Mia Torino

How far can one man go in the pursuit of perfection? When it’s in the name of some of Singapore’s finest Italian and Piedmontese cuisine, the possibilities are limitless. MiaTorino, a cosy trattoria set among Neil Road’s historic shophouses in Tanjong Pagar, is where aficionados of Italian food come to enjoy the culinary masterpieces of Erik Trozza, a powerhouse in the kitchen who takes pleasure in having a meticulous interest in every phase of your dining experience: from the preparation and beautiful presentation of each dish, to piling up the plates at the end of the day.

There’s something special about dining at a restaurant where you know every aspect of the experience, from the decor of the dining room to the menu and the dishes on offer, are the result of one man’s passion. At MiaTorino, that man is Erik Trozza. He’s chiefly responsible for engineering one of Singapore’s most detailed regional Italian menus, specialising in Piedmontese dishes from the northwest of Italy. His trattoria-style dining rooms along the quaint Tanjong Pagar stretch of Neil Road are Trozza’s theatre, where he can showcase his love for this highly specialised regional cuisine in surroundings that seamlessly set the scene for a very special dining experience.

Early in the day, when most in Singapore are still sleeping, Erik Trozza is already in the kitchen at his Neil Road restaurant, MiaTorino, baking the grissini – long, traditional breadsticks – and preparing other delicacies, such as the popular octopus with potato puree and Piedmontese bagna cauda sauce. Then of course, there’s the pasta and risotto courses to consider, not to mention the delectable desserts. This genuine, almost proselytising passion for Piedmontese cuisine is helped heartily by the fact that just being in MiaTorino’s Tanjong Pagar restaurant is a joy – with an understated, warm interior it feels like you’re enjoying an Italian dinner in Trozza’s own home.