Only ate a few Chilli crab pasta before, but always end up wanting the real thing xD But this... is almost better than the real thing! 😳😳😳
Set up by the parents of Joan Bo Wen, a young lady with special needs, this social enterprise in Jalan Wangi (Potong Pasir is the nearest MRT station) trains and imparts kitchen skills to youths with special needs, and the cafe is run almost entirely by its team of young staff with special needs. The menu is pretty basic but the food is beautifully plated, generously portioned and delicious — it can certainly rival any cafe at the same price point! — and the service is cheerful and heartfelt. Out of our several favourites here, we highly recommend the Chilli Crab Pasta ($18), with a sauce that strikes the perfect balance between sweet, spicy and umami, and the delectable Rosemary Lemon Chicken ($12). For something less heavy, try the Oriental Chicken Salad ($12).
Avg price: $20 per person
Photo by Burppler Cedric Lim
While the super meaty Chilli Crab Pasta ($18) was my favourite here, this rarer find is worth a try too. We were told that an Italian chef shared the recipe and taught the kitchen staff how to whip this interesting dish up, so you know it's legit. 💪🏼
Capretto translates to the meat of a kid (as in, young goat 🐐) in Italian, but the waitstaff said that they use lamb here (though their menu online says herb-roasted goat meat so... the jury's still out on that). In any case, the chunks of meat were very tender – although a tad gamey, esp if it was really lamb. I particularly liked the rich cheesy sauce (enriched with Parmigiano-Reggiano, methinks) that coated the streamers of tagliatelle was an umami party in the mouth. It can get a little too much after a while, so it's best to share this with someone and get another pasta/main to share. 🍝
The sauce is as authentically Singaporean as it goes. Sweet, spicy, full of umami and eggy goodness with loads of fresh crab meat and a shell or 2.
My only gripe is that they do not serve buns for dipping. Perhaps I'll snuggle my own buns in next time. 😂😂 #hungryhungrymonster
when I don't know what to eat, this is my go-to! it's so delicious n without the hassle to pick the flesh out to eat! I always ask for less pasta so that I can slurp the rest of the gravy. the staff are great - always remembering my drink choice.
