Chef Lino Sauro of Gattopardo Ristorante di Mare
From today to March 18, 2017, Chef Lino Sauro brings his commitment to the preservation of Italian traditions through the stylish glass doors of The Library, The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur. Featuring a stunning four-course menu, the experience with Chef Sauro is designed to transport discerning gourmands back to the sandy white shores of Sicily, where fresh seafood and robust wines await.
Born into a family of farmers in the southern town of Sicily, Chef Sauro is no stranger to developing the best seasonal ingredients into fine cuisine. After spending six years travelling across continents and picking up culinary traditions as he went along, Chef Sauro eventually set his sights on Singapore, where he created Gattopardo Ristorante di Mare, a seafood restaurant that celebrates his Sicilian heritage.
Manzo Australiano
Polipo – Charred citrus glazed octopus, risone, sundried tomato aioli, and pistachio pesto
Starting off this unforgettable dinner is the amuse bouche, where fresh oysters are dusted with Avruga caviar, and topped with sherry vinegar jelly and wasabi chips. Light and slightly acidic, this serves as a refresher, cleansing the palate for what’s to come. The appetiser, Polipo, “octopus” in Italian, is beautifully presented on top of a bed of risone, and doused in squid ink. Between sips of white Sicilian wine, we were pleasantly surprised by the tinge of spiciness that was well packed within the dish. Chef Lino is quick to assure that this is part of Sicilian practice, in order to bring out the full flavours of the other components on the plate.
It wasn’t until the main course that we realised the impact of this food journey. The Australian Wagyu is soft and delicate on its own, cooked to absolute medium-rare perfection. The stronger accompaniments such as morel mushrooms and horseradish sauce help highlight the essence of a good piece of steak. Capping off a delicious meal is Chef Sauro’s reinterpretation of Cassata, a traditional Sicilian cake. A soft cloud of ricotta cheese adorned with contrasting elements such as freeze-dried strawberries, cake crumbs and chocolate shavings, this dessert is the best example of the revival of classics in our modern world.
This authentic Sicilian culinary experience with award-winning Chef Lino Sauro is available at The Library, The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur until March 18, 2017. Dinner is priced at RM250 (RM375 with wine pairing). Tel: 03-2142 8000
