The Bella of the ball
BY AIDEN JEWELLE GONZALES

I’ve waxed eloquent enough about Italian food so I won’t repeat myself here; but suffice to say, I am always thrilled when a new Italian eatery opens in Bangkok, and especially so when it’s in Sukhumvit road, which I consider the bustling heart of the city. Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit, centrally located in between Sukhumvit Sois 13 and 15, has recently been upgrading its F&B offerings, and I was thrilled to hear that the much-anticipated Bella Sera, featuring homestyle Italian cooking made with premium ingredients and a hearty pour of love, had finally opened its doors.

Led by Chef Fabio, who has been renowned in Bangkok’s culinary scene for almost three decades, Bella Sera, meaning ‘beautiful evening’ in Italian, aims to capture the romanticism and camaraderie of Italian evenings spent drinking and dining with loved ones. The concept, ‘Cucina Di Mamma Mia,’ which translates to ‘kitchen of my mother,’ is a reference to Chef Fabio’s focus on bringing to Thailand heritage recipes passed down to him from his beloved mother, who hails from Udine, in northeast Italy. 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Perched on the second floor of Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit, Bella Sera greets you with soothing palettes and cheery patterns, from the gingham tablecloths to the chevron backrests on their couches; encapsulating the relaxed atmosphere of an Italian bistro. With views of the lobby’s spectacular crystal chandelier right across from its open kitchen, replete with a wood-fired pizza oven and brushed brass lighting; the space is at once cosy and welcoming, yet luxe. The eye – or at least, my eye in particular – was immediately drawn towards their temperature-controlled wine cellar, not-so-hidden behind glass doors that tempt you with the array of premium labels that lie within.

FOOD AND DRINK

“Cooking is more than a profession—it’s an art, a passion, and a journey of continuous discovery,” according to Head Chef Fabio. “It’s about infusing each dish with love, discipline, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.” As we watched him make his famed Romana-style pizza from scratch, from rolling out the dough to adding each of the toppings step by step, he walked us through the importance of meticulously sourcing fresh ingredients from both the land and sea. “For example, this kind of stracciatella,” he told us, as he scooped dollops of the cheese atop the rest of the toppings, “is beloved by royalty. The King of England, the Prime Minister of France, you name it.” Moreover, he told us, the restaurant’s ingredients are so good that they even have a separate vegan menu that allows their fresh produce and innovation to shine.

Having watched him prepare our food in front of our eyes, and enticed by the brilliant colours and captivating aromas, I was eager to dig into the restaurant’s offerings. We began with their Insalata di tonno fresco scottato (THB 490), a refreshing salad comprised of yellow fin tuna, of top-notch quality and seared to perfection; soft-boiled eggs, still slightly runny and just the way I like it; as well as white anchovies, garlic mayo, and shallots to create a dish that was the perfect start to our meal.

I would highly recommend the signature Risotto “bella sera” (THB 650), especially now that we’re in the midst of truffle season – made with Italian carnaroli rice with sausage, cured pork cheek, mushrooms, and flakes of truffle, the dish is delicious, heartwarming and filling; a meal onto itself. If you prefer pasta over rice, however, opt for the Tagliolini ai gamberi & zucchini (THB 650), beautifully-plated egg pasta with generously-sized prawns, and lashings of tomato sauce. The chillies and garlic add a delightful kick that kept us coming back for more. For the steak eaters, the Chateau briand gremolada (THB 590 per 100 grams) is not to be missed. Made with a juicy middle cut of tenderloin, this grilled angus beef is a melt-in-your-mouth delight, and is served with mille-feuille potatoes and cherry tomatoes to add some brightness to an otherwise hearty dish.

Finally, make sure to order from their array of desserts to round out your meal. The Trio crème brûlée (THB 350), was an unexpected treat, thrice over – and not just literally. Served in an open wooden bird cage with a nest of bedding below, these tiny tea-cup sized delights came in three flavours: green tea, vanilla, and coffee, and they were an unusual but sublime take on crème brûlée, all without being overwhelmingly sweet. The Pavlova – gelato all’ amarena (THB 350) is another must- try dessert, which consists of the classic Italian pavlova, but topped with chocolate mousse and amarena cherry ice cream for a delectable mouthful.

MASALA RECOMMENDS

The San daniele ham, stracciatella marucola – pomodorin (THB 750) pizza, made with Chef Fabio’s famed secret recipe that’s renowned throughout Bangkok. Made with tomatoes, Italian mozzarella, san daniele ham, cherry tomatoes, rucola salad, and of course, the famed stracciatella cheese, with crust that’s been baked perfectly all the way through, I guarantee you won’t be able to stop after just one slice.

BELLA SERA
2nd Floor, Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit 189 Sukhumvit Road Soi 13-15, Bangkok 10110
Open daily from 6pm to 11pm
Tel: 02 126 9999 Ext.
Bella Sera
Facebook: @BellaSeraBK
Instagram: @bellaserabkk
www.bellaserabkk.com