Once Upon a Thyme… There’s this Good Pasta Place
By: Jo Kho
Tags: Pasta, Food Business, Singapore Food, Singapore

Down-To-Earth, Humble Little Pasta Place

A friend introduced them to me while I was looking for good western cuisine in the Novena area. Their catchy name caught my attention. “Once Upon a Thyme”. It has a fairy tale ring to it, so I went searching for their owners, a husband and wife duo, Jo & Gina, hoping to learn more about this fairy tale of theirs.

We wanted to make good, simple and delicious pasta available outside of restaurants so that they’re accessible to more people.” — Jo.

And with that in mind, they started their first stall at the Golden Mile Food Centre. The name “Once Upon a Thyme” had a nice ring to it, and is very relatable to many. This is because the phrase, “Once Upon a Time”, is used often at the start of a fairy tale. They playfully replace the word “Time” with “Thyme”, which is their favourite herb and the name stuck with many of their friends, family and customers alike.

They began their humble little business with a menu that serves a plethora of western fusion dishes. However, they soon realised that their pasta dishes were becoming a hit among their regulars and new customers alike.

First-time customers often came up to them after their meals to share how the pasta went beyond their expectations and how surprised they were to experience that in a hawker centre.

So they decided to focus on pasta dishes.

Not trusting ready-made, conveniently packaged seasonings, they took the arduous path of making their own. Their spices are made from scratch with their own spice recipe using their favourite herb, thyme as the centrepiece.

Signature Dishes

Battered Fish Olio

One of the favourites, their Aglio Olio is packed with generous amounts of garlic and spice to give it that saliva-inducing flavour aroma and punch. The crunch of the fried battered fish feels marvellous at first bite and goes well with the fresh fish underneath it.

Twirl a fork of the garlicky pasta, spade a piece of the deliciously fish fillet and have it together in one mouthful. You will understand why first-time visitors will often come back.

Image Credit: Once Upon A Thyme

Meatballs Pasta with Spicy Tomato Cream Sauce

Their meatballs are prepared by hand. The ingredients are mixed, folded and kneaded right before service to make sure it is as fresh as it can be. They are then painstakingly rolled into balls of consistent size to make sure their cooking times are consistent.

The temperature is monitored closely to maintain maximum control during the cooking process to make sure the meatballs have a nice crunch on the outside while tender and juicy on the inside.

The exquisite flavours of their spices are evident in the spicy, creamy sauce used in this recipe. The tasty, rich sauce is brought to a sizzling boil in a pan. Afterwards, the meatballs are thrown into the mix. The pasta is finally added with everything stirred together in a dance of flavourings and served for the perfect combination of taste and texture.

Image Credit: Once Upon A Thyme

Passion in F&B

There’s a whole lot more than just passion you’ll need to last in the F&B industry. — Gina.

Jo & Gina have always wanted to create their fairy tale of owning an F&B brand business. But far from being an unrealistic fantasy, they have demonstrated a maturity that comes from their willingness, to put in the hard work, time, sacrifice and patience. And deal with the numerous challenges of growing their business, together, in and out of the kitchen.

If you love pasta, do give your tastebuds a treat and check out this little tale of happy ever after next time you are at Novena Square 2.

Outlet Information:

📍 10 Sinaran Drive, #B1–120/124 Square 2, Singapore 307506

https://www.facebook.com/onceuponathyme.sg