Basilico Brunch Buffet at Conrad Singapore Orchard
Words: Louise Miller
Photos: Monica Tindall & Supplied
Few foodie experiences excite me quite as much as a lavish buffet brunch, so I was thrilled at the prospect of the Conrad Singapore Orchard’s Italian take on this weekend’s gourmet indulgence. Basilico, named after the Italian cuisine’s fragrant staple, offers all of the freshness and flavour of its namesake. As we enter the stylish restaurant, the circular layout creates an immediate impression of opulence and accentuates the sense of delicious abundance that permeates the space.
Basilico Brunch Buffet
Antipasti
My eyes are immediately drawn to the central, circular station displaying an impressive line-up of salumi, seafood, Italian olives, tomatoes, pickles and many other tempting antipasti. This seems like a good place to start. I load my first plate with wafer-thin shavings of Parma ham, mortadella and possibly the best carpaccio I have ever tasted and accompany the meats with grilled asparagus, plump and tangy caper berries and an exceptionally flavourful tapenade that I slather over freshly made cheese grissini.
A curated selection of the finest Italian oils and vinegar complements a cornucopia of freshly baked Italian bread. The grissini shares the spotlight with loaves of focaccia, ciabatta, and more.
This central station alone caters to a wide range of tastes, drawing us back for multiple servings. Besides the queen scallops, Taranto’s black mussels, and clams at the raw bar, Amalfi lemon-poached Boston lobster and succulent Mediterranean-style tiger prawns are also available. Were there not so many other dishes to sample, we could easily spend much more time at this initial stop.
Pasta
You simply cannot visit Basilico and not try its incredible pasta dishes! The enticing pasta station called me for the second course, and again, I am spoilt for choice. The Seafood Spaghetti, Wagyu Beef Lasagna, and Mushroom Risotto are nothing short of sublime. As if this exceptional trio weren’t enough, we are also delighted with a serving of pillowy gnocchi generously coated in a rich tomato sauce.
Basilico Pizza
Satisfying our carb cravings at Basilico is easy with Romana-style pizzas. The dough is fermented for forty-eight hours with a splash of olive oil, resulting in a delightfully light and crisp base. Both vegetarian and meat toppings are available, but our fave is the salmon.
Meat
The Roman-style pork belly immediately catches my eye at the meat station. Cooked to perfection, the meat retains its delicious succulence beneath a crispy golden skin. The station has the carnivores in our group drooling, with the pork belly flanked by golden grilled chicken, tender roast lamb, and beautifully seared salmon.
Dolci
The generosity of Basilico’s savoury options is mirrored in its dessert station: amongst the most tempting of these are a buttery panettone pudding, a creamy and ever so light tiramisu served in shot glasses and a tangy raspberry mousse and dark chocolate cake. No Italian meal is complete without gelato, and although my stomach is on the brink of surrender, Monica reminds me of my duty to try everything. I opt for a mango sorbet, which is velvety smooth in texture and strikes a balance of sweet and tangy. My palate feels cleansed and freshened, and I am ready to contemplate this feast’s finale.
Basilico Formaggi
How can I say this without implying that everything before it wasn’t already exceptional? Because it absolutely was! But the cheese room—yes, a whole room dedicated to cheese—was on an entirely different level of amazing. An audible gasp of delight escapes my lips as I catch sight of the expansive cheese-laden table that stretches out before me. Over forty Italian artisanal cheeses are on offer here, so for anyone who loves cheese only half as much as I do, this final course is worth saving more room for than I did. Having said that, I dutifully pushed beyond satiation to try a good range.
I am surprised to learn that Italy is the country with the highest variety of cheeses in the world, over three hundred of which have a protected designation of origin. This room truly reflects that rich diversity, with a stroll down the table revealing an impressive spectrum of colours, textures, flavour infusions and provenance.
