Assaggio in Italian means “taste” in English, and on March 28, lovers of alta cucina Italiana will definitely want a taste of the degustation menu that Old Manila’s Chef de Cuisine Domenico Nicolino is preparing for his Assaggio Italiano Wine Dinner.

The first Italian to be appointed Chef de Cuisine of Old Manila, Calabrian-born Chef Nicolino promises to take dinner guests on a journey through five unique Italian wineries whose wines he will be pairing with a delicious five-course degustation menu — or menu degustazione as he calls it — that will highlight the varieties of flavors and textures that Italian cuisine is famous for. Take a look at the menu:

Chef Domenico Nicolino The Peninsula Manila

ASSAGIO ITALIANO WiNE DINNER

Amuse BoucheTartare di Tonno ai Capperi e Olive
Tuna Tartare, kalamata olives, caperberriesRuggeri ‘Giall'Oro’ Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Extra Dry, Veneto NV

Vitello Tonnato

Italian-style milk-fed and slow-cooked veal, “tonnato sauce,” cured egg yolkBastianich ‘Refosco,’ Colli Orientali del Friuli, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2012

Tortelli di Ossobuco allo Zafferano

Slow-braised ossobuco tortelli, Parmesan fondue, saffron

Giacomo Fenocchio Freisa, Langhe, Piemonte 2014

Filetto di Sgombro con Fregola e Frutti di Mare

Pan-seared mackerel, Sardinian fregola, lobster bisque shellfish

Alois Lageder Gewürztraminer, Südtirol - Alto Adige, Trentino-Alto Adige 2014

Tiramisu’ Ricostruito

Deconstructed tiramisu, mascarpone, coffee custard

Pelissero Moscato D’asti, Piemonte NV

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The five-course Assaggio Italiano Wine Dinner menu degustazione is P8,000 per person (inclusive of taxes).Contact: (02) 8887 2888 (ext. 6691 or 6694 for Restaurant Reservations) | Email: diningpmn@peninsula.com | FB: @thepeninsulamanila | IG: @thepeninsulamanila | Address: The Peninsula Manila, Ayala Avenue corner Makati Avenue, Makati.

Photos: The Peninsula Manila