pianomania: SUKA MAKAN: BURRATA JOY BY GARIBALDI @ CROWN CENTRE, BUKIT TIMAH ROAD

My wife does such good homemade pasta and pizza that I have seldom voluntarily gone to an Italian restaurant in recent years. However, I have made it an exception on this occasion when hosting my financial adviser Bryan Lim Hong Jun. Thanks to him, my finances are not such in a parlous state, such that multiple entries of Suka Makan have been possible over the past year. My choice is the relatively new Burrata Joy By Garibaldi at Bukit Timah Road's Crown Centre, which has taken over the space vacated by Crown Bakery.

The restaurant's speciality is burrata, a cow's milk cheese which is non-salty and has the semi-solid consistency of thick cream. It goes well with salads and hams, where relative saltiness is tampered with a sinful richness. This is not a time to watch the cholesterol or caloric count, but we had quite a feast. Prosciutto (Parma ham) and rocket salad with one big dollop of burrata was the first order, followed by our respective pastas, and a funghi pizza to finish. Despite our big appetites, there was still enough pizza to take home.

Burrata with prosciutto & salad

Pink crab meat linguini

Beef ragu Arabbiata penne

My wife enjoyed her slice of pizza at home so much she wanted to learn where it came from. So, I have promised her a return to Burrata Joy in the very near future.