Starting at the far side, there is an assortment of mozzarellas and burattas: the flavours range from pure and creamy to complex and infused with various additions such as squid ink and truffles. Progressing down the table sees a gamut of cheeses representing all of Italy’s regions: There are robust mountain cheeses from the Piedmont region, such as Toma and Castelmagno; Sicilian Primasale, whose slightly sweet and grassy notes are offset by the infusion of black pepper; malt and whiskey-infused Occelli. Massive blocks of Parmigiano Reggiano, golden-hued saffron-infused Tuscan Pecorino, white chocolate and truffle-infused Gorgonzola, and so much more.
Free-flow Drinks
Basilico’s weekend brunch offers tiers of beverage packages, with free-flow sparkling wines, white and red wines, and craft beers available from $60 per person.
Before diving into the wine selection, though, we’re treated to a special apéritif by Basilico Bar’s Head Barman, Oliver Jamie Garcia. His Caffé Freddo creation is a brilliant twist on the classic Espresso Martini. Crafted with Lemon Grappa, Bomba Carta Amaro, Cocchi Dry Vermouth, coffee, and a dash of lemon tincture, it’s a refreshing and invigorating start, blending the boldness of coffee with zesty citrus notes in a way that’s both imaginative and utterly delightful.
Our digestif is a collaborative affair, with Oliver and Chef de Cuisine Davide Del Gatto joining forces to craft an invigorating Sgroppino. As Davide expertly whisks lemon sorbet, Oliver adds a steady stream of prosecco and then vodka, blending it into a light, citrusy masterpiece. The result is a refreshing and elegant finish to our meal.
Basilico’s weekend brunch is available from 12 pm until 3 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
The cost per person is $128 per adult and $64 per child (6-12yrs). Free-flow sparkling wines, white and red wines and craft beers are available from $60 per person.
Basilico Bar
The culmination of an incredible Italian brunch at Basilico restaurant calls for postprandial digestifs, and what better venue for this than its very own Basilico Bar? So, after thoroughly enjoying the incredible flavours of the buffet, Monica and I take up residence at the elegant marble-topped bar in anticipation of prolonging our indulgence with the promised taste of Italy in every sip.
The Vermouth Experience
The highlight of the Basilico Bar is undoubtedly its Vermouth Experience, a standout feature given that the bar boasts an impressive collection of fifty distinct Vermouth varieties. However, the unexpected pairing of Vermouth with cheese truly piques my curiosity. I had never considered this combination before and am eager to explore how the fortified wine’s complex botanical and aromatic flavours work with cheese’s creamy and tangy notes.
We begin with what Oliver calls the palate-cleansing Vermouth, the Baldoria Dry Umami. It delivers what it promises with notes of the macerated porcini mushrooms with kombu seaweed; the flavours are complex and earthy, yet refreshing. This is paired with a pear-infused pecorino that balances saltiness with subtle sweet and fruity undertones.
Next, we enjoy the Mulassano Rosso Vermouth, known for its robust, rounded flavour profile with fresh orange notes complemented by a hint of pepper and herbs. It is paired with a charred truffle-infused Riobolla, a creamy blend of cow and sheep’s milk that adds a luxurious buttery richness.
Our Vermouth exploration concludes with the Mancini Kopi Vermouth, which, as the name suggests, features Indonesian coffee extract. This Vermouth offers a medium-sweet profile with bitter Robusta notes and a tiramisu-like aroma, providing a bold and punchy finish to our tasting experience.
Reasons to visit Basilico: The exceptional quality and range of Italian food, outstanding service, vermouth tasting at Basilico Bar next door, and did I mention the cheese?
Basilico
Level 2, Conrad Singapore Orchard
1 Cuscaden Road, Singapore 249715
+65 6725 3230
@conradsingaporeorchard
Link to Basilico on Google Maps
Find more Singapore recommendations here, and stay updated with the latest gourmet and travel recommendations with The Yum List on Facebook and The Yum List on Instagram.