The kitchen is led by Italian chef, Daniel Gaetano, who decided to try the peninsula after a globetrotting stint that took him from his home in Rome to London to Grenada, that Caribbean Island reserved for the well-heeled.
But Gaetano's culinary adventure somewhat resembles that of the restaurant. In terms of the menu, Spasso oscillated between pork and pork-free. Purists know porcine power's bewitching effects on the palate. For Italian cuisine, and just like any other lard-based food, no pork is a sacrifice.
Spasso settled on pork-free, believing that the bigger picture of appealing to a wider audience was the way to go. Will that work? Only time will tell.
But no cuts on the menu: it is an expansive list of Italian-fusion fare, from thin-crust pizzas baked in a wood-fire oven to pastas to desserts to wines. And for dishes where a plate can feed two famished people, the pricing is just right.
For an appetiser, the smoked duck breast drizzled with hazelnut oil and marinated beetroot on the side (RM22.80) is a winner. The duck is juicy, smoked in-house, and has a decent layer of fat.
Hot picks for a main course include: Japanese white sea bass in pepper, mushroom, or lemon and herb sauce with choices of pasta or mashed potato and daily veggies (RM58.00), and braised lamb shank served on creamy mashed potato (RM68).
As for desserts, the crème brulee with Grand Marinier (RM14) is simply moreish. The tinge of orange from the cognac liquer is certainly an interesting addition. And what more can you ask for than a chocolate lava cake that just bleeds premium dark chocolate when you cut it through the middle, with vanilla ice-cream at the side (RM18.80)?
Spasso Milano is open from Monday to Sunday, noon to 11pm. For reservations and enquiries, call 03-2138 0688. – October 1, 2014.
Source : http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/food/article/a-hearty-italian-affair-in-kuala-lumpur
