Passione Ristorante Italiano
Authentic Tastes of Abruzzo
By Hiranmayii Awli Mohanan
Passione Ristorante Italiano is a calm, contemporary, glass-fronted restaurant amid the flurry of activities in Sri Petaling. Modelling its moniker, the restaurant bestows a taste of Italy through quintessential spirit of Italian cooking where every dish is a labour of love, a work of art and true expression of passion. Punchy, fresh flavours experienced here are owed to veteran chef and true-blue Italian, Chef Stefano Criber who has had over 20 years of international culinary experience. He brings forth 3,000 years of proud food tradition, and recipes from Abruzzo, the oldest city in Italy.
Italian Board
Our Italian escapade commenced with the presentation of an Italian board. This saw two types of cheese (varies daily) and three glorious varieties of cold cuts which immediately worked up an appetite and created anticipation of the following courses.
Funghi and Truffle Soup
Easily shared between two persons, this warm, creamy mushroom soup arrived boasting its tantalising aroma of truffle oil and rich, luscious funghi flavours that warmed our stomachs and soul.
Wild Boar Tagliatelle
Such is the nature of pasta, to exude unending comfort – this resonated in the Wild Boar Tagliatelle. A generous helping of marinated and braised wild boar in tomato sauce bathed the homemade tagliatelle, furnishing it with prominent, well-balanced zesty flavour.
Seafood Linguine
The seafood linguine was a sensual dish, disclosing silky, homemade linguine pasta, supplemented by umaminess from the fresh clams, mussels, baby cuttlefish, squid and scallop. This comforting dish is cooked with a choice of infused chilli and garlic oil or tomato sauce.
Pork Ribs Al Vino Rosso
The showstopper for the evening was without a doubt, the Pork Ribs Al Vino Rosso. Marinated in herbs and spices, the pork ribs were subsequently slow-cooked and grilled to perfection with a red wine reduction. Meanwhile roasted potatoes and rocket salad made for a brilliant and necessary accompaniment. What you can expect is sous vide tender meat that falls apart without much teasing and melts in the mouth as soon as you consume it.
Filetto di Branzino Al Forno
Yet again, we experienced Chef Stefano’s prowess with this dainty dish. On a square plate, sat an oven-baked seabass fillet with Taggiasche olives strewn about. Creating a vibrant aesthetic was the accompaniment of cherry tomatoes, green capsicum and asparagus. The delicate, sweet taste from the seabass went hand in hand with the white wine and fennel sauce puree.
Pizza 3 Salumi
Staying true to t omers will experience a taste of Italy where pizzas are labured by hand and baked in Passione’s very own wood-fired oven. The Pizza 3 Salumi is a sensation at this eatery, featuring spicy salame, honey ham and sausage, interplayed with a natural smoky aroma, onions and mozzarella on a bed of tomato sauce.
Tiramisu
Dessert was a study in comforting sweetness – a classic Italian dessert revealing depths of coffee flavours, ladyfingers with mascarpone cheese and crunchy chocolate.
Address: Passione Ristorante Italiano *Italian (Non-halal)
19, Jalan Radin Bagus 9, Sri Petaling,
57000 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-9055 3833