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Published on September 9, 2007

"Primo Italiano" is the theme of a week of gourmet indulgence at Conrad Bangkok hotel's Italianate restaurant from September 14 to 22. Heed the word of executive manager Christophe Vahles who says, "We don't do many wine and food events but when we do, we make sure they reflect the image of the hotel in every respect." They've even tossed in valuable bonus coupons for shopping at Gaysorn Plaza's upscale Italian designer boutiques.

Nothing has been spared to assure the success of this sensory extravaganza. Michelin-star chef Andrea Alimenti travels from his widely acclaimed Tuscan restaurant Acquamatta to preside over the nine days of Italian treats. Menus that include 25 of Alimenti's award-winning specialities will be available throughout the week for lunches and dinners, highlighted by a seven-course wine dinner on September 20. Italianate executive chef Riccardo Pacifici has just returned from a week at Alimenti's side in Tuscany to guarantee faultless kitchen coordination during the event.  

Discerning wine enthusiasts will find the wine pairings for the special dinner particularly appealing as they are from Castello Banfi, chosen as Italy's International Winery of the Year for an unprecedented 11 consecutive years. Last week a preview of the Primo Italiano wine dinner was prepared by chef Pacifici for event sponsors and writers. I can advise you that for a modest Bt4,000 you will be drinking several of Banfi's top wines, including the outstanding '99 Brunello, paired with fresh ingredients chef Alimenti is bringing with him. For that wine alone this will rank as one of your best wine dinners of the year.

Banfi's traditional-method sparkling wine opens the dinner, with fresh tomato cream soup matched with Banfi's crisp aromatic '06 pinot grigio-chardonnay blend Le Rime. Expect a superb risotto mixed with fresh ricotta next, perfectly balanced with '05 oak-aged Fontanelle chardonnay. A smooth, mouth-filling '05 rosso di Montalcino proved how well red wines complement fish, with a beautifully done tuna millefeuille. Lamb cooked to order stole the show with Banfi's premier '99 Brunello Montalcino Riserva - worth the price of dinner alone.

By most measures that would top the evening, but Alimenti tossed in a prize-winning extra-virgin olive-oil ice cream. Dubious? So was I, but this rich, silky smooth, vanilla-flavoured iced delight, served with a flute of Banfi's Brunello grappa, turned out to be a delicious taste treat. You'll get the recipe as well.

Chef Pacifici put the style of Alimenti's cooking success best when describing his recent visit. "He has always kept his recipes simple and true to the region he knows best, insisting that only the finest ingredients should be used." This echoes the mantra of all great wines - one certainly adhered to by Banfi: outstanding wines can only be made from the best grapes. You're going to love this evening.

For Primo Italiano reservations at Conrad, call (02) 690 9999. Banfi wines are available at Italasia Co, (02) 261 7990.