[invite] Bianca: Perched directly above city stalwarts Ryans Bar and below Australia Square office tower, is Sydney’s newest Italian eatery Bellucci Cucina
Italian food can be a pretty risky choice here at FFS, nothing really does compare to our Nonno & Nonna’s cooking but we’ve had a bit of a good run lately and happy to throw Bellucci into the ‘must visit’ pile.
Stepping in for the missing FFS crew is Felicitations, our civilised Friday evening dinner quickly descended into a booze/carb/fest but it was cold and we needed warmth (we’ll go with that)…
Starting with the Salumi Misti $28, perfect to linger over with a beverage. With generous slices of freshly sliced prosciutto, salami & mortadella. Parmesan chunks, marinated olives, olive tapenade, pickled onions and some seriously legit sourdough bread.
My Rum Old Fashioned $18 was the perfect potent concoction, putting some hairs on the chest but giving way to a smooth sweet note.
The Spaghetti Chittarra – cacio e Pepe, pecorino romano, black pepper and olive oil $21. Prices across the board are very very reasonable given location and portion sizes. This could easily feed two people with other bits and pieces. Simple but tasty, a dish like this you have no-where to hide so execution is paramount, the pasta was al-dente, lusciously coated in parmesan, a big tick for the cheese fiends.
Four glasses later, we fell in love with the Monte Del Fra Rose 2016 $11 per glass. A perfect accompaniment to an Italian meal.
The V.I.P – w/ marinated and roasted tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, oregano, rocket $22 + Prosciutto $4 was wonderfully balanced. The pizza at Bellucci is your more traditional Sicilian style, thicker and a little more generous with the toppings. I’m a Sicilian / Neapolitan half-caste so I love and appreciate all pizza styles… Thick plump tomatoes, generous thin shavings of freshly slices prosciutto, studded with chunks of buffalo mozzarella and the dough was fantastic!
And the pizza I was most excited about. The Alpina Porcini -w/ mushroom ragu, fior de latte, rapini, kale & truffle oil $21. Crispy kale & Italian spinach on a pizza? It’s basically a health food, the truffle oil was used masterfully here, permeating the pizza but not obtrusive or in your face. This is a winner!
We were both too full for dessert but one I’d come back to if and when I’m in the city and looking for an Italian fix. Add it to your list!
Bianca
*For Food’s Sake dined as guests of Bellucci.
woah that pasta!