Bangkok fine dining scene will once again be lit up with glittering stars when celebrity chef Umberto Bombana from 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana, the three Michelin-starred Italian restaurant in Hong Kong and No. 13 on this year's Asia's 50 Best Restaurant List, will be in residence at Le Normandie at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Bangkok, to present his culinary delights on July 13-14.
The celebrity chef is in town as part of the "Fine Dining Lovers Guest Chef" series initiated by S.Pellegrino, the leading Italian brand of sparkling natural mineral water. Designed to demonstrate how natural mineral water can be used to enhance the dining experiences, the series brings renowned chefs to Thailand from top dining destinations around the world, including Tam Kwok Fung, from two Michelin-starred Jade Dragon in Macau, and sushi master Shinji Kanesaka from Michelin-starred Sushi Kanesaka in Tokyo.
Guest chef Umberto Bombana from 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana, the three Michelin-starred Italian restaurant in Hong Kong. PhotoS courtesy of The MarCom Pro Co
Hailed as "The King Of White Truffles", Bombana is a native of Bergamo in Northern Italy. His culinary's talent and skills has taken him around the world and eventually arriving in Hong Kong in 1993 to open Toscana, which became an iconic destination of the fine dining scene for 15 years.
Recognition for Bombana's culinary creations reached an unprecedented level of prestige when he was awarded the Best Italian Chef in Asia by the Italian Culinary Institute for Foreigners (ICIF) in 2002 and then Worldwide Ambassador of the White Truffle in 2006 by the Piedmontese Regional Enoteca Cavour in Italy.
In 2008, Bombana began his most personal and distinctive project -- 8½ Otto e mezzo Bombana. The restaurant name, selected personally by the chef as a tribute to his favourite Italian film director Federico Fellini's 1963 movie 8½, is a celebration of Italian lifestyle and art.
In December 2010, 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana restaurant was awarded two Michelin stars after only 11 months of opening. It further achieved three stars in the 2012 Michelin Guide Hong Kong & Macau, becoming the first and only Italian restaurant outside Italy to receive such high recognition and since then, it has retained the honour for five consecutive years.
At Le Normandie, Bombana will present a selection of his classic signature dishes, including a Confit Abalone Carpaccio with sweet pepper, semi-dried tomato and Oscietra caviar. The dish makes use of abalone directly imported from Australia. In another signature dish, he will prepare Blue Lobster with basil rattatuia and seafood emulsion. The Blue Lobster comes from Brittany, a province of France well known for exporting some of the best Blue Lobster available. Guests will also get the chance to enjoy Classic Warm Ricotta Tart with pistachio, candied orange and ricotta gelato. The tart menu features homemade fresh ricotta cheese made by using milk and cream imported directly from Sardinia.
Wines from renowned regions in Italy, including Piedmont and Tuscany, have been selected especially to complement each course, along with S.Pellegrino sparkling natural mineral water and Acqua Panna still natural mineral waters.
According to S.Pellegrino, water plays a vital part in bringing balance to a meal. Food and wine impart different taste characteristics through each other, while water is meant to cleanse the palate, to enhance the interacting traits of food and wine. The process of pairing food and wine with complementary water is referred to as "harmonising", and sparkling and still natural mineral waters are the perfect fine dining companions to complete the harmonisation of the epicurean experience.
Confit Abalone Carpaccio, sweet pepper and semi-dried tomato and Oscietra caviar. The MarCom Pro Co
Founded in 1899, Sanpellegrino S.p.A., part of the Nestlé Waters group, is the leading company in the beverage sector in Italy with its range of mineral waters, non-alcoholic aperitifs, drinks and iced teas.
For the two evenings promotion at Le Normandie on July 13-14, Bombana will serve an eight-course gourmet dinner, priced at 13,000 baht++ per person, inclusive of wine pairing, S.Pellegrino sparkling natural mineral water and Acqua Panna still natural mineral waters.
Classic Warm Ricotta Tart, pistachio, candied orange and ricotta gelato. The MarCom Pro Co
For reservation, email Mobkk-Restaurants@mohg.com or call 02-659-9000 ext 7390.
