Sal De Riso, Minori

20 Jul

CUISINE

World-renowned pastry chef, Salvatore de Riso, originates from the small town of Minori in the Amalfi Coast and this stunning patisserie set across from the seaside promenade is his flagship restaurant. There is an emphasis on producing exquisite, attractive-looking food with the ‘flavour of the Amalfi Coast and its genuine aromas’ at the heart of Sal’s creations. It offers a wide array of creative coffees, juices and hot chocolates and the selection of pastries is beyond impressive. The glass display cases overwhelm you with options, but each and every pastry looks a safe pick. Sal De Riso also has an ice-cream selection and you can also sit down and enjoy some savoury dishes too.

“This is my world, the palette of Mediterranean flavor that, like a compass, regulates my daily life, respecting my land and what it generously gives”

— Sal De Riso

MY SCRAN CHOICE

As you can see by the photos below, it was a tough choice! However, having completed the extensive ‘lemon walk’ from Maiori to Minori and the time being 4pm, a quick dessert and drink felt like an appropriate reward.

PASTRIES

‘Ricotta, Pear & Chocolate Tart’

Having researched the infamous chef prior to making a visit, we were aware of Sal’s knack at perfecting ricotta and pear based pastries. It was wonderfully presented and melted in the mouth.

- Amalfi Lemon Cookies -

They provided us with a complementary plate of Amalfi lemon cookies, which were soft and tasty, and it was a nice touch from Sal De Riso.

- Eclar al Cioccolato -

I have always had a soft spot for chocolate eclairs and this did not disappoint! The rich flavours of the ‘Venezuela Domori 72%’ chocolate shone through and the way in which they displayed the pastry on the plate left me salivating. One of the best eclairs I have had!

REFRESHMENTS

- Iced Coffee with Vanilla Syrup -

A refreshing alternative on a hot summer’s day in Minori. A classic option, but delivered well.

- Ivoire 35% -

‘The Art of Tasting: Hot Chocolate’ menu caught the eye, particularly due to the variety of interesting takes on traditional hot chocolates. I went for the Ivoire 35% which was dominated by white chocolate flavours and tones of vanilla and malt. It was divine.

FROM THE SHOP

I also elected to purchase one of Sal’s sweet spreadable delights. Having enjoyed the Ivoire 35% so much, it felt right to purchase its spreadable counterpart.

THE FEE

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THE REVIEW

A truly indulgent pit-stop in Minori that will leave you suitably satiated! It was very exciting to simply admire the artwork of the pastries in the glass displays, and I was spoilt for choice! Overall, a must-visit.

Room for Improvement?

The creativity of the pastry options led to my expectation of the ice-cream following suit, but they were purely traditional flavours. This may be overly-critical as I am sure they would be tasty, but this naturally led me to trying the pastries instead. The service was also a little slow, and lacking in sufficient information.