Photo: Photo: Stephen Clarke
Few things can top an ocean view, good company and great Italian food. One might say those are the essential ingredients for the good life.
La Dolce Vita means ‘the good life’ in Italian, and this is exactly the atmosphere that Chef Ercole Musso aims for in his new restaurant. As befits good Italian cooking, Chef Ercole focuses the quality of the ingredients and the freshness of his food.
Many local foodies already know Chef Ercole’s cooking from his work at Post and Dolce Vita, but the location of the new restaurant on North Church Street in George Town brings even more to the table, with a wonderful view over the ocean off George Town, making it the ideal place to sit back and really enjoy a meal. It is well worth while booking an early dinner in order to experience the sunset from the patio for a perfect conclusion to the day.
“La Dolce Vita is not a place you come to eat, it is a place you come to dine,” he says, sitting back in his chair on the patio that overlooks the ocean.
Chef Ercole believes it is important to relax and take your time when enjoying a proper Italian meal and although the lunch menu has been specially created to feature menu items that can be prepared and served quickly, the chef does not believe a good Italian dinner can be rushed.
“You come, see the view, sit and talk with friends, and enjoy good food,” says Chef Ercole.
Although the location may have changed, the one thing that most certainly has not is the attention to detail. Chef Ercole still imports the flour especially from Italy to make his pizzas, which are well worth experiencing.
These pizzas are made the Italian way, and are so far removed from what many have come to associate with the word pizza that one might almost feel there should be a different term. The big pizza oven is visible from the indoor dining area, so diners can watch the artistry behind the creation of this oft neglected dish. A personal favourite is the Pizza Della Casa, or house pizza, which features tomato, mozzarella, basil, Parma ham and brie cheese.
Of course, there is a wide selection of other dishes on the menu, ranging from hot and cold starters through salads, a wide selection of pastas and meat dishes, and of course a variety of seafood-based dishes, especially apt given its location.
A vital part of the experience is knowledgeable staff with a thorough understanding of Italian food.
“Everyone who works here is a professional. They all understand how food and wine go together, and how the food is created,” says Chef Ercole.
One of the ideas the chef is playing with is bringing his famous cooking classes to the new venue as well.
“Wouldn’t it be wonderful doing a cooking class out here with the sunset in the background? It shows people how we do things here in the kitchen, and they have a greater appreciation for how the food is made,” says Chef Ercole.
The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner daily. For more information or reservations, call 946-7678