Back by popular demand, Villa Danieli is currently offering a 5-course Italian dinner with wines from Ruffino, one of Italy’s renowned wine brands. From the beautiful countryside of Tuscany with its rolling hills, Ruffino’s 8 estates are recognized in producing 130 years of the finest wines from Italy. A perfect blend of innovation, tradition and elegance has kept Ruffino as the leading frontrunner in the wine-making industry. From traditional wines such as Tuscan DOCGs to the latest Tuscan Urlo, they take pride in ensuring the quality and consistency of their wines are timeless.
Priced at RM180++ per person (set menu with wines), this special wine dinner is available at Villa Danieli until 14 October 2011.
Starting off with an appetizer of Queen Scallops with Marinated Zucchini and Black Truffles served with Seafood Butter Sauce, the dinner got off on a brilliant note.
Four plump succulent scallops guarded a mountain of salad greens and even before the plate was set on the table, the delightful aroma of black truffles was tickling my nose. The scallops were very fresh and bouncy to the bite and the seafood butter sauce lent a delicious touch to the appetizer. I totally enjoyed those 4 scallops, really I did!
As soon as the appetizer plate was cleared, the soup magically appeared… a Tuscany-style Seafood Soup with Toasted Garlic Bread…
A more than generous portion, the lobster bisque-based soup was brimming over with chunks of scallops, shrimps, fish, squids and mussels. The only little “fault” was I wished they had served that piece of toasted garlic bread on the side, instead of sticking it into the soup because it became all soft and soggy by the time the soup was served. Otherwise, the soup was very good… all those chunks of fresh seafood gave it a very umami-sweet flavour which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Both the appetizer and soup were paired with Ruffino Orvieto Classico DOC… a very pleasant and refreshing wine, very versatile too. I found myself sipping on this brilliant straw yellow wine throughout the meal, even though there were other wines served. I love its light fruity and floral sensations, with a deeper aroma of apples – the aftertaste is really fragrant. You can tell this is my favourite wine for the evening 🙂
Can you imagine – the Ruffino Orvieto Classico was first produced in the 1950’s!
Next came the Pasta dish – 4 beautiful Shrimps Ravioli with Tomato Crab Sauce…
The ravioli was filled with minced shrimps and I like it that the tomato crab sauce did not overwhelm the delicate marine sweetness of the filling.
The ravioli dish is paired with Ruffino Aziano Chianti Classico DOCG…
Vintage 2008 … it’s rich ruby red colour reveals hints of berries, with undertones of aromatic herbs and spices. I really had to take my time sipping this slowly as the rich tannins left a rather long and persistent aftertaste on the palate.
A palate cleanser was served before the main course…
The sweet tangy sourish lemon in the sorbet certainly perked up my palate… and I love the strips of candied lemon peel too!
For the Main Course, there’s a choice of either Oven-roasted Salmon Steak with Olives, Thyme and Hollandaise Sauce …. OR …
Grilled Lamb Chop in Crust of Pistachios, Grilled Tomato & Onion-red Wine Sauce.
Lucky me – when I was there, I was served with both the main courses, with smaller portions, of course… so I literally got to taste the best of both worlds!
Of the two options, the Grilled Lamb Chop’s definitely my preference. I mean, just look at it… doesn’t it already look delicious?
The wine that’s served with the main course is a very robust Greppone Mazzi Brunello Di Moontalcino DOCG…
This is one of Ruffino’s star wines – the golden star on its label is a symbol of its privileged position in the Ruffino portfolio. I find this to be very full-bodied and rustic, yet warmly soothing with fruity notes and subtle spicy hints. This is an excellent wine to go with the lamb.
Last but not least, dessert!
Spiced Panna Cotta with Grilled Orange Wedges and Ginger Bread
This was a really huge portion of panna cotta – one of the biggest I have ever seen, in fact! I would say every portion of each course served in this menu was more than enough and after those generous portions, it’s quite impossible to finish off this gigantic glob of panna cotta. Not even when served together with the dessert wine…
Serelle Vin Santo Del Chianti DOC
A golden amber colour, this wine has a high sugar content. When I first sipped it, it tasted almost like port. Swirling it around in my mouth, I later detected intense aromas of candied fruits… kinda citrussy. Further sips revealed some hints of nutmeg, cinnamon and a bit of nutty influences as well. This can be quite a sweet overpowering wine and you really need to take your time to savour it slowly.
We lingered as long as possible over this dinner… just can’t help it because Villa Danieli is such a lovely restaurant. The warm wooden deco of the restaurant spells “comfort”, “cosy” and “romantic” altogether and it just beckons you to sit back and relax. I was told this is also a favourite restaurant for wedding proposals! It’s such a pleasure to let my eyes wander around the colourful murals on the high walls, observe the chefs in action through the glass panel of the kitchen and watching how deftly the pizza chef churns out lovely fragrant crispy pizzas from the woodfire oven. I swear I will go back there again soon to have their pizzas! I also like the fact that this is not an uber-sophisticated restaurant… while it is elegant with a luxuriously warm ambience, it is also charmingly casual and rustic… good for a formal 5-course dinner or just a quick meal of pizza and pasta!
With just a few more days left until the promotion ends on 14 October 2011, if you want to treat yourself and your loved ones to this superb-value wine dinner, better book it now! At RM180++ per person, I personally think this is really meal-worthy, considering the more-than-generous portions!
Villa Danieli
Level 5, Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur
Jalan Sultan Ismail
50250 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2717-9900 ext.6922
website: [email protected]
Opens for lunch Mondays-Fridays @ 12.00noon-2.30pm
Serves dinner from Mondays-Saturdays @ 6.30pm-10.30pm
(closed on Sundays & Public Holidays)
The grilled lamb chop looks heavenly! I can imagine that being your preference.
Yeah, I’m salivating even now, looking at that pic, LOL!
The lamb chops really looks nice. Maybe go visit this place soon since we got some vouchers to use up.
I hope you caught that promo before it ended 🙂
Really good value for money considering wine is included! Ahh drooling at the scallops!!
Hehe, yes really good value and the scallops were really good!
I can imagine when you bite into the scallop & all the juice oozing out!Oh My God!!
Ooh yes, those scallops were absolutely scrumptious!