Recently, Robb Report Malaysia made its way north to celebrate the Ferrari Roma with the official Ferrari importer in Malaysia Naza Italia. Across two nights, at beautifully restored heritage locations of Macalister Mansion and St. Jo’s, Gurney Paragon in Penang, the Ferrari Roma displayed its timeless elegance, bridging the carefree, pleasurable way lifestyle of Rome’s heady 50s and 60s, with the modernity of contemporary living.
Guests of Robb Report Malaysia were welcomed by the Ferrari Roma coupe in its Blu Pozzi garb, with its V8 power plant a sight to behold; capable of 628hp and a maximum speed of over 320 km/h, with the century sprint achieved in 3.4 seconds. Inside, the undeniable racing DNA of Ferrari was in full display – with a major differential being the almost symmetrical structure of the cockpit – made to offer the passenger a greater involvement in the driving compared with other sports cars from the Prancing Horse.
Naturally, the food served across the two nights would mirror the dolce vita lifestyle with cold capellini, summer tomatoes with basil and balsamico, Iberico meatballs, prosciutto di parma-wrapped grissini, parmesan cheese brulee & caviaroli and truffle & forest mushroom arancini.
At Gurney Paragon, a vista of waving barley welcomed guests into St. Jo’s environs as they segued into a tasting of The Balvenie, a single-malt Scotch crafted in Speyside. The space takes its name from the St. Joseph’s Novitiate which began as a chapel in 1916 – before it was latterly integrated into the present-day Gurney Paragon integrated development. In this transformed space, the expressions by The Balvenie for tasting comprised its Caribbean Cask 14YO, Doublewood 17YO and, rounding it up was The Balvenie Portwood 21YO – the latter being the most indulgent dram of all, with its smooth honey, creamy fruit and spice. As the sun set into the horizon, the evening was enlivened by music and the clinking of glasses, with the Ferrari Roma gleaming in the light and drawing the guests back again and again like a siren’s song.
