Italian dinners are famous for their abundance and the never-ending flow of dishes. Another essential attribute is a big crowd of friends and family around the dining table. The Italians know best–good food needs to be enjoyed with the ones you love. Luckily, there is a spot in town that offers traditional Italian food and is ideal for a heartwarming gathering. The only struggle is what to choose from all the tempting options on the menu? We selected the best of the best from Terrazza Italian Restaurant at Galaxy Macau for an authentic Italian feast. Your only task will be to bring a good company and come hungry!
Seafood platter for two
Seafood Platter
How to start your meal like a king? Order the seafood platter for two, of course. Let’s get acquainted with all that seafood neatly laid out on ice. There are halved Boston lobster in the center of the composition, sweet and delicate Hokkaido scallops, Japanese clams, six tiger shrimps, mussels from France and four crab legs. What a diverse spread! Start with a freshly shucked oyster and complement it with a drop of red onion vinegar with shallots. The other sauces to try with the seafood are spicy mayo (goes great with succulent crab meat or lobster), Tabasco to add a tad of heat, and cocktail sauce for the succulent shrimp!
We do recommend pairing this platter with some light white wine like Chablis or Chardonnay. These won’t overpower the subtle flavors of fresh seafood. Ask Terrazza’s sommelier to assist you in choosing the right wine–they really know their craft and the restaurant’s wine cellar stores some remarkable bottles for every taste and budget. Moreover, the restaurant is dubbed Macau’s Best Restaurants (Italian) by Hong Kong Tatler Best Restaurant 2019, received a Michelin Plate in the Michelin Guide Hong Kong Macau 2019 and awarded with 2019 Forbes Travel Guide: 4-Star Restaurant.
Antipasto misto
Antipasto Misto
Moving on to a selection of cold cuts, pickled vegetables, olives, and bruschetta, the “antipasto misto”. This traditional Italian appetizer is perfect for four people. So better call your friends, and have a catch-up session while sharing this sumptuous appetizer. This platter is a fine example of a northern Italian antipasto as it features meat, while in the south it would mainly consist of cured fish. There are matured Parma ham or prosciutto; Salame gentile (an extra sort of soft salami); Corallina (another type of salami from the town of Norcia), mortadella (cured pork that resembles bologna), herb-crusted ham and finally bresaola (air-dried beef aged for around two months). All of that goodness is stored in a separate room of the restaurant, like a kind of treasury of amazing cured meats.
To cut all the meats paper-thin, the chef uses a special Fimar cutter, manufactured in Italy. To fully appreciate the distinctive flavor of each meat, replace your white wine with some Italian red.
Linguine al nero di seppia, granchio
Primi Piatti
After all those starters, you’re surely ready for pasta! Try the linguine al nero di seppia, granchio. Typical for Sicily, this dramatic squid ink pasta is a treat for courageous foodies as some people find the black color a bit intimidating. But the ones who dare would be rewarded with an explosion of bold flavors. Its main ingredient is snow crab of which its succulent meat adds sophistication to the dish. Then, there are two ideal companions, sweet and acidic cherry tomatoes and fragrant basil. Frankly, some of the best pasta recipes are really simple. It’s the selection of ingredients that makes a dish outstanding. To pair your pasta with the perfect wine, simply ask the waiter or the sommelier which wine goes best with this delectable seafood pasta.
Filetto di manzo al pepe verde
Secondi Piatti
You might think that pasta is the main course, but in Italy, it is just a dish that comes before the main course. Brace yourself for the filetto di manzo al pepe verde. Juicy Australian black Angus beef cooked to perfection–medium is the best preparation, recommended by the chef–paired with creamy mashed potatoes and tangy green pepper sauce. The steak is a piece of art and your knife would cut through it like butter. Also, we would like to dedicate some praise to the incredible grilled tomato–sweet, flavorsome and a bit acidic, just what you need to balance out that rich meat.
Tiramisu
No self-respecting Italian hostess would let you leave a traditional dinner without a dolce. Saving some room for it might be a challenging task after all those dishes. However, the thing about any dessert is that it works as a digestive, especially if concluded with a shot of espresso.
Ending the dinner on dolce note, there is an element of theater at Terrazza as the dessert is freshly made in front of guests. A literal feast for your senses, their showmanship ensures that you are satisfied both visually and taste-wise. At Terrazza, Tiramisu–one of the most renowned and beloved Italian desserts–is served this way. Fluffy egg white, egg yolk, and creamy mascarpone are whisked in a bowl. Then, a waiter takes a couple of savoiardi biscuits and dips them in espresso mixed with a bit of Kahlúa (a Mexican coffee liquor). The biscuits soak up all that coffee goodness with a little bit of punch. Finally, a waiter gently puts it in a serving bowl, covers it with airy cream and sprinkles some cocoa on top. Simple and delicious!
Terrazza Italian Restaurant 201, 2F, Galaxy Macau™ , Estrada da Baia de Nossa Senhora da Esperanca, Cotai, +853 8883 2221, www.galaxymacau.com/en/dining/restaurants/terrazza-italian-restaurant
