STI: Flaunting Fuenti

Dec 12, 2004
Flaunting Fuenti
by WONG AH YOKE

IT'S not a name that comes up often when one asks around for a good Italian restaurant. But over the past two years, Fuenti has quietly grown into one of the best in town.

The elegant restaurant in UE Square across the road from the bars in Mohammed Sultan Road is a bit out of sync with its neighbours which attract a more relaxed, even rowdier crowd.

That perhaps explains why it remains off the radar for foodies who do not frequent the area.

More's the pity. But it's not too late to discover it.

In fact, the restaurant launched a new menu last month that is amazing. Everything I've tried from it has been good, with some even exceptional.

My favourite is the pan-fried US beef tenderloin with goose liver ($39). Order it medium rare and you will be rewarded with a melt-in-the-mouth, juicy, fragrant piece of meat that is full of flavour. The slab of pan-fried goose liver on top provides the icing.

The pasta is just as excellent. The ravioli stuffed with spinach and ricotta cheese ($28) are neat little pillows of pasta that are bursting with the creamy cheese inside.

Providing more punch are the butter and truffles they are tossed in. Sinful, yes, but heavenly too.

Even the simple spaghetti with fresh seafood ($22), which normally comes in a tomato-based homemade sauce but which I tried tossed with just olive oil and garlic, is heavenly.

The pasta is cooked just right with a hint of firmness and the sweetness of the clams and mussels is well incorporated into the olive oil.

There are also lots of great appetisers to choose from.

What stands out, however, is the combination of pan-fried foie gras with grenadine and portobello mushroom ($22).

The mushroom goes very well with the smooth foie gras and both come covered in a delicious creamy sauce.

If all these dishes sound too rich for you, Fuenti has also come up with a healthy set lunch menu ($28) for those who are watching their waistline.

The four-course meal is cooked with no salt, pepper, butter, wine, cream or cheese.

A typical menu consists of dishes like a clear veal soup; grilled vegetables dressed in olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette; thin tagliatelle tossed with olive oil and shaved truffles or grilled fish fillet with olive oil and lemon; and oven-baked apple.

So whether you are a weight-watcher or someone who could not care less about calories as long as the food is good, you will find something to like here.