That's Amore

Overview

Melbourne, you're about to discover (and taste) what can happen when an acclaimed Finnish chef and an award-winning Italian sommelier join forces.

Giorgio De Maria (formerly of 121BC and Rootstock Sydney food and wine festival), is teaming up with Finnish-born Pasi Petanen (2015's SMH Chef of the Year and the guy behind Café Paci), for That's Amore — a series of food-and-wine shindigs to be held at Mecca in Crossley Street next month.

Across three nights from March 16 to 18, the pair will combine culinary talents, pulling together innovative foodie flair, some serious wine knowledge, and a couple of lively personalities, for what promises to be one tasty experience.

This fusion of front and back of house is bound to ensure some well-rounded feasting, including dishes such as sourdough pasta with way pecorino and pear, panfried mortadella, and potato salada with parmigiano and black pepper — all with an Italian edge.

Meanwhile, De Maria's working his own brand of magic, proving the cross-cultural combo isn't the only perfect partnership on the table here. His handpicked selection of wine will also look to Italy thanks to Le Coste, Cantina Giardino, Panevino and Dario Princic, plus Australian producers such as Tom Shobbrook and Sholto & Louis Broderick.