We had dinner at Vini tonight on Holt St in Surry Hills.
Vini is one of my favourite restaurants and I was very excited to be going there tonight for a special regional dinner focusing on Umbrian cuisine.
I have been to Umbria and ate some divine food there and I'm pleased to say that the food at Vini tonight lived up to those expectations.
After the head chef addressed the restaurant with the details of the menu, we started with antipasti which included a salami infused with black truffle and kingfish on garlic toast.
Next came a beautiful hand made pasta, similar to spaghetti, with mushrooms and broad beans. The sauce was a wonderfully rich mushroom reduction.
The main was a beautiful piece of roast pork with crackling on a bed of chickpeas with a side of fennel and beans. In keeping with the Umbrian theme, the main was very simple and hearty with well developed flavours (and a hint of preserved lemon).
The chocolate semifreddo dessert was so light and sat on a mandarin reduction. The combination of chocolate and intense mandarin were sublime. This dish was inspired by Baci chocolates which are made in this region of Italy.
I would recommend the regional dinners as they are very good value and you can book in for them unlike regular dining here which doesn't take bookings.
Vini is a very special restaurant. I can't wait to check out it's younger sibling Berta that has opened recently on Alberta St also in Surry Hills.
http://www.vini.com.au/
