06.06.2025
GC Taste: The Italian Experience Tasting Menu at Graze @Hilton Kuala Lumpur
Discover The Italian Experience at Graze, Hilton Kuala Lumpur—an exquisite 4-course dining journey by Chef Nicola Affatati featuring authentic southern Italian flavors, artisanal ingredients, and expert wine pairings.
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Words: Victor Goh
Photo by writer's own
There exists a mystique about the Italian soul—one that transcends mere geography and ventures into the realm of pure passion. It's found in the animated conversations that spill from neighborhood trattorias, and in the unwavering belief that food is love made tangible. This isn't just culture; it's poetry written in olive oil and sung in regional dialects. At Graze within the Hilton Kuala Lumpur, this very essence has been captured and distilled into an experience that speaks directly to the gentleman's palate.
Graze Chef Nicola Affatati.
Enter Chef Nicola Affatati, a culinary virtuoso whose roots run deep in Italy's southern region. With the Mediterranean sun etched into his culinary DNA and the robust flavors of his homeland coursing through his veins, Chef Nicola brings an authenticity that cannot be taught—only lived. His commitment to sourcing extends beyond mere ingredients—save for the fresh seafood and premium ribeye—every component arrives directly from southern Italy, carrying with it the terroir and tradition of his ancestral homeland. His presence in the kitchen transforms Graze from a hotel restaurant into a portal, transporting discerning diners across continents with each carefully crafted dish.
Service Beyond Expectation
What immediately strikes the sophisticated diner is the level of attentiveness that permeates every interaction. This isn't the mechanical precision of corporate hospitality, but rather the intuitive care of those who understand that dining is theater, and every guest deserves a starring role. The service team moves with balletic precision, appearing precisely when needed, vanishing when conversation demands privacy—a choreography that elevates the evening from mere sustenance to memorable experience.
The Culinary Journey
Top: The 4-Course Tasting Menu
Centre: The Caprese.
Bottom: Tagliere di Salumi.
Antipasti: A Tale of Two Approaches
The evening's overture presents a choice that speaks to Italy's magnificent diversity. The Caprese—featuring Campania DOP Buffalo Mozzarella, heirloom tomatoes, and basil—arrives as summer incarnate on a plate, though here the traditional mozzarella gives way to burrata's more indulgent cousin. The burrata's sweetness reveals itself as your fork pierces its delicate skin, releasing a cascade of cream that's notably softer and milder than its pressed counterpart. Each bite delivers the essence of sun-drenched Mediterranean terraces, the burrata's luxurious interior mingling with the tomatoes' sweet acidity in a dance that's both familiar and revelatory.
Alternatively, the Tagliere di Salumi presents Italy's charcuterie mastery: beef bresaola, salami, speck, veal pancetta, and sourdough toast paired with 2019 Scarbolo il Ramato Pinot Grigio from Venezia Giulia DOCG. This isn't merely cured meat; it's edible history, each slice telling stories of ancient preservation techniques and regional pride. The pairing proves nothing short of perfection—the wine's copper hue and mineral complexity providing an ideal counterpoint to the salumi's concentrated flavors, each sip cleansing the palate while amplifying the meat's nuanced salinity.
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Top: Guazzetto
Bottom: Orecchiette with Cardoncelli, Pomodorini & Rucola
Primi: The Soul of Italian Cooking
The Guazzetto—a seafood symphony of prawns, mussels, Atlantic cod, and garlic bread—arrives cloaked in aromatic steam that carries whispers of Mediterranean harbors. Paired with 2021 Lapilli Greco Di Tufo from Campania DOCG, this dish embodies coastal Italy's eternal romance with the sea. Each spoonful delivers briny sweetness punctuated by the wine's volcanic minerality.
For those seeking terrestrial comfort, the Orecchiette with Cardoncelli, Pomodorini & Rucola showcases Puglia's rustic elegance and stands as hands down the finest handmade pasta we've encountered. Each piece bears the unmistakable irregularity of human touch—slight imperfections that speak of tradition passed through generations of Italian hands. The handmade orecchiette cradle each ingredient like small embraces, their texture providing the perfect canvas for the earthy cardoncelli mushrooms and bright cherry tomatoes, while the 2019 Coppi Guicciardini Falanghina from Puglia IGP adds herbaceous notes that dance with the rocket's peppery bite.
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Top: Agnello 'Scottadito'
Bottom: Costata di Manzo
Secondi: The Art of Restraint and Power
The Agnello 'Scottadito'—lamb rack with marinated zucchini, lemon-garlic-mint—arrives as pure theater. The 2016 Coppi Don Antonio Primitivo from Puglia IGP provides bold, sun-baked intensity that matches the lamb's herbal crust and tender pink interior, creating a harmony that resonates long after the final bite.
For the ultimate indulgence, the Costata di Manzo—Angus beef ribeye with porcini and Parmesan sauce, prepared to a perfect medium—commands attention from the moment it arrives. The exterior boasts a magnificent char that gives way to a rosy interior, each slice revealing the careful balance between fire and restraint. Enhanced by 2020 Vialli Perbacco Nebbiolo from Langhe DOC, this dish represents masculine Italian cooking at its finest, where the wine's structured tannins complement the beef's rich marbling while the porcini sauce adds an earthy depth that transforms this into something approaching the sublime.
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Top: Tiramisu
Bottom: Chocolate salami
Dolce: The Sweet Conclusion
A sublime finale to an impeccable evening—Chocolate Salami is a revelation. Rich, decadent chocolate cradles delicate notes of crushed biscuits and toasted nuts, its intensity gracefully softened by the silken scoop of vanilla gelato. Each bite strikes a perfect balance between texture and flavor: the gentle crunch, the smooth chill, the lingering sweetness—all harmonized with vibrant blueberries and tart raspberries. It’s rustic nostalgia elevated to fine art, a testament to Chef Nicola’s mastery in translating Italian soul into refined expression.
The evening culminates with Tiramisu—Torre Rosazza, Friuli Colli Orientali Verduzzo Friulano from Friuli-Venezia Giulia DOC. This isn't dessert; it's nostalgia made edible, coffee-soaked ladyfingers and mascarpone creating layers of comfort that transport you to Roman cafes and Venetian squares.
Bravo, Chef—these desserts doesn’t just satisfy, it serenades.
The Verdict
At Graze, Chef Nicola doesn't merely cook Italian food—he channels the Italian spirit. This is dining as cultural immersion, where every element from service to sommelier selection works in harmony to create something approaching the sacred. For the gentleman who appreciates authenticity wrapped in sophistication, The Italian Experience at Graze offers not just a meal, but a pilgrimage to the heart of Italy itself.
The Italian Experience at Graze: RM228 per person (4-course), wine pairing RM150 per person
Located in: Hilton Kuala Lumpur
Address: Level 5, 3, Jalan Stesen Sentral, Kuala Lumpur Sentral, 50470 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Phone: 03-2264 2264
Menu: sevenrooms.com
Reservations: sevenrooms.com
Instagram: grazeitaliankl
