Perched on the tip of One Fullerton with million dollar views of the Marina Bay waterfront is a crown jewel that is Forlino. At the helm of the kitchen is experienced chef Matteo Ponti whose sophisticated Italian style cooking techniques were inspired by his time in his mother’s kitchen in Piedmont Italy. With floor to ceiling windows that makes the most of the breath taking views and an intimate seating of 90 with two private rooms that can seat 12 (GAIA) and 22 (SERENA), you will be taken on a gourmet journey of chef Matteo’s childhood memories of growing up in Italy.
The Dal Mare degustation menu at $148+++ consisting of chef Matteo’s classics as well as guest favourites is a popular choice alternatively a la carte options are also available along with an elaborate wine list of award winning choices to go with any dish from the kitchen.
A delightful start to your meal is crispy caraway bread topped with dollops of straciatella cheese with salsa fossa and anchovy. A beautiful amuse bouche served on a bed of rocks in a wooden tray, laying the foundation of what is about to come your way.
Amuse Bouche
Sicillian red prawn carpaccio “Rosso Di Mazara”, Sardinia bottarga, passion fruit, fresh mango. The fresh crustaceans flown in weekly from Italy are succulent and the sweetness of the the prawns are brought out by the tangy sweet mango passionfruit dotted with pretty edible flowers, so much so that you can almost taste the sea!
Rosso Di Mazara
Capesante e Zabaione – Easily the favourite dish in many foodie seafood journey, the elegant and yet delightful pan seared hand dived Hokkaido scallops which are cooked to perfection with a slight char on the outside and slightly under on the inside enveloped by an ambrosial and lusciously smooth sea urchin sabayon with hints of celeriac cream, topped with a delicate sliver of sea urchin.
3 Tomato Consommé
Tagliolini Caviale e Merluzzo – The freshly home made tagliolini is done al dente with each strand coated with a delicate layer of sauce with the richness of the smoked black cod sauce and the saltiness of the salmon roe and queen caviar filling each bite with tiny explosions of the ocean on a bed of squid ink splatter. Simply exquisite.
Tagliolini Caviale e Merluzzo
Agnello alla Ligure- For diner who are not fans of gamey meats be pleasantly surprised by how the process of brining the lamb loin for 30 minutes in peppermint tea infuses the meat with mint flavour (that we normally get from the dipping sauces) ensuring a palatable dish worth ordering. The beautifully artistic plating as explained by chef Matteo was liken of the landscape whereby the tea leaves were grown on a slope. Well accompanied with earthy olives, rustic baby potatoes, green beans and rich artichoke cream.
Ravioli del Plin
Ravioli del Plin – Hands down a favourite for many. This is a family recipe that was handed down to Chef Matteo by his mother. The hand crafted ravioli are like parcels of goodness filled with slow braised melt in your mouth beef chuck coated with a layer of aged Parmigiano fondue with porcini mushrooms. Finished elegantly with shavings of fresh black truffles from Alba and micro herbs.
Agnello Alla Ligure
Palate cleanser tomato consommé which consisted of 3 different types of tomatos, Pachinko tomato for the acidity, Roma tomatoes to release the texture and Datterino tomatos for the sweetness with a hint of basil oil served at a 63 degrees temperature. The explosion of flavours are just mind blowing. Such intensity in the simplicity of the presentation betrays the time and effort in the making. This consommé is best served at 63 degrees after much trial and error by the kitchen team who testifies is the best temperature that brings out the full flavour of the tomatoes.
Gianduiotto Piemontese
Gianduiotto Piemontese – Last but not least a sweet touch to the most wonderful meal coming in the form of a delightful hazelnut and chocolate semi freddie, stack chock full of ruby peach in a creamy coulis with salted caramel cream topped with gold dusted hazelnuts. Sinfully rich but oh so rewarding. Diner could not ask for a better ending to what is an already spectacular meal.
ADDRESS:
1 Fullerton Rd, One Fullerton #02-06, Singapore 049213
PHONE: +65 6690 7564
WEBSITE: http://www.dhm.com.sg/forlino