Hi everyone... Gong Xi Fa Cai!
Just so you know - This is an invited review, ok? Please find my disclaimers as follows:
1) I've not been paid to write this, but neither have I paid a cent for my meal, and
2) I'll still be as objective as possible re. the food/wine.
I am (admittedly) very much a novice/ beginner when it comes to wine... so little did I know what a treat I was in for when I was invited for the Frescobaldi wine pairing dinner at Villa Danieli (Sheraton Imperial Hotel KL).
As I learned that night, Frescobaldi is a really established old world winery with a rich, long history - made by a noble Italian family, starting waaaaaaay back in the 1300's **, and sought after throughout, even by great artists such as Leonardo da Vinci***? WOW. Amazing.
(**1308, to be exact. That's more than 700 years of experience!)
(*** An interesting anecdote that night was on how artists used to trade their paintings for Frescobaldi's wines)
I apologise in advance for the terrible photos of the food and wine coming up - the romantic lighting in Villa Danieli is very challenging when you have a point and shoot camera.
:(
(Love the ambience in the restaurant though - cosy yet luxurious, with the rich colour palate, frescos and pillars evoking the feeling that you really are dining in a high class Italian villa)
- First Course: Sliced fresh tuna and scallops served with mix lettuce and lemon extra virgin olive oil...
Matched with a 2010 Albizzia Chardonnay Toscana
The fish and scallops were perfectly prepared - simple enough that you can enjoy the natural sweetness and flavours, complemented by the tart lemon dressing and sweet (fig?) compote.
As for the wine, it matched this dish very well - the flavours were interestingly subtle (as compared to the usual Chardonnays that I have tasted), complex, and relatively dry with hints of minerals.
- Second Course: Tuscany Seafood Soup with Crispy Bread...
Matched with a 2009 Pomino Bianco
This wonderful soup, bursting with savoury sweet seafood goodness went beautifully with the well balanced and refreshing wine which had a nice fragrance of fruit (peach?) without being overly sweet.
- Third Course: Home made "fagottini" (Italian dumpling?) with Artichoke and Ricotta Cheese in a walnut sauce...
Matched with a Remole Toscana 2010
The taste of the artichokes was quite mild in the dumplings, with a nice creaminess from the cheese - I thought the Remole (a blend of cabernet sauvignon and sangiovese) would overpower it with its medium body, spicy notes and berry flavours, but it actually went pretty well together.
(If I had a choice, I would probably pair this wine with a nice tomato based pasta though - luv red wine with tomato based pasta)
- Fourth Course: Beef fillet medallions, duck liver with rucola, grilled mushroom and truffle sauce...
Matched with a Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva DOCG 2007
The main course for the night was this perfectly cooked steak topped with a mini slab of decadent, jiggly, melt in mouth foie gras. :D
Of course, the deep red wine went beautifully with it. This is one of the signature wines of Frescobaldi and I can see (or more like, taste) why - Full bodied with a long finish, slightly spicy with a robust fragrance of berries, it accentuated the taste of the steak very well.
- Fifth Course: Double chocolate mousse...
I was stuffed by this point - still, I could not pass up on this creamy, chocolatey dessert :D
What a wonderful meal... :)
Not only was the food good and the wine really good,... we had the great company of the affable Erika Ribaldi (Regional Sales Manager for Frescobaldi), who entertained us with her life story and anecdotes, educated us with her deep knowledge and inspired us with her passion for wine.
SHOUT OUT
Thank you to:
1) Erika Ribaldi for coming all the way to Malaysia to share her passion for wine with us,
2) Kurt and Evelyn from Sheraton and Chef Simone of Villa Danieli for the wonderful meal,
3) Michelle, and everyone from Sunrise Wines for the kind invitation, and
4) My fellow diners - thanks for the wonderful company!
BTW: If you want more details on these wines (and where to get them), you can contact Sunrise Wines & Spirits, at +6012-215 4811 (mobile) or +603-6272 8288 (fax).
(Also, here is the link to the Marchesi de' Frescobaldi website)
Contact details
Villa Danieli @ Sheraton Imperial Hotel, KL
129, Jalan Sultan Ismail,
50250 Kuala Lumpur.
Telephone No.: 03-2717 9922
Opening Hours: 12noon till 2.30pm, 6.30pm till 10.30pm
(Closed on Sundays and public holidays)
NO PORK SERVED
Villa Danieli @ Sheraton Imperial Hotel, KL
129, Jalan Sultan Ismail,
50250 Kuala Lumpur.
Telephone No.: 03-2717 9922
Opening Hours: 12noon till 2.30pm, 6.30pm till 10.30pm
(Closed on Sundays and public holidays)
NO PORK SERVED
OTHER REVIEWS:
- Chuck's Blog
TAGS: Food, Blog, Weblog, Malaysia, Restaurant Review, Marchesi de' Frescobaldi, Sheraton Imperial Hotel KL, Italian Wine, Villa Danieli, KL, Kuala Lumpur
Posts
sounds like they paired the dinner really well.. and anytime i read artichokes, i wanna clap! Love em;)
ReplyDeleteHmm, haven't gotten about to try the food here for a bit. Maybe I should give it another go?
ReplyDeleteSeems like a pretty good place to spend some hours with friends and a bottle or two of good wine.
ReplyDeleteMmmm...looks like a fab wine pairing dinner! :)
ReplyDeleteTotally drooling at the beef fillet medallions...
to Ciki:
ReplyDeleteI lurve artichokes too! Yay! :D
(Yeah, the pairing was really nice...)
to Michelle Chin:
It's a really good place for a cosy, romantic dinner... :)
(Ooh, and I think they are part of that whole Starwood thing so if you have the Starwood card discount, it's really worth it)
to Greg de Rentals:
Definitely! :) Or for a romantic Valentine's day date too.
to Bangsar-bAbE:
It was really nice cos of the added foie gras and the wine. :D
(Oh man, I think I gotta eat more salads to balance out the richness)