Castellana Brings Piedmontese Cuisine to the Heart of the City
Helmed by Asti-born Chef Romeo Morelli, CASTELLANA RESTAURANT continues to infuse creative Piedmontese twists into traditional and authentic regional dishes alike.
(September 15, Hong Kong) CASTELLANA, has dutifully paid homage to the culinary landscape and culture of Northern Italy’s Piedmont region since 2019. This September, the restaurant will move to Central and open in a new two-storey space, in Club Lusitano on historic Ice House Street, continuing the CASTELLANA commitment to presenting Hong Kong gourmands with an impeccable Piedmontese culinary journey. Under the direction of Executive Chef Romeo Morelli, CASTELLANA has unveiled new lunch and dinner menus that showcase the incredibly rich and diverse gastronomic landscape of Piedmont: the Slow Food Movement started in the region, while the area is also home to some of the greatest truffles available anywhere in the world.
At CASTELLANA’s new abode, Chef Romeo is proud to introduce a new dinner set menu, titled “Traditional Piedmontese Recepì Around The World” (HK$1,280 for four courses or HK$1,580 for six courses), that draws inspiration from the varied terroir and storied gastronomy of the region, while combining Piedmontese culinary traditions with other food cultures that span the globe. History is readily apparent in dishes like Girello di vitello invecchiato, a seasoned round of dry-aged veal that utilizes the centuries-old Piedmontese art of salting and seasoning of the meat using mountain herbs and oil, with a topping of Toma Piemontese cream cheese. From the sea, Acciuga per intero (whole Cantabrian anchovies with acidic butter and green parsley sauce) harks back to the Roman method of salt preservation; while Finanziera, a soup of calf liver, sweetbreads, kidney and cockscomb that was first invented in 1450 in Chef Romeo’s hometown of Monferrato, is a hearty, thoroughly warming dish where chicken and veal parts are fried and then cooked in a sauce of Marsala wine.
Further down the menu, Gnocchi is made by hand from red potatoes using a method inherited from Chef Romeo’s grandmother, then glazed in a vegetable broth reduction and accompanied with duck thigh stewed for hours over coals. The Salmerino di montagna, Arctic char with carrots, is a star dish where Piedmont's finest river fish is cooked over embers until the skin is irresistibly crunchy, before being served with carrot and citrus sauce.
The restaurant’s new Central location makes it a convenient lunchtime escape to Italy, and the “Lunch Break” menu (HK$480 for two courses or HK$580 for three courses) offers a concise but no less satisfying Piedmontese dining experience. With the option of two courses (one appetizer and one pasta or main) or three courses (one appetizer, one pasta and one main), lunchtime offerings include Farfalle panna, salmone e piselli (Butterfly pasta, marinated fish roe, peas), Tagliatella Uni-Ca (Tagliatella, fresh Japanese uni, vanilla and white truffle), and Quail Pie di Mia Nonna, a signature recipe from Chef Romeo’s grandmother.
Nestled at the foot of the Italian Alps, Piedmont is also a world-renowned wine-producing region. Its native wine varieties, including in-demand Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera d'Asti and Cortese di Gavi, are grown in the foothills surrounding Turin, with the stunning vineyards classified as UNESCO World Heritage sites. As such, CASTELLANA’s wine cellar comprises Hong Kong’s most extensive collection of Piedmontese wine, featuring over 300 labels and vintages dating back to the 1960s.
The new restaurant, designed by JJ Acuna / Bespoke Studio, boasts a chef-centered “cucina di casa” concept on the lower floor and an expansive dining room on the upper floor. Together, the spaces create an immersive Piedmontese culinary adventure for guests.
CASTELLANA RESTAURANT will open its doors to the public from 20 September 2022.
Chef Romeo Morelli
Chef Romeo Morelli is an exciting new force in Asia's dining landscape. A proud Piedmont native, Morelli has always been passionate about the possibilities of ingredients and cuisine.
Having garnered an impressive array of international experience, the talented young chef has honed his skills at celebrated kitchens and hotels in Italy, Germany, Singapore, and Abu Dhabi.
Before departing for Hong Kong, the rolling hills of Piedmont brought him home to work at the 5-star property Relais San Maurizio, where he had the opportunity to collaborate with his mentor
Luca Zecchin, a master of modern Piedmontese cuisine.
Morelli is no stranger to the ingredients and flavours of his native region, and he is a Wood*ing Wild Food Lab-accredited Master Forager. With a sophisticated knowledge of white truffles,
Morelli creatively conceptualises their use in his dishes.
Morelli channels passion, dedication, and precision when he cooks, inspired as he is by the rich gastronomic culture of his homeland. At Castellana, Morelli brings his own Piedmontese twist to traditional and authentic regional dishes, proudly showcasing his region's abundant flavours and ingredients
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