Singapore Weather
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Friday - 3rd Sep |  | Heavy Rain Shower
| Max | : | 29°C (84°F) | | Min | : | 28°C (82°F) |
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Saturday - 4th Sep | | Heavy Rain Shower
| Max | : | 30°C (86°F) | | Min | : | 26°C (79°F) |
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Sunday - 5th Sep | | Heavy Rain Shower
| Max | : | 30°C (86°F) | | Min | : | 27°C (81°F) |
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| Singapore is an incredibly diverse mix of cultures which combine with surprising ease to present a nation and city which is uniquely Singaporean. It is a blend which works well by drawing the best cultural aspects of the different people who have come to settle in the city.
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Not least is the culinary expertise and different tastes of the world which have evolved in the city to present a wide array of excellent signature foods and dining styles. Among these is certainly the food of Italy, and the Italian restaurants in the city are well placed to bring the best of Italy to the heart of Singapore.
Italian cuisine may at first seem incongruous in a South East Asian state but the cultural and historic path of Singapore has been like no other in this part of the world.
Situated at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, Malaysian influences of course formed the early history of the nation, but with a majority population formed from Chinese settlers, a good number from Indian ancestry and all the colonial influences during the city's time as the South East Asian hub of the British Empire, it becomes clear that defining Singapore cuisine in simple geographic terms is not so clear cut.
To understand the popularity of Italian food in Singapore it is necessary to examine what is inherent in every cooking style and cuisine in the city.
This is almost certainly the use of select few fresh ingredients with which subtle and sophisticated dishes are created. The focus is on simplicity of composition and the skills of the chef to bring out the best flavours from the ingredients. Passions are high for food in the city and the demands are great on chefs to create the very best cuisine possible.
These represent the same commitments required to create first class Italian food. The origin of Italian cuisine is peasant food, where fresh available natural ingredients of the season are combined to make wholesome food for workers in the fields. Much of it is single pasta dishes incorporating all manner of pulses and vegetables and when the meats and cheeses, which have become renowned the world over, are incorporated, the inherent style of the cuisine becomes instantly recognisable and universally appreciated.
What Italian food has as a key ingredient found more in Italy than other parts of the world is fresh fish and seafood. The essential concept of using only the freshest local ingredients means that the peninsula of Italy is better located for fresh seafood than, for example, many parts of America where Italian food is very popular.
The island state of Singapore shares with Italy the easy availability of seafood, which forms the basis for a great many dishes in a full range of different cuisines available in the city. This is certainly true of Italian cuisine and within the Italian restaurants in Singapore, diners are presented with an authentic and representative taste of Italy.
There is of course a further reason why the cuisine of Italy is popular in Singapore and that is for its integral European character and style. The city is the most cosmopolitan in South East Asia, with the kind of business districts, financial centres and commercial operations which form a cityscape more in common with western than eastern countries.
Ultra-modern skyscrapers mix with colonial buildings and extensive recreational facilities to present a contemporary thriving city with designer shops and a cafe culture which is typically western in character.
The cuisine fits in well with this upscale city style and the restaurants themselves offer the kind of environments in which people can dine with friends or colleagues accompanied by authentic Italian hospitality and culture. Many of the restaurants offer informal dining in a Pizzeria or Trattoria style, in which a family-run feel and friendly environment makes for an enjoyable experience.
Pizzas and pastas form the mainstay and are generally served in informal settings. For a fine dining experience there is the Ristorante style, in which the setting is generally more sophisticated and romantic, perfect for a dinner for two or to indulge in some of Italy’s most highly regarded culinary specialities, often set to a backdrop of the kind of classical music for which Italy is similarly proud.
Fine dining Italian style involves a defined meal structure which usually begins with an Aperitif, followed by Antipasto, a selection of hot or cold appetizers. After this is the Primo, or first course, widely recognised as the classic Italian dining part of the meal, with favourites such as pasta, gnocchi, risotto, soup or pollenta.
The Secondo and Contorno, second course and side dish, is the main part of a meal, incorporating fish or meat, traditionally veal, chicken or pork, with a side of cooked vegetables or salad. To follow, diners can enjoy cheese and fruits during the Formaggio e fruita course and a dessert, or Dolce. Coffee forms an essential part of any meal and a selection will be available to conclude the dining experience.
Italian restaurants can be found throughout Singapore, with a good selection of pizza and pasta establishments and some fine high-end dining ones too, generally located in fashionable areas in and around the central business district. Food is celebrated in the city more than any other cultural aspect and it is where the diverse mix of peoples come together in appreciation of the scope and quality of the dining on offer. Italian cuisine is very much a part of that unique culinary expression.
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