InterContinental Hanoi Westlake Opens Milan Italian Ristorante

-- Hotels, 6/9/2008 9:44:00 AM

InterContinental Hanoi Westlake has debuted the country’s first upscale Italian restaurant as 'Milan' opened its doors to guests June 4.

“How a city as vibrant and compelling as Hanoi made it this far into the 21st century without an upscale Italian restaurant I’ll never know,” says Paolo Zambrano, executive chef at Milan. “Italian cuisine is an imperative option in any culinary landscape. That you can now indulge the taste of Italy on the shores of Tay Ho (West Lake) is both a surprise and a remarkable convergence.”

At Milan, Zambrano’s main courses explore Italian classics, from spaghettis, linguinis, pennes and lasagna to Pappardelle Al Ragu D’ Anatra and Gnocchi di Patate.

“Paolo was called out of the kitchen by a diner recently to talk about the pasta he’d just had,” says Christian Pirodon, general manager of the InterContinental Hanoi Westlake. “The guest had been persuaded that it was impossible to get pasta as good as ours outside Italy. Now he’s persuaded it’s impossible to get pasta this good outside of Hanoi!”

From the Italian grill, Milan serves an assortment of entrees, from hearty beef tenderloins and ribeyes to lamb chops, king prawns and whole lobster. The restaurant also fires up an assortment of pizzas, of course, from Margherita to frutti di mare.

Milan trades on its waterborne location with expansive views of Hanoi’s fabled West Lake, once the playground of Vietnam’s royalty. And should diners tire of the lakefront panorama, there are the more limited panoramas of two show kitchens and glass-walled wine shelves.

The restaurant’s wine list proposes 200 vintages from 10 countries, including Italy, France and the best of New World wines.

Milan occupies the entire mezzanine level of the hotel. The décor is a blend of modern European and rustic Asian.