Two worlds collide with the latest collaboration in the culinary scene, featuring Italian chef Mirko Febbrile, who used to helm one-Michelin-starred Italian restaurant Braci, and pasta hawker stall owner Clarence Chooi.
After joining homegrown restaurant company The Lo and Behold Group last September, Febbrile is embarking on his first stint — a pop-up at Chooi’s Nudedles.4 hawker stall at Chinatown Complex. The one-month pop-up, which starts on August 17, will see Febbrile serve his signature classic handmade pastas at wallet-friendly hawker fare.
Now the big question is: Why would an Italian chef of a Michelin-starred pedigree choose a hawker centre to hold a pop-up?
For starters, Febbrile is no stranger to hawker centres. Having lived in Singapore for the past seven years, the Pugila native enjoys immersing himself in local culture. Through his weekly weekend tradition of having breakfast at the hawker centre, he found Chooi, the owner of Nudedles.4, who was formerly a restaurant chef at Michelin-starred restaurants such as Jaan and the now-defunct Joel Robuchon.
Febbrile says: “It is so inspiring to have met Clarence. He is young and so enthusiastic about making quality pasta, a cuisine that is not native to him, yet he is so dedicated to the craft.”