Shah Alam and Klang have always been known for gastronomic attractions mainly for Malaysian cuisines. Italian, or even Western restaurants in the area couldn’t compete with the demand for local gastronomies because, at the end of the day, the secret to amazing recipes is fresh ingredients, utilised to their best potential. For local Italian restaurants in the area, fresh ingredients for Italian cuisine can’t be found in your regular Mom & Pops.
Which is why when DoubleTree by Hilton Shah Alam i-City opened last year, all eyes were on their famous Italian restaurant, Tosca Trattoria Italiana. As true foodies, we were invited to experience the launch of their new menu.
With a focus on delivering authentic Italian flavours, the new menu tantalized us with a well-thought and well-crafted culinary journey from the first bite to the dessert. The dishes were meticulously prepared, starting with their rustic mushroom soup with bits of garlic bread served warm as an appetiser after a thirst-quenching welcome drink as you arrive.
One of their main draws is the pizzas, and as a pizza lover, I was completely blown away by the Pizza Leone di Tacchino con Burrata. The richness of the creamy burrata cheese, flown directly from Italy, reflects greatly on that great culinary nation. Their Chef, Chef Afiq, has 15 years of experience in pizza mastery, and his dough speaks for his talents; soft, tender and compliments the other ingredients well.
Their other highlights have to be their poultry dishes, mainly their Angus Beef steak that was perfectly cooked paired with grilled potatoes and balsamic salad, similar to their rack of lamb, which is a must for any Italian restaurant. But what truly surprised us was their smoked duck mashed potatoes.
The fusion of Italian and Asian flavours caught us completely offguard as the richness of the duck compliments the simplicity of the potato flavour. The first bite was so euphoric, I accidentally blurted out Will Ferrell’s famous line from The Other Guys; ‘get out of town!’.
For desserts, we indulged in a bowl of Nonna tiramisu, which translates to Grandmother, as the chefs at Tosca replicated the old traditional-style tiramisu made by Italian grandmothers in the old country. Imported mascarpone cheese and cream were layered on top of lady finger biscuits soaked in cold brew coffee; resulting in a comforting end to our gastronomical journey at Tosca.
Tosca’s biggest strength is its fresh premium ingredients. So expect nothing less when you drive to DoubleTree Hilton Shah Alam for a short Italian adventure with your tastebuds.