Bukit bintang, italian

Apericena, Neroteca, Kuala Lumpur

Apericena, Italy’s Latest Trend at Neroteca
(Aperitivo + cena = predinner drinks + dinner)
  Kirsten Durward and Monica Tindall
Like wine? Well for sure you know I do! Like mixing and meeting different people in a friendly lively atmosphere? Let’s hope so, as a recent craze seems to have invaded KL for midweek and weekends alike for restaurants to host wine and tapas mixers. Now there is a wave I could really get carried along on. Like to get really,really great value for your money? If so you are sure to love Neroteca’s new monthly initiative. A mid week wine tasting is always going to be a fun event, but what makes these special are the insanely delicious, freshly made and abundant food tasting options that accompany your sipping or guzzling.
Apericena, Neroteca
Ready to Serve the Crowd
Each month the focus is on a regional wine maker, which is a fantastic opportunity; you have the chance to try tastes that you never thought you would try. We hear the monthly event will rotate between restaurants, this month’s being in the cosy confines of Neroteca Bukit Bintang, where the bottles fill the walls and the tastes fill your mouth happily. My eyes are goggling at the groaning platters covering Neroteca’s bar style servery. Assorted bruschetta vie for space with vegetable frittata, oven-fresh bubbling pizza, eggplant with mozzarella and speck. I’m already raving over the bruschetta tastes; fennel with bresaola, orange and pine nuts? Caponata and artichoke? It’s no exaggeration to say we are blown away by the flavours and quality of the food served at this event. It was unexpected for the all inclusive price of RM72 nett, and all the more appreciated for that!
The wine maker of the night, Alberto Orengia, hails from Verona, House of Satori is a well known family winemaker in the region (at least according to my Veronese friend who was green with envy).  Alberto is oh so happy to tell us about his wines and exchange wine drinking stories as the evening winds on.
Apericena, Neroteca
Five Wines from Verona
Our first sip of white is a light Soave Classico DOC from the hills of the Classico area north-east of Verona. The pale-straw colour signals its light dryness, very subtle fruit flavours rise from the aroma, confirmed on tasting, this slender wine which glides over the tongue with a tinge of bitter-almond on the finish. My wine education is continuing as I learn that the wine is made from 90% Garganega and 10% Trebbiano di Soave grapes. Well, it’s all Italian to me. It slips down easily with the tasty appetisers.
Apericena, Neroteca
Soave Classico
The second white is the deep golden coloured Bianco Veronese “Marani.” Not something I’ve ever tried before, it’s apparently quite appealing to my taste buds as it tops up quite regularly during the evening. The ripe aromas of soft fruit and honey rise up on the nose, the texture of the first mouthful is voluptuous, lingering into the typical Soave mineral finish provided by the volcanic soils in the hillside vineyards where the Garganega grapes are harvested by hand before being carefully selected and left to dry for at least 40 days in order to reduce water – and concentrate sugar content. But this is not the end of the labour intensive wine making process. The pressing is followed by a short skin maceration at low temperature. A part of the must is fermented in oak casks before the wine is left to mature on its lees for 6 to 7 months for added texture, flavour and intensity. Wow – no wonder it tastes so good!
Apericena, Neroteca
Marani
Meantime I’ve just found a fabulous aubergine and bacon concoction with a fresh tomato sauce that tastes absolutely delicious with the wine, and I’m wondering if it would be greedy to take another two. Mind you, the man with half a pizza on his plate doesn’t seem to be bothered about portion control. Well maybe just one…
Apericena, Neroteca
In the kitchen whipping up a wonderful spread of Italian goodness
Monica has spotted a glorious cheeseboard and tasty cold cuts selection which is perfect as  we are now sipping from red wine choices and the conversation starts to filter to which cheese goes best with which wine. Don’t say we don’t have fun, dear readers! The ‘Regolo’ Rosso Veronese IGT twinkles with garnet tones in the evening light. Aged for 18 – 25 months in oak casks to produce a dry velvety texture, the cherry fruit notes of this easy drinking wine do linger on the tongue. I am loving it with some Prosciutto Cotto, and a little Fontina. Mmmhm.
Apericena, Neroteca
‘Regolo’ Rosso Veronese IGT
The ruby red hued Valpolicella Classico DOC is a wine my mother would have loved. In her day she was very fond of a glass of this northern Veronese classic. Deriving a lot of flavour from the calcareous clay soil of the region, the well balanced wine with its black fruit flavours and slightly dry notes is a definite must for accompanying pasta dishes. It’s going down a treat with this scrummy Pesto and Gorgonzola baked Lasagne. We are so impressed with the quality and amount of food and cannot quite comprehend the price point of the event, as the wine appears to be flowing extremely freely too. I’m sorry I can’t get over the price – RM 72 nett for all of this deliciousness. I feel like I will wake up with my alarm soon, I must be dreaming!
Apericena, Neroteca
Valpolicella Classico DOC
Monica has been waiting for another glass of the showcase wine of the night, the “Reius”Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOC. A three month drying before pressing, brings an intensity of flavour to this wine which also is matured in large oak casks to produce a velvety full wine with intense fruit jam flavours and a hint of spiciness to the back of the throat. And I see Monica accepting a top up of this one with a big smile into her big glass, the better to enjoy the bouquet. We spend a fair few minutes trying out different cheese tastes with the wine, and settle that the best combination is for sure the Gorgonzola with this dryly robust tipple.
Apericena, Neroteca
Amarone
Around us happy tasters, including a wine tasting group, are comparing notes and settling in with their preferences of the five wines. It seems that once the wines have been tested, topping up is not a problem. Neroteca will be offering monthly wine treats, so watch the website or get on the mailing list for next month’s event. In the meantime, why not check out some of their Aperitivo Happy Hour which offers 2 for 1 on Prosecco, wine, and beer, with accompanying bar bites. Daily from 5pm ’til 8pm.
Reasons to visit: insanely good value for a midweek treat; wine by the glass; fantastic apericena spread.
NEROTECA Bukit Ceylon
Unit G-1, Seri Bukit Ceylon,
No. 8, Lorong Ceylon,
50250 Kuala Lumpur.
+603 2070 0530
Twitter – @nerotecakl
Instagram- @nerotecakl
Mon-Thurs: 9am to 11:30pm
Fri-Sat: 9am to 11:45
SUN: 9am to 11:30pm

