[June 2021] Opening in the iconic heritage building The Heritage Woo Cheong Pawn Shop in Wanchai, CRUST Italian is the definitive new destination for those seeking the warmth, tastes and ingredients of Naples and the Amalfi Coast’s legendary food culture. Combining an all-day Pasticceria pastry and coffee shop as well as a restaurant and Italian street food takeaway counter, CRUST Italian reflects the essence of the Campania region and its famed capital like nowhere else.
[June 2021] Opening in the iconic heritage building The Heritage Woo Cheong Pawn Shop in Wanchai, CRUST Italian is the definitive new destination for those seeking the warmth, tastes and ingredients of Naples and the Amalfi Coast’s legendary food culture. Combining an all-day Pasticceria pastry and coffee shop as well as a restaurant and Italian street food takeaway counter, CRUST Italian reflects the essence of the Campania region and its famed capital like nowhere else.
From a morning coffee with sublimely flaky pastries through tolunch, afternoon tea, aperitivo hour and on to dinner, CRUST Italiantruly celebrates the Southern Italy tradition of an all-day diningneighbourhood ‘spot.’ The elegant but relaxed space already feels Italianthanks to the heritage building, colonnade and high ceilings, while inside, thecolours, aromas, flowers and warmth make it a true window on Naples and thesurrounding areas.
The day at CRUST Italian starts very early as the team of bakersprepare delicious and decadent freshly-made pastries and authentic bread. Inspirationcomes in part from Gran Caffè Gambrinus in Naples, one of the ten oldest bars andPasticceria’s in Italy and a window on extraordinary Italian pastryculture that has rarely - if ever - been seen in Hong Kong. Authenticbarista-made Italian coffees include caffe sospeso - meaning 'suspendedcoffee', which must be drunk standing up at the bar, Napoli style!
CRUST Italian’s pasticceria will offer Southern Italytreats that include Sfoligatelle, stunning layered puff pastries filledwith lemon-scented cream or custard tha twill quickly become new favourites. Pastieraare tarts made with ricotta, orange blossom water, spices and sugar, a rarely-seenand delicious creation even before you learn that it is made in honour of themermaid Partenope, a figure of legend to whom we owe the birth of Naples. Thereare of course flaky croissants, small savoury quiches and a choice of fivebreads, available for takeaway or eat-in throughout the day.
CRUST Italianwill also offer an all-day takeaway counter known as ‘CRUST Scuscia,’ whichmeans street food in theNeapolitan dialect. This counter tuckedunder the arches of The Woo Cheong Pawn Shop is inspired by the narrow windingstreets of Naples that filled with shop fronts and counters serving dishes likecalamari fritti.
CRUST Scuscia will offer such Napoli street foodfavourites as Pizza fritta, which dates from hard times after the second world war wheningredients and wood-burning ovens were a luxury, leading some to fry pizzadough in boiling oil, sweeling it and forming the delicious fried pizza we seetoday. Likewise frittatine di pasta, irresistible pasta topped with bechamelsauce, ham and peas before being battered, breaded and friedwith a double-coated golden casing. Another dish not to be missed is the scarpetta - literally meaning 'shoe' - where pizza doughis filled with a ragu sauce in a fabulous snack.
In theevening CRUST Italian will showcase the ultimate in aperitivo culture -the hour as work stops and people gather for a drink or two and small plates ofsnacks before dinner. Expertly-crafted cocktails, Amalfi gins, Campari andsixteen wines by the glass are just some of the options on offer, allaccompanied by a complimentary buffet of dishes to graze on.
CRUSTItalian will also offer elevated Napoli cuisine in its main dining room, named Sala Caprinamed after the stunning island 30 miles offshore of Naples. At lunch anddinner, a la carte and set menus feature dishes celebrating the stunning bountyof produce for which southern Italy and Campania in particular is so renowned.The Naples favourite of seafood scialatielli pasta , a sensational 14-hourragu made with six different cuts of pork beef and veal, light and elegantraw seafood called crudo or cod baked in a clay crust are just some ofthe plates set to wow diners. Naturallydesserts are also a highlight such as the true Neapolitan classic, baba rum.Diners may know it better as rhum au baba, but this famous sweet treat ofalcohol-soaked sponge and cream actually originates from Naples.
Sergio Landi, formerly Executive Chef of Cova and Michelin-starredrestaurants including Guy Savoy in Paris, is a proud Neapolitan who is excitedto show why his home is one of the world's greatest food cities: "CRUSTItalian represents the soul of the city of Naples. We wanted to bring ourheritage of street food, cafe culture, incredible ingredients and history oficonic dishes to Hong Kong. At a time when travel has been almost impossible,we're looking forward to diners travelling to Naples via the elegant surroundsof the legendary Pawn building - and coming back time and again."
Tony Paese,Co-Founder of CRUST Italian concludes: “At CRUST Italian, we are all fromNaples and the surrounding area. We are passionate about our home and want toshowcase the most authentic experience to Hong Kong – we look forward toforging a place at the centre of Wanchai from morning to night.”
Open from7am-1030pm seven days a week, CRUST Italian opens on National Italian Day – 2ndJune 2021.
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For moreinformation, please contact:
Alex Berry
CompanionCommunications
Alex@companioncommunications.com
June Heung
CompanionCommunications
June@companioncommunications.com