If you've been enviously watching Stanley Tucci eat his way through Neapolitan pizza and Campanian buffalo mozzarella on CNN's Searching For Italy this year, the time has come for you to finally indulge in Italian cuisine to your heart's content in the Klang Valley, Penang and Langkawi.
Fourteen of Malaysia's most respected Italian restaurants will showcase a spectacular spectrum of genuine Italian cooking, with exclusive special menus from 22 to 28 November 2021.
This is your chance to discover the country's best Italian eateries and delight in everything from tagliolini to truffles, paccheri to polenta, prosciutto to panna cotta.
The Italian Journey of Food Discovery is the cornerstone of World Italian Cuisine Week, billed as The Extraordinary Italian Taste, an initiative by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Marking its sixth edition, the celebration in Malaysia is spearheaded by the Italian Embassy and Italian Trade Agency in Kuala Lumpur in collaboration with the Italy-Malaysia Business Association.
Restaurants participating in World Italian Cuisine Week are helping to raise awareness about the quality and uniqueness of authentic Italian cuisine and Made-in-Italy products.
This initiative also underscores the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet and environmental sustainability of Italian cuisine, illustrated by the distinctive character of Italian cuisine in different regions of the country.
“The Extraordinary Italian Taste campaign is a remarkable opportunity for those involved in the support and promotion of Italian culture, cuisine and lifestyle in Malaysia," says H.E. Massimo Rustico, Ambassador of Italy to Malaysia. "Our universally loved products are ambassadors of Italian excellence. We have dedicated ourselves to share this 'eccellenze italiane' by inviting guests to experience modern Italian cuisine, authentic regional products and discover their stories without the need to travel abroad."
Dr. Filippo Fusaro, Trade Commissioner of the Italian Trade Agency in Kuala Lumpur, added his agency is "excited to play an important role in the promotion of Italian excellence in Malaysia. Through this week-long initiative, we are able to highlight the nutritional and health aspects of Italian cuisine through collaborative partnerships with Italian chefs, restaurants and culinary institutions."
Find out more at italianfestival.info
Read on below to see The Extraordinary Italian Taste menus offered by each restaurant.
Changkat Bukit Bintang's Ciccio has been a mainstay of Italian gastronomy in KL for more than a decade, its endurance testifying to its terrific kitchen. Its signature Pizza Ciccio is potent proof of its capabilities, while its paccheri with portobello, porcini and parmesan is prime pasta pleasure.
If you're on vacation in Langkawi this week, don't miss a trip to Gallo Nero for a magnificent set menu that brings together stellar Malaysian seafood with sterling Italian produce, including fresh Langkawi prawns and seared tuna with buffalo mozzarella and sun-dried tomatoes.
Heritage Pizza has fast become one of KL's top pizza parlours - its set menus this week spotlight six diverse kinds of pizza that'll have you joyfully singing the chorus to That's Amore: When the moon hits your eye, like a big pizza pie, that's amore!
Penang's Il Bacaro is a little Italian oasis in George Town - it might be worth travelling north for its limited-time menu that features bresaola, ravioli, and slow-cooked lamb shoulder with truffle paste.
From prosciutto to polenta, autumnal black truffle risotto to pumpkin cream pizza, Luce demonstrates why Italian cuisine is always in season, never going out of style.
Luretta DOP Italian Deli's special menu is sweet music to our ears, ringing with arancini, bruschette, lasagna and tagliolini.
Marini’s On 57 elevates Italian fare with deluxe ingredients like roasted cod fish, pan-seared foie gras and Hokkaido scallops to complement the restaurant's towering views.
Monnalisa is marvellously traditional, with intriguing offerings like Neapolitan pie stuffed with ricotta and wheat berries. You can also try two kinds of pizzas on its set, one as a fried and baked version and another folded as calzone.
Nero Nero is set to thrill from start to finish, from the opening of stracciatella cheese with cherry tomatoes, basil oil and Taggiasca olive powder to the finale of panna cotta with passionfruit coulis.
Osteria Gamberoni is one of the newest restaurants on this list, showcasing its chops with a centrepiece of fresh tagliolini with pecorino cheese and black truffles.
Bustling with Italian food fans in Bangsar, Roberto's promises plenty of choices for World Italian Cuisine Week - the homemade beef sausage with polenta and wild mushroom sauce is a surefire smash!
Residents of Ampang know and love Sapore as a destination for protein-powered Italian produce. This week, expect cold cut charcuterie and dry-aged T-bone steaks for full-bodied satisfaction.
Perched on Troika Sky Dining, Strato serves up a sky-high taste of la dolce vita with pan-seared sardines with sherry vinaigrette and barramundi al cartoccio with clams and prawns.
Last by alphabetical order but certainly not least, Zenzero zooms to the top of any Italian food lover's list with burrata cheese from Puglia and ossobucco alla Milanese.
