New tastes in the neighbourhood

Layalina Privee

MENTION Lebanese cuisine and the options you can find in Singapore are limited to casual shawarma kiosks and restaurants that bill themselves as "Mediterranean".

Hoping to plug the gap is Layalina Privee, a semi-fine-dining Lebanese restaurant that has been opened for just three weeks on the third floor of Sultan Link building near Mohamed Sultan Road. With three other Lebanese restaurants back in London, this is the first time that Layalina, the British-based restaurant group, is making its foray into the Asian market.

They seemed to have gotten the formula down pat. Here to launch the offshoot of the Layalina brand in Singapore is Joseph Cuakine, the executive head chef of the Layalina restaurant group, who will be recreating the dishes served in the London restaurant. Highlights include mezze style small dishes such as hummus dips, tabouleh and falafel as well as main courses such as aubergine musakaat plated in a polished and more modern way. "We want to feed the eyes and the nose and then the stomach," explains the Lebanese-British chef. To create authentic Lebanese flavours, they are bringing in ingredients such as white or…