Fuzio @ Changkat Bukit Bintang

Pre-dinner drink is a glass of Glenfiddich 19 years old from the Age of Discovery range which is originally released as a travel retail exclusive but now you can buy it from anywhere. This bourbon cask is the 2nd release from the Age of Discovery which replaces the 1st release in Madeira casks. The nose consists of toffee, vanilla and spiced orange. The palate is complex, layered with caramel, vanilla and nutmeg with hints of spices. It has quite a medium to long finish of warm spicy notes. For a 19 year old whisky, this is superb!

Replacing the previous Bar Italia, Ivan Tan is the new boss of this place. Being a little adventurous, I decide to give this place a try and to also celebrate a friend's birthday here. I've always like the ambience of this place and from the looks of it, nothing much changed except the menu and the staff. They serve mostly Italian fare here but some with an Asian twist.

Handcut Salmon Carpaccio with strips of young mango, tomato, rocket leaves, lemon juice and olive oil (RM28). This is recommended by the staff and it's indeed a wonderful starter. The tangy lemon and a little hint of sourness from the mango keeps the appetite going.

Fuzio sausage salad with tuna dressing, mushrooms and grilled chicken top with croutons (RM28). I like the dressing of the salad and the tuna chunks which paired very well but they could have done better with the sausage part. I'll prefer a more robust tasting sausage with a slight crisp on the outer layer.

Before we leave for the restaurant, my friend asked me to select any bottle from his cellar that I would like to drink that night. I chose this bottle of Segond de Dufort 2003 as I've always enjoyed a Margaux and also the Chateau Dufort Vivens. Being the 2nd label, I expect this to live up to the expectations that I have for a Margaux but only to find this one here a little too mellow and monotonous for my liking. It's fruity and dense but lacked a balance of acidity and tanins.

Don't be surprised to see quite a number of bunny dishes on the Fuzio menu. Apparently they serve rabbit ragout and also rabbit casserole here! I had a Parpadelle with Rabbit Ragout (RM38). The rabbit is tender and not too overpowering in terms of taste and texture. It goes very well with the tomato-based pasta with sprinkles of black pepper. I like it.

For dessert, I ordered a Apple Crumble with Vanilla Ice-Cream (RM18) where I secretly asked the staff to help me with the Happy Birthday message. And they are so sweet to help me with the surprise and also giving me a cue before the plate is presented. Aww... so sweet. This apple crumble is different from the usual apple crumble using the flaky filo pastry. This one here has a dense pastry that is crisp and crunchy. The apples with cinnamon is done well too.

Overall, the food is good but it's not exceptional. As Paolo used to put it "our food is not the best in town" but what makes this place tick is its service and ambience. The staff did a very good job in serving the patrons and I will definitely come back to try the other dishes.

Fuzio

(previous Bar Italia and beside Albion)

29 Jalan Berangan
50200 Kuala Lumpur.
(the street behind Changkat Bukit Bintang)

Tel: +603-2110 0303