Cover Mattia Salussoglia's assam pedas acqua pazza and Marco Caverni's saffron and crayfish terrine
Mattia Salussoglia's assam pedas acqua pazza and Marco Caverni's saffron and crayfish terrine
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Chefs Marco Caverni of Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur's Mandarin Grill and Mattia Salussoglia of The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi have teamed up to create the food festival's seafood courses
The highly anticipated Off Menu Kuala Lumpur 2022, presented by Tatler Dining, will see 12 of the nation's top chefs come together for one weekend to present one-of-a-kind dishes that will never, ever appear again beyond this event.
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Chefs Marco Caverni of Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur's famed Mandarin Grill and Mattia Salussoglia of The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi are paired to create two seafood dishes: a saffron risotto with a crayfish terrine and an assam pedas acqua pazza respectively.
The chefs
Above Marco Caverni
Above Mattia Salussoglia
Marco Caverni
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Mandarin Grill at the Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur has long been a favourite of steak fans in the city. The hotel's chef de cuisine Marco Caverni is at the helm and brings with him a rich culinary experience from around the globe.
Mattia Salussoglia, who is also an Italian chef, leads the kitchen team at The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, one of the island's most luxurious resorts. Having worked in the MGM Grand in Macau and Hilton in Shanghai, among others, Salussoglia has accumulated a wealth of experience in Asian cuisines.
Related: Off Menu Kuala Lumpur 2022: Feed Your Curiosity at Tatler Dining's Annual Food Festival
For this year's Off Menu event, the two have come together to exchange knowledge and expertise: Marco and his vast know-how in Italian flavours and Mattia and his familiarity with Asian tastebuds.
"Even though I have some experience cooking in Southeast Asia, it was great to learn from a chef who has been in Malaysia for longer than I have," says Caverni. "We're both Italians and when you put two Italians together, it's a party!"
Salussoglia also valued Caverni's input, adding: "It was certainly a great experience, and an opportunity to spend time with an esteemed colleague, learn from each other, and apply suggestions and tips from each other to elevate the dining experience."
The dishes
Above The saffron and crayfish risotto is topped with a crayfish terrine and garnished with fingerlime
The saffron and crayfish risotto is topped with a crayfish terrine and garnished with fingerlime
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Caverni has prepared a sumptuous risotto infused with saffron topped with crayfish terrine and finger lime, also known as caviar lime.
Enhanced with the mildly flavourful crayfish, the creamy risotto is simply divine. Each mouthful also delights with a tinge of citrus from the caviar-like finger lime, a crunch from the crispy kale, and sweetness from the roasted tomato.
In case you missed it: Off Menu Kuala Lumpur: What We Loved About This Tatler Dining Festival
Above Italy meets Malaysia in the assam pedas acqua pazza
Italy meets Malaysia in the assam pedas acqua pazza
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As Malaysians, we love our tangy and spicy assam pedas. Now imagine these delightful flavours in the acqua pazza, a traditional Italian dish consisting of poached white fish in a light broth. This was a task Salussoglia set for himself—combining two of his favourite cuisines [Italian and Asian] into one amazing dish.
He uses the assam pedas broth as the base to poach a piece of juicy and sweet grouper, infused with basil and oregano. A crunchy extra virgin olive oil touile lends the plate a touch of Italian sophistication.
Related: Tatlergram: Who Were at Off Menu Kuala Lumpur 2021?
Above Caverni prepping in the kitchen
Above Salussoglia is excited to be a part of Off Menu KL 2022
Caverni prepping in the kitchen
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At the event, you will also enjoy a range of drinks courtesy of San Francisco Coffee, Carlsberg, Jacob's Creek, Lillet, Martell, Langkawi Pure, Uncle Jeff Drinks, and La Juiceria.
The first session of Off Menu KL 2022 on November 5 is completely booked. Tickets are available for the remaining sessions on November 5-6.
- When: November 5, 8pm-11pm & November 6, 2pm-5pm and 8pm-11pm
- Where: Centre Courtyard, 8th Floor, Pavilion Hotel Kuala Lumpur Managed by Banyan Tree
- Price: RM650 per ticket, ticket bundles are available at a discounted price
- Tickets: Purchase HERE
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Credits
Photography: Imran Sulaiman
Photography: The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi
Topics
Amanda is a KL-born and raised third culture kid, who lives to eat. If not found reading, writing for Tatler Dining, or snacking, she is most likely playing with her dog, Katsu, sourcing new Birkenstocks, or looking for a new restaurant to venture to.
Follow her on Instagram at @feedingamanda.
