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Admittedly, this ain't pretty but my goodness, it is truly the best bolognaise I've had in ages! And I don't say this lightly because the last time I felt so strongly about a plate of bolognaise pasta was close to 15 years ago in Hong Kong. It was at Cafe Vergnano in the IFC Mall and up to that point in my life, theirs was the tastiest version I'd ever eaten. So much so that I got a second plate on the spot.
Fast forward to last night when I had the bolognaise cooked by Chef Takashi of Ristorante Luka. One mouthful of their handmade pasta in his stunning minced beef sauce, and I was instantly transported. It reminded me so much of the one I'd dreamed about and craved for over the years (sadly, it wasn't anywhere to be seen when I returned on subsequent trips). So I threw myself into this new discovery - to revel in its harmony of beautifully full and complex tasting sauce with al dente ribbons.
To me, it's an embodiment of joyful comfort food at its best.

All-you-can-eat toppoki at $18.80 per person? Yes please! Bring an appetite, for there is a lot of starch to sample at this newly opened Korean joint in Suntec City (it's near Giant). Concept-wise, Dookki is similar to the toppoki restaurants in Seoul's Tteokbokki Town — cook a whole pan of ingredients till bubbling and the sauce thickens, and then dig in. The bonus is that there are eight types of soft and chewy rice cakes to choose from (we love the sweet potato), you get to concoct your own toppoki sauce, as well as pick your own ingredients from a variety that includes luncheon meat, cocktail sausages, fish cakes and greens. Towards the end, hit the rice bar for a portion of rice, corn, kimchi, seaweed and sesame oil to stir into the remaining sauce for super delish kimchi fried rice. Pro tip: Leave your favourite top at home. The constantly bubbling pan equals splash galore.
Avg price: $20 per person
Photo by Burppler Leigh Khoo