We’ve all jumped on the rainbow food bandwagon at some point. Perhaps, some of us are still drawn in by the Insta-worthiness of rainbow-coloured food, while others maybe not so much. I, for one, thought the rainbow trend died out a long time ago.
Yet, committing fully to its belief in breaking conventions, Sugar Lips has created a dish that might reawaken our collective hunger for rainbow-coloured food: Rainbow Pasta.
Tucked away in an obscure corner of Orchard Gateway, Sugar Lips is a little difficult to find. Moreover, with the establishment’s exotic decor, it felt as if I was journeying to a faraway land.
Splashes of brightly-coloured paint cover the floor, ceiling and seats of the cafe, giving the place a vibrant atmosphere. Supposedly, these splashes of paint represent food overflowing from the mouths of customers. What an interesting idea!
With such quirky decor, it’s no wonder that Sugar Lips inevitably came up with a dish like Rainbow Pasta.
Truth be told, I was entirely sceptical of this strange and seriously wacky dish when I first heard about it. Everyone I told shared similar sentiments, with most producing expressions of confusion or horror, or both.
I tried the Rainbow Prawn Pasta With Cream Sauce ($15.90) first. To say the least, I was taken aback. Why? Because of how decently good the pasta was.
The pasta was cooked al dente — firm enough such that the sauce coated the pasta perfectly, yet soft enough for an enjoyable bite. It is prepared fresh every day, and the colours come from regular food dye.
The cream sauce was thick, smooth and packed with flavour, though it could do with a little less salt. There was a very generous portion of well-seasoned prawns and lala (clams), which served as fitting complements to the pasta.
Visually, the white sauce provided an interesting contrast to the vibrant colours of the pasta.
Cream sauce isn’t the only option though, you can also choose to have the pasta with Thai sauce. I tried the Rainbow Spicy Fish Pasta With Thai Sauce ($15.90) and frankly, I preferred it to the cream sauce.
This particular sauce is a variation of the classic tom yum, with a thicker consistency and a touch of cream added to it.
The cream added a certain richness to the dish and the spice gave the dish a nice kick!
I truly appreciated the generous portion of dory fish that came with the pasta. These slices of fish were well-marinated and bursting with flavour.
Besides the Rainbow Pastas, I had to give Sugar Lips’ signature Rainbow Fantasy Cake ($16.90) a go.
According to Sugar Lips, they treat every dessert plate like a painting. When I first laid eyes on the dish, I was truly awe-struck by how spectacular it looked – like a painting indeed. The beautifully-layered butter cake sat atop a glaze of four different sauces (blueberry, strawberry, caramel and grape). With a cake so fluffy and delicious, it was hard to resist taking one bite after another.
I was also given two ice-cream flavours to complement the cake. I particularly loved the Refreshing Mango flavour, but the Cotton Candy & Bubblegum flavour tasted a tad too artificial for me.
My personal favourite, however, was the Red Velvet Fluffy Waffle ($16.90), which came with Sexy Salted Caramel and Summer Berries Mix ice cream on the side.
The waffles, my oh my, the waffles. They had a richness and depth of flavour that matched the gorgeous deep-red colour. Sprinkled atop the warm waffles were tiny pillows of marshmallows that melted into ooey-gooey goodness. These gave the waffles an intriguing yet wonderful texture.
The Summer Berries Mix tasted fresh and light, a perfect complement to the rich waffles. I felt that the Sexy Salted Caramel was a little heavy on the salt, but still rather pleasant.
Sugar Lips also offers a wide variety of homemade drinks, of which I tried the Heart of the Ocean ($8.90) and Sunset Paradise ($8.90).
The Heart of the Ocean is a mixture of red jello, blue lagoon and mint. I enjoyed its zestiness, and thought that the mint added a nice kick to the drink. Sunset Paradise, a mixture of strawberry, blue lagoon and orange juice, was pleasantly refreshing. On a hot day (basically every day in Singapore), these drinks would be perfect to cool you down.
The serving size is rather large, so I’d advise you to share it with a friend or two.
With food that is so beautifully crafted, and an ambience to match the wacky concept behind Sugar Lips’ Rainbow Pasta dishes, it is a must-visit destination for all you Insta-hungry people. I mean, they even have small buckets of props just for you to take pictures #forthegram.
Is the rainbow trend dead? Sugar Lips is proof that it’s not.
Expected Damage: $16 – $30 per pax
