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La Nonna, meaning “The Grandmother” in Italian, serves traditional Italian country cuisine, much like what grandma would usually prepare in an unpretentious and inviting Trattoria atmosphere. This particular outlet at Holland Village has been around for so long, the boys can even remember their secondary school-holland village hang outs. The chalkboard of offerings and promotions, as old school as it is, chalkboards in restaurants is still a charm. A disappointing bread basket with cardboard crackers and unevenly shaped buns. I suppose all these years of dining has brought the bar up on bread expecations and this fell severely short. Spaghetti Pasta ‘Aglio Olio e Peperoncino’ with mixed Seafood and chopped Italian Parsley ($25) A decent attempt on aglio olio tossed with seafood and parsley. Linguine Pasta served with Crab Meat in Tomato Cream sauce and Basil ($25) A tad saucy, this was once again a case of more noodle and sauce than meat. Homemade Pappardelle Pasta with Oxtail ra

Vita Italiana is helmed by chef Jeremy and inspired by the Mediterranean, the folks at Vita Italiana bring together a love of life, food, and wine, making dining a true Italian family affair. I dropped by on a weekday afternoon and it was mostly empty - sure looks like I booked the whole restaurant! Bismarck Pizza ($24) I was disappointed with the overcooked egg on a doughy pizza base. Not the bestest of all pizzas but for 12 inches, this had the bang for my buck. Set Lunch ($15) 3 courses for just $15 gets you soup, mains, dessert or a drink. A great deal I say for lunch since their mains already cost more than $15. Cream of Brocolli was really delicious. Tomato Penne turned out best eaten alongside the pizza that was overflowing with ingredients. Instead of Chocolate Bread and Butter Pudding, we opted for tea. A move that ended up being overcharged. Check your bill properly because I ended up being charged for my Earl Grey that was supposedly included in the set. $4.50 was returne

Like an old friend, I paid Halia a visit recently. Somehow the new kids on the block did not appeal so much and in my memory, Halia does decent fare. Whether or not it is at Botanic Gardens or Raffles Hotel, the vibe from Halia is still one of casual dining with lots of wood furniture and that large tree within the restaurant that has since been chopped of leaving just a tiny one in the middle. Wagyu Beef Carpaccio ($20) Wasabi, Radish, Pickled Ginger, Soy Ketchup Next to having my beef grilled robata-style, having it served as a carpaccio is my idea of best way to eat Wagyu Beef. Ginger and soy ketchup did a major assault on the senses, totally rocking the appetizer and set the bar high for the rest of the meal. Superb stuff. Asparagus Salad ($22) Poached Egg, Bacon, Truffle, Parmesan, Hazelnut I love asparagus and probably do not eat it as often as I like to but this dish made me crave asparagus for the meals after. Beautifully burnt, the burnt ends were charred yet still very en

~Invited Session~ Diner En Blanc returns this year with a twist on 21 November in this forth edition - it will be SG50 themed. So tau huay is allowed this year, I muse after the infamous fiasco. Before we go into #everythingalsoSG50 debate, perhaps some history about this highly sought after and over subscribed event? Launched more than 25 years ago by François Pasquier and his close friends in Paris, France, Dîner en Blanc now brings together nearly 15,000 people each year in some of the most prestigious locations throughout the City of Lights. There will be at least 3,000 other likeminded foodies, fashionistas and cultural enthusiasts attending the annual event. The venue is kept under tight wraps until minutes before its commencement. This is my first time attending Diner En Blanc and if the media preview was by any means close to the real deal, I must say I am already intrigued. Set in the lush garden of the French Ambassador's Residence, his garden was transformed magicall