For this week’s review, the team headed to the recently upgraded restaurant, Sorella, at the super stylish Mongibello hotel in Siesta, just outside Santa Eulalia.
Divided into two areas, Sorella Terrazza and Sorella Ristorante, it pays homage to a gastronomy that reflects the dolce vita lifestyle to a T.
Now under the capable guidance of Francesco Leggio, a dynamic young chef from Sicily, its menu has gone through a transformation this year. The food is Italian with ample use of fresh Mediterranean produce.
Sorella has an extensive wine list with wines from Spain, Italy, France & Chile. We plumped for a Galician white called Ladrón de Luna; dry and fruity, it was the ideal accompaniment.
After a complimentary tapenade of capers, olives and focaccia to accompany a cool gluten-free beer a lovely carpaccio of lemon fish, was next to arrive. Perfectly marinated, nicely presented and featuring a touch of chilli and coriander, fresh, full of flavour and simply delicious.
The aubergine parmigiana, composed of mint and pesto, cherry tomatoes and stracciatella - the soft, creamy inside of the burrata with the still-warm aubergine- was a group favourite. There was a lot of wow! Yum! And "that's amazing" comments at this point, so needless to say, we highly recommend this outstanding dish.
Featuring cherry tomatoes, garlic and mussels, the sea bass ravioli was really something else! Cooked to al dente perfection, it was a triumph of flavours and textures. More please!
The marrow pureé was the perfect match for the tender lamb. Further embellishments came in the form of baby courgettes and carrots and some rich, earthy Portobello mushrooms. A bottle of Jean León Monastrell red wine from the famed Penedès region of Catalonia was the perfect complement.
Naturally, we couldn’t pass up the opportunity to sample the house pasta. Oozing with the flavour of fresh shrimp, the tagliatelle was supreme.
At this point, the charming, chef Francesco came out to ask how it was all going. Swooning over our meal so far, we could barely conceal our delight.
The full dulce vita experience continued with the sweets. Sicilian desserts are famous and highly regarded for their rich flavours, unique ingredients, and traditional recipes that reflect the island’s diverse culinary influences.
Here at Sorella, that gastronomic heritage is on show.
The pistacho ice cream possessed a gamut of gustatory tones and textures thanks to the contrast between slightly bitter, creamy chocolate and the liberal use of the typical South European nuts.
Featuring caramelised dried fruit and topped with ricotta foam, the crumble made the ideal companion.
Nor could we resist the homemade tiramisu enriched with the fortified wine known as Marsala. The innate sweetness of the chocolate and the velvety mascarpone combined perfectly. We had a glass of dry white wine to wash it down.
Sorella is the ideal spot for those who appreciate authentic Italian food, as you revel in the relaxing, stylish atmosphere. Honestly, you can imagine yourself on a 50s film set, somewhere on the legendary Amalfi Coast.
And talking of movies, why not come here on a night when they are showing a classic Italian film on the outside terrace for a double whammy of Italian extravagance?
Indulge your inner dolce far niente, Mongibello style!
To book your table direct at Ristorante Sorella, head here.
