Event: Slow Dining Dinner with Menabrea and Antonio Favuzzi at Divino Enoteca

 L’Anima come to Edinburgh with Menabrea

Head chef at London’s L’Anima restaurant and Menabrea ambassador, Antonio ‘Lello’ Favuzzi, created a wonderful fusion of Italian and Scottish flavours for a one-off dinner at Divino Enoteca and we were extremely lucky to gain a seat at the table. We were familiar with the food at L’Anima from having attended the Foodie Hub (formerly Chowzter) World Food Awards at L’Anima’s café last year (2014).

Favuzzi’s menu included a Menabrea Drunken Oyster; beef fillets from Orkney; crab from Troon; Mussels from Shetland; Lanark cheese; and squid from Scrabster. These feature alongside a range of authentic Italian cuisine including bottarga (cured fish roe); malloreddus, a hand-rolled fresh pasta shape from Lello’s home area of Sardinia; and sea urchins from Sardina.

We started the evening, with of course, some beer – light, sweet, malty beer!

The menu sounded delicious, and we couldn’t wait to taste it. First to be delivered, Menabrea Drunken Oyster.

Tempura style batter infused with Menabrea and a beer foam.   This would make a very posh beer snack, or a starter for a romantic night in at home.

After another refreshment break, it was time for some Scottish crab.

Perfect, this light dish went perfectly well with the beer.  The crab was moist and the tang of the sea urchin battled with the beer.  Loved it!

The Saffron Malloreddus were like gnocchi although not as thick or stodgy.  A strong saffron taste and smell with this dish. This is one we will be hoping to try at home.

Tender beef fillet served with the tangiest mash around.  The Lanark Blue Mash inside bone marrow – wow.

Mrs Foodie isn’t a big liquorice fan, so extras for Mr Foodie!  However she did make quick eating of the almond tart.

Menabrea is available in select bars in restaurants across the UK.
For further information:www.menabrea.co.uk or follow @MenabreaUK