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Welcome to Da Bao Diaries, a column dedicated to what Time Out Singapore's editors are eating and drinking while Singapore's 'circuit breaker' measures are in place till June 1. Da bao is a Singaporean colloquialism derived from Mandarin that refers to having a meal to go instead of dining in at an establishment.
Caffe Cicheti is an ode to the scenic coasts of Italy. Its atmosphere is friendly, and the menu pulls from the region with hearty plates of pasta and grilled meats. Amidst all the restrictions and stay-home regulations, travelling abroad is but a distant possibility – and the next best thing to do, as cheesy as it sounds, is to embark on a gastronomic adventure.
The restaurant brings Italy to the table: silky stracciatella comes layered with heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, and Spanish onions in panzenella ($17), a Tuscan chop salad where sweet, sharp and salty come together in a refreshing bite. Pasta is prepped in classic sauces, tossed either in a spicy tomato base ($21.50) or layered in with beef and cheese in lasagna ($27). But our favourite has to be the spaghetti coated in bright pesto ($24) and crunchy pine nuts – a dish that survives the delivery process and still tastes great when slurped up at room temperature.
For sides, we recommend the brussels sprouts ($12) covered in pomegranate molasses and finished with chopped candied pecans. The Iberico pork ($31.50) retains its smokiness even at room temp but pop it in the oven for a couple of minutes for the best results. Do away with plastic cutleries (they are too fragile anyway) and dig into the meat with your fingers.
You can choose to let Caffe Cicheti put together an Italian dinner for you with one of its package meals – meals for two start from $58, and a family feast for five fo for $118 – or assemble your own with its à la carte options. Either way, remember to cart out a slice of Crack Pie ($11), an aptly named dessert with an additive combination of almond frangipane on a cookie base and cocoa crumble. You’ll also want to bring your phone to the dining table when your Caffe Cicheti meal arrives. Beyond snapping some pics for the 'gram, each order also comes with a curated playlist by local DJ Mr. Has that’ll transport you to, well, the scenic coasts of Italy.
HOW TO ORDER Head over to caffecicheti.oddle.me/en_SG. Choose either to pick-up your food, or opt for island-wide delivery at $10. There’s no minimum order.