Ex-Braci chef behind popular pasta hawker pop-up offers free gelato ahead of restaurant opening in East Coast

Some tasty news, CBD folks. From April 19 to 20, you can enjoy free gourmet gelato sandwiches made by Mirko Febbrile, 32, former chef de cuisine of one-Michelin-starred Italian restaurant Braci, served from a cart outside Singapore Land Tower in Raffles Place. The cute pop-up will run from 11am to 2pm on both days, and 8days.sg is told there will be about 150 portions available each day.

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Gourmet gelato sarnies made by Italian chef himself

The Italian take on an ice cream sandwich (also known as “brioche con gelato”) will feature freshly-churned burrata (fresh Italian cheese made from mozzarella and cream) gelato and buttery brioche made by Mirko, served with tomato-strawberry compote and extra virgin olive oil. Now that’s some atas ice cream from a cart.

Promotion for new Italian restaurant opening at East Coast in May

The two-day event is meant to create buzz for Fico (the Italian word for fig), a new Italian restaurant by Mirko and The Lo & Behold Group, a homegrown F&B company that owns three-Michelin-starred Odette, The Coconut Club and Tanjong Beach Club.

Slated for opening on 16 May, the restaurant is described to be “a casual Italian concept” inspired by Mirko’s native Puglia. Located at East Coast Park (it takes over casual Thai restaurant Central Thai), scenic sea views will no doubt be a huge draw for dining at Fico. All other details are still under wraps at press time, though his PR rep says Mirko “plans to continue selling the burrata gelato when Fico opens”. The Italian chef also told 8days.sg last year that he plans to serve “handmade pasta and maybe pizza” at his upcoming restaurant. 

Follow-up to successful Nudedles hawker collab

Starting this Wednesday, the gelato cart is Mirko’s second pop-up as a prelude to Fico. Last August, the chef launched a wildly popular month-long collaboration with Nudedles, a pasta-centric hawker stall at Chinatown Complex (which closed permanently in January this year) owned by Clarence Chooi, a 29-year-old chef who worked at Michelin-starred establishments like Jaan by Kirk Westaway and the now-defunct Joel Robuchon Restaurant at Resorts World Sentosa.

Long lines were the norm at the pop-up, where handmade pasta dishes such as Linguine al Pesto and Rigatoni alla Carbonara from $7 were sold out almost immediately after opening at 11am daily, with some customers joining the queue as early as 6am. 

We recommend showing up early for Mirko’s free gelato sandwiches, or else you’ll have to wait till Fico’s opening next month to try his food.

The details

The Fico pop-up runs from April 19 to 20 at 11am to 2pm outside Singapore Land Tower, 50 Raffles Pl, S048623. While stocks last.

Fico is scheduled to open on May 16 at 1300 East Coast Parkway, S468964. More info via Facebook & Instagram.

Photos: Fico, Yip Jieying

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