Ristorante Puny @ Portofino, Italy

Cuisine: Italian

Map: Ristorante Puny @ Portofino, Italy

Price: EUR30 per person without alcohol (what we paid for)

Visited: 11 October 2014

Food: 7/10

Atmosphere: 9/10

Value for money: 5/10

Services: 5/10
Scale: [1=poor ---- 5=average/standard ---- 10=outstanding/exceptional]

Portofino, at Liguria region of Italy, is indeed a dream destination for many travellers. It sure is a busy little village and harbour but can be beautiful and breathtaking during nice weather days. During our trip, we drove to Portofino from Piedmont just to stop by this famous destination. It was only a few hours that we were there but surely enough to get the feel of this place.

During lunch hour, we popped by one of the restaurant that seems to be well-known in the cyber world: Ristorante Puny. We did some research before going and this little does seem to get praised a lot and we did not hesitate to give a try. For location wise, it is sure a guarantee for fantastic spot and view. I believe it would be really romantic for a date night out dinner. Seats are organised at store front to face the harbour. We were lucky to be seated right at the front row as we were the very first to arrive. It was not really a bright weather day but nice enough to dine there. Staffs were rather cold as we felt. Nevertheless, the old man owner did take thing very actively, advising from the back row himself.

Ristorante Puny @ Portofino, Italy

al fresco seats

waterfront view of Portofino

simple basket of bread

For the dish, we had Pappardelle Portofino (8/10) and Pesce al Sale (7/10). Pappardelle Portofino was definitely a very nice tomato based pasta. A really simple looking dish but tasted wonderfully. The creamy texture and rich flavour sauce went fabulously with large pappardelle. Next was Pesce al Sale which is basically baked sea bass with salt. Nothing much fancy here but fresh sea bass baked with salt served with olive oil. Satisfaction was there for me. Fresh fish baked just right with tender texture. The rest was just salty taste on the palate and aroma of olive oil. I do like it.

Well, Ristorante Puny is not a cheap place at all but a good experience al fresco, especially when visiting with your love one. The view is remarkable. Not cheap but I would still say recommendation to anyone who is going to visit Portofino.

Pappardelle Portofino (EUR20)

Pesce al Sale (EUR30)

a lady staff dissembling the fish

Ristorante Puny @ Portofino, Italy
5 Piazza Martiri dell'Olivetta
Portofino 16034
Genoa
Italy

Open Hours: daily except Thursday 12:30pm - 02:30pm for lunch and 07:30pm - 10:30pm for dinner

Tel: +39 0185 268 037

Walter Hansel Chardonnay Cuvee Alyce 2012

Date of Tasting: 29 December 2014

Wine Type: White

Grape Varieties: 100% Chardonnay

Alcohol: 14.5%

Origin: California, USA

Appellation: Russian River Valley

Expect to Pay: ~ EUR30

Web: http://www.walterhanselwinery.com/
Chubby Appreciation: 93/100
Professional Rating: WA - 95/100, AG - 92/100, ST - 92/100, CT - 91/100

Appearance: golden yellow

Aroma: perfume of peach, pear, tropical fruits, and flowers

Palate: Buttery, creamy, and concentrated body. Ripe pear with spices and smoky note. Nice acidity and subtle oak. 

Simply said, a fine bottle of Chardonnay that would not break your bank. If the full bodied type with some fruits, spices, and a balance of delicate oak and acidity is what you like, here is an alternative for you. This one would perhaps pair well with white meat dishes or rich flavour fish. I do enjoy this bottle now.

