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AWKitchen Pasta Marche delivers quality Italian cuisine with a Japanese twist
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(Photo Courtesy of JP)
L
ocated in One Satrio Kuningan, AWKitchen Pasta Marche is acclaimed Japanese chef Akira Watanabe’s latest Italian cuisine establishment. A cozier and more casual counterpart to AWKitchen Pasta House in Plaza Senayan, the restaurant opened its doors in July.
Having discovered a love of Italian cuisine, chef Akira Watanabe spent three years studying the craft of authentic pasta dishes in Milan, meticulously mastering his craft. And upon his return to Japan, he opened the first AWKitchen Pasta House in 2004, where he perfected his menu by infusing Japanese elements into his Italian dishes.
Fast forward to the present day, The Jakarta Post got the opportunity to visit his newest restaurant and sample a few of chef Watanabe’s signature dishes. Here are our thoughts on the experience.
Entering the establishment, visitors are greeted by a chique retro-styled interior with ambient lighting. A two-story restaurant, the establishment is a comfy space that is perfect for busy workers to unwind during lunchtime or for families to bond over a meal. Additionally, the first floor of this AWKitchen is pet-friendly, so people can comfortably dine with their canine, feline, or any kinds of animal companions with no issues.
During our visit, we tried a variety of dishes that covered a wide range of Italian and a hint of Japanese cuisine. For starters we were served artisanal focaccia, alongside a fresh kinoko salad and a crispy soft shell crab fritt with wasabi tartar sauce. Right from the start we saw a healthy mix of Italian and Japanese cuisine, blending Japanese ingredients such as nori, wasabi and shimeji mushrooms with Western-style cooking.
Shortly after, we tried the capellini garlic shrimp, a unique experience for those who are adventurous, as it is a cold pasta dish that is much like traditional Japanese soba. A cream-based pasta dish, this menu item utilizes cod roe mentai in its sauce, giving it an extra kick of spice and umami you would not typically expect from Italian cuisine.
We then received the chef-recommended pizza, AWKitchen’s chicken teriyaki mushroom pizza. Unlike AWKitchen Pasta House, this Pasta Marche branch also offers a range of pizza dishes in its menu, and the one we had was an excellent twist on the classic meal. Topped with teriyaki sauce, perfectly roasted chicken, and a satisfying amount of nori flakes, the pizza provided a nuanced sweetness in its flavor profile contrasting with a savory aftertaste.
Following the pizza, was chef Watanabe’s two signature artisanal pasta dishes, his more conventional tomato-based trofie arrabbiata and the experimental garlic oil spaghettini with spicy cod roe and Japanese mushrooms. Starting with the arrabbiata-based dish, the pasta accompanying the sauce, trofie, was freshly made at the establishment in the morning. This is because this type of pasta is quite uncommon, and pairs very well with the classic arrabbiata sauce, having it cling easily to its surface, giving you a delectably spicy tang in each bite. The dish was also served with a topping of roasted aubergine, giving it a charred smoky flavor complimenting the creamy sauce.
While the spaghettini dish on the other hand, was a spin on the classic aglio e olio. At its core its an oil-based pasta dish, incorporating a generous amount of garlic and chilli, but on top of that the dish is elevated with a masterful sprinkling of traditional Japanese ingredients, such as cod roe, shimeji mushrooms, nori flakes and shisho herbs. It sounds like an unorthodox combination, but it works so well and it reinvents the aglio e olio into a creamy umami packed sophisticated bundle of flavors.
To end our visit we had the panna cotta and tuile with berry sauce, a smooth and silky dessert that is light without any overwhelming sweetness. This dish also delightfully featured subtle hints of Japanese ingredients, subtituting the traditional component of almonds in the tuile with black sesame seeds instead.
Overall, chef Akira Watanabe’s new AWKitchen Pasta Marche is an excellent casual dining establishment that provides a comfortable space fit for any occasion, with immaculate service, and delightful dishes that surprise your pallet with how they harmoniously blend the two contrasting cultures of Italy and Japan.