15 Comments

  1. Kuala Lumpur? Your first pic – I could have sworn it was some place overseas. Lovely Italian delights they have there!

  2. Monica, Cordobes Jr, Kirsten and Co.

    With all these "European" themed bars sprouting up like bloody wild mushrooms, has anyone
    thought / considered that the population explosion anticipated for KL may never come to fruition???
    And as Malaysia is prominently a Muslim country, are you importing non-Muslims to maintain
    the this new Malay trend of wine consumption.
    I am bloody sure your "gang" of merry reporters, tasters, sippers, photographers will end up in
    a medical laboratory in "pickle jars". Labelled as "See what happens to wine consumers in the Tropics".

    Please consider your longevity on this planet – at this rate San Sebastian will never make this blog
    for coverage of the delights of the Basque Country.
    Junior Cordobes will be at this intake rate be constantly falling off water-skis and his horse!
    I have better things in life than to be picking that young "rogue" up from the ground or the sea!

    Yes, Monica, Kirsten and Co – a delight coverage of this "Nerotica" wine bar establishment.
    The name is a bit scary, eh??? NERO !!!!! Carefully watch for harp or violin players who are near
    matches! Could give the place a real ROMAN theme of years long ago.

    Cheers
    El Colin Cordobes – the "Roman Harpist"

    • These bars and restaurants were actually around when we first arrived (many years ago). The format of combining drinking wine and mingling with other gourmet lovers has just recently popped up. There is a good expat crowd here, along with the Chinese and Indian who enjoy these things. I am curious though about the amount expats drink when overseas compared to when at home… I bet it's double or more! Now I have a funny image in my mind of each of us squished inside a jar with your suggested label – we all have very contented smiles on our faces however. We'd be pickled, but very happy. 😉
      Jr. doesn't need alcohol to be involved in the above mentioned hazards – he's quite accident prone – motorbikes, tripping down stairs, slicing of fingers – no booze involved.
      I'm assuming 'nero' refers to 'black' in Italian, but I'm guessing the infamous Roman emperor was appropriately named with its significance.

    • Pickled!!!!! Hmmmmmm! I won't be buying Malay pickles just in case.
      You guess correctly – the Emperor Nero who was rather musical when lighting
      fires – ha ha.
      I may try and "con" my sister who leaves HGK tonight and then with other sister is off
      to Paris – Madrid etc on the 1st, to think about a trip to San Sebastian when you are there
      doing the rounds – she and I may be of great assistance – ha ha.
      A more mature appreciation of the delights of the Basque cuisine???
      Trouble for me is bloody travel insurance but we'll think about that.
      Cheers
      El Colin Cordobes, the one who doesn't go about chopping off fingers!

    • No chopping off fingers for you… just falling down depressions in the footpath – now I see the relationship. 😉

  3. I like the attractive and warm ambiance and the bottles are nice. I love your first photo, and the chefs look friendly and happy, which is always a good thing. 🙂

    • Yes, this is a small restaurant, and the the size makes it a very intimate dining experience. Staff are very friendly which makes it all the better.

  4. I like such Italian cold cuts.

    Greetings,
    Filip

  5. I love the last photo. Reflections in the bottle and the glass..

  6. When I went to visit my Italian friends in Brescia, they introduced me parma ham with melon.
    I was like what?! How could you put these two things together, anyway I gave it a go.
    Hmmm it was actually a really amazing combo. 🙂

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