Imagine picnicking on a hot, sunny day in the Italian countryside as you tuck into a colourful crisp salad picked straight from the garden. Or picture a warm summer’s day at a seaside cottage where fresh seafood and fragrant herbs are abundant. Or better yet envision a cool evening on the patio of your villa with a glass of velvety wine in hand. It was as though I was on a journey through Italy as I savored the flavourlicious menu at Avanti in the Sunway Resort Hotel and Spa.

Avanti means ahead in Italian and this can certainly describe Chef Stefano Maccagno’s work. This menu was created for the Malaysia International Gourmet Festival an event held throughout the month of November where chefs are able to demonstrate their creativity and passion for food. Chef Stefano wanted to take traditional Italian dishes and try to make them a little different. I tried his Gusto Festival Menu I and can tell you that he succeeded in bringing something new to tradition.

The meal started off with a smoked truffle tomato jelly topped with herb goat cheese and rucola salad. This was my first stop in the Italian countryside and immediately I could see myself sitting on a red and white checkered blanket surrounded by large rolling hills. The conventional tomato salad presented in the form of a jelly was innovative and paired well with the rich creamy cheese and earthy salad.

It followed with a consommé pavese which came with braised venison ravioli, parmesan crouton and a raw egg yolk meant to be broken in the soup and drunk for energy according to Chef Stefano. Venison instead of beef is the break away from tradition in this dish and it works very well, adding a richer flavor and texture.

For the main dish I was lucky enough to sample two different options. The pan-seared turbot and the whole grain mustard marinated sirloin. The turbot was light and fresh; the citrus sauce with capers complimented it well. The sirloin had a deeper more complex taste which was paired well with artichoke and mashed potatoes. The flavors of these two dishes took me to very different places. The turbot had me daydreaming of the sunny sparkling seaside while the sirloin had me thinking of quaint farm villages.

The meal finished off with a saffron crème brulee served with caramalised baby apricot and homemade vanilla bean ice cream. It was a beautiful combination of flavours resulting in the perfect treat to bring my Italian journey to an end.

Avanti’s Gusto Festival menu was a pleasure to devour and I am sure the Gusto Festival Menu II will not disappoint. The Gusto menus start at RM138 and are paired with wines. I was able to enjoy a Saltram Makers Table Unwooded Chardonnay with my starter and an Annie’s Lane Copper Trail Shiraz with my main. There is also a Sapore Festival menu starting at RM88 which serves the same scrumptious dishes without the wine.

Additionally, on 14 November during the gourmet festival there will be a one night exclusive showcase featuring lyrical soprano Syafinaz Selamat. Avanti promises a night of gourmet food, fine wines, and versatile music.

Source: The Expat Magazine

Get your free subscription and free delivery of The Expat Magazine

This article has been edited for ExpatGoMalaysia.com