At the beginning of 2022, the newly relaunched Mandarin Grill at Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur provided the ideal venue for a constellation of Italian luxury brands to converge at Robb Report Malaysia’s rendition of an evening celebrating the Best of Italy. Welcoming guests at the lobby of the Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur was the sleek, shark-like visage of the V10 Lamborghini Huracan EVO RWD Coupe.

Through the glass doors of the Mandarin Grill, guests found themselves in the transformed dining room, now helmed by Venetian native Chef Marco Caverni the restaurant’s Chef de Cuisine. A charming display of the latest leather accessories and footwear from TOD’s included its iconic City Gommino driving shoes which were of particular interest to the automotive enthusiasts in the room. A refined scent accompanied this display courtesy of Acqua di Parma’s Luce di Colonia diffuser – a radiant and unmistakably Italian aroma of citrus lemon and orange, followed by neroli, patchouli and vetiver.

By the bar, five decanters of the fabled Super Tuscan Solaia of the 2012 vintage by Monopole – the largest distributor of Italian vintages in this region – languorously awaited the evening’s proceedings. Chef Caverni’s starter of Hokkaido scallop carpaccio with orange gel would segue into the delicious ‘Risotto al Tartufo Nero’, made a la minute in a parmesan bowl and served with whipped ricotta cheese and freshly shaved Melanosporum truffles.

Then, the main courses arrived. In the new Italian-inflected Mandarin Grill, the specialities of ‘Filetto di Manzo’ – a Josper-grilled beef tenderloin lingering with rosemary smoke – and a salt-crust baked barramundi will be among much-sought after dishes for some time. These became the palate on which the delicious Solaia of Marchesi Antinori would perform its magic – with its dark berries, plums and spice offering a deep, comforting and satisfying finish.

In between of this, the evening’s entertainment, the Yanoushka quartet led by soprano Rachel Liu, regaled guests with classic and contemporary music from Vivaldi and Giordani to Andrea Bocelli’s ‘The Prayer’ and a soaring rendition of Puccini’s O Mio Babbino Caro before the night ended a tiramisu done with a twist of nitrogen espresso ice cream served alongside coffee cream and mascarpone.

Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur

Photos: Fady Younis

Video: Wynner Cheong/ Metal Cut Films