Mediteca Wine Tapas

Many thanks to The Island Group Hospitality for this sneak peek at Mediteca, which is set to officially begin operations on August 13 at Fraser Place.

A cross between an Italian enoteca-style wine shop and a Spanish tapas bar, Mediteca showcases the talents of Manuel Lopez, a chef in his thirties who blends the culinary canon of his southern Spanish homeland with contemporary creativity to satisfy KL's fussy eaters.

Liver lovers will know what to order: seared foie gras with caramelized figs and pureed sultanas.

Also fabulous for foie fans: millefeuille of liver with goat's cheese and caramelized apples.

Salad on a stick: tomatoes, mozzarella and basil foam, a tasty twist on the Caprese salad.

Need more skewers? Try the terrifically tender beef tenderloin with red wine reduction.

What's cooking in Chef Lopez's pot? One of KL's creamiest pumpkin soups, coupled with ginger for a fascinating counterpoint and topped with truffle croutons for a fragrant crunch.

And underneath Lid No. 2: a casserole of stewed beef cheeks and potatoes. Poetry in a pot.

Customers who can't wait to check out Mediteca (ten more days!), fear not: there's always something tempting to try nearby at Nerovivo, owned by the Nero Group of restaurants and managed by Island Group Hospitality.

Folks in the mood for beef shouldn't resist Nerovivo's ravioli, stuffed with remarkably soft braised meat and soaked in a rich Barolo red wine sauce.

Nerovivo's kitchen-made tagliatelle with beef ragout, the most satisfying bolognese pasta we've had in a very long while.

Prosecco and red wine, to make the merriment merrier. We'll be back for more soon at Mediteca and Nerovivo; service at both outlets is a shining example for others.

Mediteca Wine Tapas,

Fraser Place, Jalan Perak, Kuala Lumpur.