La Strada
It's great that the Fiance gets along so well with all of my friends. My friends are very important to me, and they've been a huge part of my life. I really wouldn't be the person I am today without them.
To be honest, it isn't as easy as it was when we were all in school together to meet up and catch up with my friends. It takes effort to keep up a friendship. That's why I've started this habit of ensuring I meet up with my friends at least once in 2 months, or every month if schedules permit. That way, I see my friends at least 6-12 times a year.
We met up with Ry for dinner at La Strada. We were all feeling like Italian that day and this place is great for chatting as the restaurant is never really full and you usually get quite a bit of privacy to carry on your chat.
We shared everything. The starter of Scamorza alla Piastra con Proscuitto di Parma ($18) was our favourite. Mild creamy smoked scamorza cheese was lightly pan-fried and served alongside salty pink ribbons of parma ham, grilled sweet cherry tomatoes and drizzled with an acidic balsamic glaze.
The humongous squid rings of the Calamari Fritti ($18) were battered and deep-fried, served with a delectable chunky lemon arrabbiata sauce.
The Frittata Proscuitto e Funghi ($17) was simple classic breakfast food, Italian-style. Proscuitto ham was sauteed with mushrooms in a densely packed omelette and completed with char-grilled cherry tomatoes and parmesan shavings.
We were also given a complimentary slice of Pizza Bread, fresh out of the wood-fired oven. This was made with the barest of ingredients, pizza sauce and a basil leaf, but so delicious in its simplicity.
The complimentary Bread Basket, with aromatic warm foccacia drizzled with olive oil and crispy breadsticks that were so great for nibbling.
The Carbonara ($24) was amazingly value-for-money, fresh chitarra was tossed with crispy parma ham, egg confit, shaved parmesan and truffle butter. Rich, creamy, nuanced and thoroughly satisfying.
The Granchio ($26) of fresh tagliolini with plentiful sweet mud crab meat, tart cherry tomatoes, zucchini strips, and cooked with white wine, chilli and garlic was light, balanced yet flavoursome.
I didn't quite like the risotto-of-the-day (it was squid ink). Instead, I requested a vegetarian Mushroom Risotto which wasn't on the menu ($34), which the restaurant was more than happy to oblige. This was a huge portion, and incredibly fragrant with assorted wild mushrooms and laced with truffle oil for extra oomph. I loved this. The risotto was done al dente, it was starchy, creamy, rich and totally amazing.
We were all super stuffed by then. So we shared 1 dessert, the Torta al Nero e Bianco ($11) white and dark chocolate cake with berries and caramelized pistachios. The white layer was like a softened cake version of a nougat. Nutty, spongy and yummy.
Update 18 July 2012: La Strada has closed its shutters.
La Strada
1 Scotts Road
#02-11 Shaw Centre
Tel: 6737 2555
Open daily from 12noon to 2.30pm for lunch and 6.30pm to 9.30pm for dinner
Email: lastrada@lesamis.com.sg
Website: www.lesamis.com.sg
To be honest, it isn't as easy as it was when we were all in school together to meet up and catch up with my friends. It takes effort to keep up a friendship. That's why I've started this habit of ensuring I meet up with my friends at least once in 2 months, or every month if schedules permit. That way, I see my friends at least 6-12 times a year.
We met up with Ry for dinner at La Strada. We were all feeling like Italian that day and this place is great for chatting as the restaurant is never really full and you usually get quite a bit of privacy to carry on your chat.
We shared everything. The starter of Scamorza alla Piastra con Proscuitto di Parma ($18) was our favourite. Mild creamy smoked scamorza cheese was lightly pan-fried and served alongside salty pink ribbons of parma ham, grilled sweet cherry tomatoes and drizzled with an acidic balsamic glaze.
The humongous squid rings of the Calamari Fritti ($18) were battered and deep-fried, served with a delectable chunky lemon arrabbiata sauce.
The Frittata Proscuitto e Funghi ($17) was simple classic breakfast food, Italian-style. Proscuitto ham was sauteed with mushrooms in a densely packed omelette and completed with char-grilled cherry tomatoes and parmesan shavings.
We were also given a complimentary slice of Pizza Bread, fresh out of the wood-fired oven. This was made with the barest of ingredients, pizza sauce and a basil leaf, but so delicious in its simplicity.
The complimentary Bread Basket, with aromatic warm foccacia drizzled with olive oil and crispy breadsticks that were so great for nibbling.
The Carbonara ($24) was amazingly value-for-money, fresh chitarra was tossed with crispy parma ham, egg confit, shaved parmesan and truffle butter. Rich, creamy, nuanced and thoroughly satisfying.
The Granchio ($26) of fresh tagliolini with plentiful sweet mud crab meat, tart cherry tomatoes, zucchini strips, and cooked with white wine, chilli and garlic was light, balanced yet flavoursome.
I didn't quite like the risotto-of-the-day (it was squid ink). Instead, I requested a vegetarian Mushroom Risotto which wasn't on the menu ($34), which the restaurant was more than happy to oblige. This was a huge portion, and incredibly fragrant with assorted wild mushrooms and laced with truffle oil for extra oomph. I loved this. The risotto was done al dente, it was starchy, creamy, rich and totally amazing.
We were all super stuffed by then. So we shared 1 dessert, the Torta al Nero e Bianco ($11) white and dark chocolate cake with berries and caramelized pistachios. The white layer was like a softened cake version of a nougat. Nutty, spongy and yummy.
Update 18 July 2012: La Strada has closed its shutters.
La Strada
1 Scotts Road
#02-11 Shaw Centre
Tel: 6737 2555
Open daily from 12noon to 2.30pm for lunch and 6.30pm to 9.30pm for dinner
Email: lastrada@lesamis.com.sg
Website: www.lesamis.com.sg
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