ‘digestivo’!
I love Italian food and wine and Grappa, for eg. Nardini Grappa. I’ve been to Italy on gourmet safaris so many times, my friends say I’m more Italian than Singaporean! I was just in Italy in April this year for Vinitaly 2014 in Verona. Many restauranteurs in Asia and Italia even call me “Il Padrino Gastronomico” which means in English…The Godfather of Gastronomy.
As I left after a superlicious meal, I promised myself to return soon…the song “La Donna e mobile” from Rigoletto echoed in my mind. It means “The woman is fickle” and it was one of famed tenor Enrico Caruso’s favourite Arias…
Buon appetito! Ciao! 🙂
Listen to the song at this link:
Caruso
#01-01, No. 791 Bukit Timah Road
Singapore 269764
Tel: 64697508
Hours: 12noon – 2.30pm and 6.30pm to 10.30pm daily
The Travelling Gourmet 