Four thousand years ago the first grapevines appeared in Sicily whose legendary fame had already captivated the ancient world’s imagination. To early Greeks, it was a place inhabited by gods and mythic heroes trapped in an earthly realm of volcanic rocks and sunburned landscapes.

Here Ancient Romans built vast farmlands of wheat that fed a mighty empire; Saint Paul stopped to preach on his way to Rome where fate awaited him.

Centuries later, Arabs made Sicily into a vibrant trading hub. Fabulous luxury objects and art; pomegranates, eggplants, spices found their way into medieval Western European courts’ dining halls. Great civilizations and world religions left their mark transforming Sicily’s culture into a gorgeous mosaic of trans-national traditions. Many endure through its rich cuisine’s lens.

RECEPTION

Welcome cocktail
“Marsala and tonic”

MENU

King crab
couscous, cherry tomato

Smoked amberjack
citrus dressing, sour cream, beetroot

Sicilian-style tuna tartare
Beluga caviar
Firriato Chiaramonte Terre Siciliane DOC 2021

Hand-made Busiate pasta baby squid
Alfonsino red bream
Tornatore Pietrarizzo Bianco Etna DOC 2021

Sicilian citrus sorbet

Roasted lamb
olives, Pecorino
Cantine Paolini “Colors” Terre Siciliane IGP 2020
and
Tornatore Pietrarizzo Rosso Etna DOC 2019

Beef roll, Provolone cheese
aromatic tomato sauce
Cantine Colosi Sicilia DOC 2020

Cannolo Ricotta
candied fruit, pistachio
almond paste carousel
Frazzita Ambra Marsala Dolce NV

In this exclusive springtime Ordre Mondial des Gourmets Dégustateurs (OMGD) event, we discovered sensational flavours of native Sicilian wine grapes. We experienced the island’s timeless spirit of family gathering through a sumptuous Easter feast. Our host in this culinary event was Marino D’Antonio, Executive Chef of ultra-modern Giada Garden Restaurant at China World Hotel. Executive Chef Marino dazzled us with a modern tasting dinner of classic dishes inspired by his journeys and memories of Sicily.

Tonight’s the second in our “Magna Grecia” series begun November 2022, in which we explored Italian wine grapes of Ancient Greek origin. A big “grazie mille” to Chef Marino and his phenomenal team; Cathy Dong of Torres Wines; David Cheng of SinoDrink; our confrères Davide Lupi of CWS and Vice-Chargé de Presse Preston Thomas.

Vive la Chaîne!

Michael Delacruz
Vice-Échanson