Guest wowpow Posted August 3, 2007 Posted August 3, 2007 My friend and I were sure that Claudio would be 'more than comfortable' helping host a Gay Festival Dinner. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Guest chef again at Bruno’s by Miss Terry Diner - Pattaya Mail It’s that time of year again, when enterprising restaurateur Fredi Schaub of Bruno’s Restaurant and Wine Bar imports a European chef to refresh the taste buds of the Pattaya gourmets. Following on from the success of the last two years (chefs Luca Messina and Peter Marti), Fredi has this time brought over chef Claudio Forti, who has been showing his culinary expertise since August 1 and will stay at Bruno’s until August 31. Remembering wonderful culinary treats from his previous chefs, it was with much expectation that the Dining Out Team accepted Fredi’s invitation to meet chef Claudio, and to try some of the different dishes that he has brought with him. We are presuming that surely everyone in Pattaya knows where Bruno’s is located, but just in case... it is on the left side coming down Thappraya Road, about half way between the Nirvana Place at the top of the hill and Thepprasit Road near the bottom. There are ongoing roadworks, but the car park attendant will show you that there is more than adequate parking alongside the restaurant, as well as at the front. Again, for any newcomer who has not dined at Bruno’s Restaurant and Wine Bar, it is one of Pattaya’s elite fine dining restaurants, with the service and décor that you would expect of an establishment of this caliber. Need we say more? To fully appreciate this new visiting chef’s culinary efforts, it does help to know something of the man. Claudio Forti is a proud Piedmontese, a man who decided to go into the world’s kitchens to follow the direction given him by his maternal grandmother, herself a superb cook. Like all passionate Italian chefs he is only too happy to discuss the merits of Italian cheeses over the ‘inferior’ products from France and Australia, and, given time, would be pleased to educate his listeners on the differences in the 200 types of extra-virgin olive oil. “We don’t use olive oil, we use extra-virgin olive oil!” This man is a perfectionist in the kitchen. We began with some starters, first off a Piedmont flan of Parmesan and green asparagus. The flan was particularly good. It is difficult to get a good flan and most restaurants are afraid of this delicate dish, but Claudio is not. Since savory flans originated in Italy, this might be the reason. Despite the asparagus not being exactly like Italian asparagus (according to Claudio), this dish had a wonderful meld of flavors, and I liked it very much. Our other starter was a blue fin tuna and rock lobster with a mango salad. This had everything - taste, flavors and textures. A great introduction to his Italian style of cooking..... Full article http://www.pattayamail.com/current/dining.shtml ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Unsolicited I dined there last evening with a good friend and we were delighted with the offerings. Virtually the whole menu is by Claudio. The Piedmont flan of Parmesan and asparagus was much as Terry describes above, my friend had an intense mushroom soup topped with a parmesan cup of sauteed mushroom - he was cooing with delight. Deep fried Ozzie lamb cutlets were a triumph, trimmed of all fat and with the thinnest coating of fine breadcrumbs cooked still just pink in the middle and served over a spinach salad on a pizza bread - Breast of duck was cooked to perfection and served with a fine sauce, crushed potatoes with cheese and fresh beans. An excellent Panna Cote paled when tasted next to the sumptious Zabaglione ices. Freddi offers an off list distinctive pudding wine - a Chilean Moscatel which is a delight, well balanced sweetness and acidity. A truly memorable meal and service as ever at Bruno's was deft and attentive. Claudio circulated and chatted at the tables. He speaks very good English and is quite a charmer. He teaches in the Winter and works in Hotels during the Summer. He seems to be enjoying himself in Thailand very well indeed. Bruno's Reservations 038 364 600 Quote
