We interviewed Niccolò Bertolini, who together with founders Giuseppe and Loris Massimini, runs Ristorante Pietrasanta in Singapore. A collaboration born in 2019, when Niccolò selected our "Stefany" Spumante Prosecco DOCG Extra Dry organic sparkling wine for his restaurant, one of the most popular Italian venues in Singapore.
How did the idea for Pietrasanta come about and what is the concept of your venue?
The Pietrasanta idea, was born a long time ago, in 2008 Loris Massimini decided that he wanted to open a restaurant where Singaporeans could enjoy typical Tuscan cuisine in a rustic, family-run environment. In the same year he was joined by his brother Giuseppe and in no time, Ristorante Pietrasanta exploded and became one of the landmarks of Italian cuisine in Singapore. I joined them a few years later in 2014.
The original restaurant was located in a secluded place, far from the city and surrounded only by greenery and colonial houses, this made it become a popular destination for everyone from politicians, celebrities, businessmen, Malaysian royals, to foreigners and local families.
In 2019, unfortunately, our lease was not renewed and we moved to this new location, where it was not possible to reproduce the background of the previous restaurant, so we decided to do a mix of rustic and modern.
Despite the big change, we managed to maintain our clientele.
How do Singaporeans perceive Italian cuisine, or are your customers mostly tourists?
Italian cuisine is highly appreciated here in Singapore, and I must say that the level of cuisine is very high, like us, many other Italian restaurateurs, use truly Made in Italy products, from oil to vegetables, cold cuts and cheeses.
One of our most popular dishes is the 300gr burrata served with arugula, Prosciutto di Parma and San Marzano tomatoes.
What is the consumption of Prosecco ? Do they know the difference between DOC and DOCG ?
Prosecco is highly appreciated by Singaporeans who have a good wine culture. Not everyone knows the difference between DOC and DOCG and appreciates the quality. Certainly, however, those who have traveled to Italy and had the pleasure of wine tasting and visiting wineries know the difference.
All of our wines are certified organic. What is the trend of organic wine and bubbles in Singapore?
Organic wine is very popular in Singapore. The focus on this category is the result of a lot of work by all of us restaurateurs since 2015 to be able to introduce it to the market and make it known to consumers. Certainly then an important role has been played by producers like you who offer healthy products with an affordable price for everyone.
What dish on your menu would you recommend pairing our Prosecco DOCG "Stefany" with?
Spumante Prosecco DOCG Stefany Extra Dry can be paired with several courses on our menu. This delicate and elegant bubbly pairs perfectly with fried Mediterranean Sardine fillets and fried Bianchetti. It is also ideal to enjoy with a plate of fresh tagliatelle with king prawns and sun-dried tomatoes from Sicily or with a grilled mackerel fillet.
All homemade dishes but prepared with love and dedication as you do with your Prosecco.
What dish of Singaporean cuisine would you recommend pairing our Prosecco DOCG "Stefany" with?
As for pairing with local dishes, I would recommend it with a dish that I really like namely Lobster Behoon. From my point of view it also pairs very well with Satay which are chicken skewers glazed with a sweet peanut sauce, crab dishes, steamed dumplings and steamed duck.
So great recognition and thanks go to Pietrasanta Restaurant and to Niccolò, Giuseppe and Loris who become ambassadors of our organic Prosecco DOCG in Singapore.
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