Enoteca Italiana Bangkok @ Sukhumvit, Bangkok - ร้านอาหารอิตาเลี่ยน อีโนติก้า @ สุขุมวิท กรุงเทพฯ

Cuisine: Italian

Map: Enoteca Italiana Bangkok @ Sukhumvit, Bangkok - ร้านอาหารอิตาเลี่ยน อีโนติก้า @ สุขุมวิท กรุงเทพฯ

Price: THB4,400 per person (what we paid for)

Visited: 28 November 2014

Food: 6/10

Atmosphere: 7/10

Value for money: 3/10

Services: 6/10
Scale: [1=poor ---- 5=average/standard ---- 10=outstanding/exceptional]

Enoteca Italiana is a charming Italian restaurant hidden in a small alley of Soi Sukhumvit 27. The place is a house converted into restaurant: beautiful and spacious. It is another nice alternative when seeking a place to hang out with friends. The dining room is also decorated resembling Italian atmosphere. Along the wall, you can see range of Italian wine. One of the thing that worth mentioning here is the range of wine. Not many restaurant in Thailand represents good range of wine but here is one with Italian range. Nico, the owner, is a lovely and helpful guy. In the kitchen, Chef Stefano Merlo, who used to head the kitchen of Rossini's until mid 2013, leads the team for the second time after working for 2 years here between 2008 and 2010.

Enoteca Italiana Bangkok @ Sukhumvit, Bangkok

cosy dining room

another corner of cosy and friendly place

bread basket

I have to admit that it was a while back when I visited Enoteca during a wine dinner of Valdicava. All I could mention is the food was nice but not great. Here is the brief description:

White Truffle Cyber Egg (6/10): Tasted nice with aromatic white truffle scent with creamy structure. Creative but too difficult to eat honestly: need to pop the wrap with stick and then such the content inside. Personally, I am not really a fan of those molecular or fancy cuisine.

Pigeon Pate, Vin Santo Gelatine and Flowers (5/10): Pate was nice with senses of flower. But smoother touch would be better. In addition, vin santo gelatine needed to be more flavourful to balance the pate.

Spaghetti with Saffron and Bone Marrow (6/10): Nice creamy touch with al dente spaghetti in unique scent of saffron. But that was it. Not really sure what the missing piece of charm was.

Risotto with Berries and Foie Gras (6/10): Delicious little plate of risotto. Just need more of the berries to balance foie gras.

Grilled Fiorentina Steak (6/10): Flavour was there. But tenderness was not up to the level. Still some toughness there. Not sure whether it was intended to serve this way.

White Truffle Cyber Egg

Pigeon Pate, Vin Santo Gelatine and Flowers

Spaghetti with Saffron and Bone Marrow

Risotto with Berries and Foie Gras

Grilled Fiorentina Steak

Pecorino di Pienza DOP Cheese

As mentioned, the dinner was Valdicava wine dinner with Vincenzo Abbruzzese and daughter Sofia presented the wine themselves. The range of wine was impeccable: each one speaks of itself. Nice and traditional brunello with aromatic structure. The night began with Valdicava Rosso di Montalcino 2012 as the aperitif. Then Brunello di Montalcino and Madonna del Piano ranges were served pairing with the food in the following order:

Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino 2006
Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino 2004
Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino 1999
Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Madonna del Piano 2007
Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Madonna del Piano 2004
Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Madonna del Piano 1999

To me, Brunello di Montalcino 2004 and Madonna del Piano 1999 rocked the night. I was fortunate to get a chance to try such wonderful range. Honestly, if you see these wines, do not hesitate but stock up. All were wonderful and each speaks of its character that resemble vintage and terrior.

Overall, the night was wonderful. I have to admit that the wine outshone the food by far. The food range comparing to the price tag, I would say this is not so valuable. Thanks to the wine that makes it memorable. 

Valdicava Rosso di Montalcino 2012 (91pts)

Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino 2006 (95pts)

Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino 2004 (97pts)

Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino 1999 (94pts)

Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Madonna del Piano 2007 (96pts)

Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Madonna del Piano 2004 (97pts)

Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Madonna del Piano 1999 (97pts)

Enoteca Italiana Bangkok @ Sukhumvit, Bangkok - ร้านอาหารอิตาเลี่ยน อีโนติก้า @ สุขุมวิท กรุงเทพฯ
39 Soi Sukhumvit 27
Sukhumvit Road
Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana
Bangkok 10110

Thailand

Open Hours: daily from 06:00pm - midnight

Tel: +66 (0) 2258 4386
Web: http://www.enotecabangkok.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/EnotecaBangkok