Dario Cecchini, hailed as the “world’s great butcher” by the New York Times and star of Netflix’s Chef’s Table, opened the restaurant Bottega di Carna in Singapore last year. It seems that Cecchini has developed a fondness for our country, as he is back with yet another project, this time a pop-up collaboration with Maxwell Food Centre stall Bold x Braised.
This pop-up focuses on Cecchini’s famous panini dishes, of which he is bringing three. If you’re keen on trying them out, you’re likely to have to wait in line for a good while, because these paninis will only be available for two days—from now till 7 March 2024, 11:30am to 2pm each day.
Fans of beef will find much to love with the Panino Pastarmino ($6.50), AKA beef pastrami sandwich. Featuring crunchy Tuscan bread, well-marinated and juicy beef brisket, as well as a special mayonnaise, this sandwich impresses with its rich flavour and texture.
The other beef panini, the Panino con Guancia di Manzo ($6.50) AKA beef cheek sandwich, is no slouch either. This panini highlights Bottega di Carna’s dedication to using every part of the cow by slow-cooking beef cheeks for 16 hours with Italian Sangiovese red wine from the Chianti region in Italy. The result is succulent and tasty meat that complements the Tuscan bread wonderfully.
The third panini that this pop-up offers is the Braised Pork Belly Panino ($6.50), which was developed together with the Bold & Braised team. Here, a thick cut of pork belly is marinated in herbs and spices for one day, then braised till tender. Because of how soft the pork belly is, this panini provides the most textural contrast between bread and meat.
While you’re there, you may be able to catch Dario Cecchini in the flesh. We think that his larger-than-life persona, the good paninis, and the fact that this collaboration will only exist for two days, make Bottega di Carna and Bold x Braised’s pop-up worth a shot—only if you’re willing to brave the long queue, that is.Â
For more stalls to check out in the hawker centre, read our Maxwell Food Centre guide. For premium beef burgers from a food truck, check out our Ye Olde Cow review.
Address: 1 Kadayanallur St, #01-43, Maxwell Food Centre, Singapore 069184
Opening hours: Wed-Thurs 11:30am to 2pm
Website
The Bottega di Carna and Bold x Braised pop-up is not a halal-certified eatery.
Photos taken by Melvin Mak.
This was a media tasting at Bold x Braised.