Benvenuto a Locanda

There is no experience more impactful than an honest meal and earnest hospitality, so Locanda makes for an appealing culinary stopover that should not be missed.

- Ben Kwok

On a trip to San Sebastián in Spain's Basque region a few years ago, a group of friends and I stumbled into a humble, no-frills establishment run by an elderly couple, serving traditional Basque fare. Upon taking in the first spoonful of the warm, hearty cod lentil stew that was served, tears welled up in my eyes. Although the dish was foreign, its flavours carried a distinct sense of nostalgic familiarity that reminded me of my grandmother's love-filled, homely cooking. In that moment, I was a young boy sitting in her kitchen once again. Perhaps it was the cold and exhaustion I was suffering from; perhaps it was the warm hospitality said couple embraced our strange group with, despite the language barrier - but there is no denying that the experience would have been far less impactful without that simple yet comforting bowl of cod lentil stew.

Five years on, that memory remains one of the highlights from the trip - such is the profound effect that comforting fare and a warm embrace can have on weary travellers. Food is and always has been a powerful, universal expression of love, transcending time, space, and language. It is no surprise that it forms the backbone of some cultures.

One such example would be Italian culture, where food forms the cornerstone across numerous aspects of the Italian way of life - hospitality amongst them. In that regard, Locanda - Michelin-starred Italian fine dining establishment Buona Terra's latest trattoria concept - seeks to bring some of that quintessential Italian love and hospitality to Singapore through its comforting, hearty fare.