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Photo: John Heng
Two worlds collide with the latest collaboration in the culinary scene, featuring Italian chef Mirko Febbrile, who used to helm one-Michelin-starred Italian restaurant Braci, and pasta hawker stall owner Clarence Chooi.
After joining homegrown restaurant company The Lo and Behold Group last September, Febbrile is embarking on his first stint — a pop-up at Chooi’s Nudedles.4 hawker stall at Chinatown Complex. The one-month pop-up, which starts on 17 August, will see Febbrile serve his signature classic handmade pastas at wallet-friendly hawker fare.
Now the big question is: Why would an Italian chef of a Michelin-starred pedigree choose a hawker centre to hold a pop-up?
For starters, Febbrile is no stranger to hawker centres. Having lived in Singapore for the past seven years, the Pugila native enjoys immersing himself in local culture. Through his weekly weekend tradition of having breakfast at the hawker centre, he found Chooi, the owner of Nudedles.4, who was formerly a restaurant chef at Michelin-starred restaurants such as Jaan and the now-defunct Joel Robuchon.
Febbrile says: “It is so inspiring to have met Clarence. He is young and so enthusiastic about making quality pasta, a cuisine that is not native to him, yet he is so dedicated to the craft.”
On the menu: Four signature Italian handmade pastas
At the pop-up, diners can expect to see fresh pastas being made at the hawker stall with top-notch ingredients, sourced directly from Italy. The four pasta dishes that will be presented are Linguine al Pesto ($7), Ricotta and Tomato Cavatelli ($8), Rigatoni alla Carbonara ($9), and Pappardelle Oxtail Ragu ($10). Here’s an additional treat: Febbrile will be serving an exclusive Soft Serve Burrata Ice-Cream ($5), a recipe crafted specially for this event.
“Hawker centres are welcoming spaces that are so unique to Singapore. It gathers dedicated cooks who put so much hard work into perfecting a dish, and is also a place where everyone comes together to enjoy great tasting food at affordable prices,” says Febbrile. “I want to do the same by bringing simple, comforting food from my culture.”
This hawker pop-up is a prelude to Febbrile’s upcoming restaurant, which is slated to open next year.
Febbrile’s hawker pop-up is located at Chinatown Complex, 335 Smith Street, #02-34, from 17 August to 17 September, 11am till sold out, and is closed on Mondays.
