Dining Near Erotica (Nerotica @ The Somerset, Lorong Ceylon, KL)

Stumbling upon a restaurant tucked in a cosy little corner at The Somerset along Lorong Ceylon (in the vicinity of Changkat Bukit Bintang), one might agree that Neroteca ‘s sexy ambience is true to its near-homophonic translation – “near erotica”. It’s sexy interior is but a glimpse of the sensual servings that they have to offer. Whether we would like to admit it or not, there’s something particularly sexy about raw meats.

Nerotica’s Meatilicious January offerings serves up a healthy amount of sexiness in their 7-course wine-paired menu.

The first part of the prelude to the entrees,  a platter of pork cold cuts including two types of prosciutto tempt the tongue. Prosciutto is a really beautiful, beautiful meat. Uncooked legs of ham, salted and pressed, and then dried in a cold and damp environment, and then aged for up to two years; prosciutto is heralded by some of the most enthusiastic of pork lovers. Smooth to the tongue yet pleasantly resistant to tearing, the salty and primitive pork flavors are almost contradictory with a contrast of mild and intense; even those who are generally averse to raw meat (like myself) would find it perhaps more enjoyable than cooked cold cuts.

The sensuality of the menu doesn’t stop there. The second prelude to the entrees is another raw dish, this time in the form of steak tartare. Essentially finely-chopped raw Angus beef sirloin, anchovies,  and plenty of different herbs and spices, it can be quite an intimidating starter… at first. When I was a child, I didn’t know better and thought kissing was disgusting and I could never like it. Now, well… let’s say I’ve had a little change of heart; and it was the same with the steak tartare. Once I popped on into my mouth, I wouldn’t say it didn’t resemble a very sexy kiss.

With Neroteca’s Meatilicious January menu, the sensuality of uncooked meats may stop at the starters, but its erotic appeal is carried across by a selection of wines that are paired with each of the seven courses. A rustic, home-style Italian meal must always be accompanied by the fluid that causes one to flirt and speak in suggestive tones.

Throughout the seven-course experience (at RM198+) , one would get to savor the entrees of pappardelle pasta with wild boar ragout and stozzapretti pasta with rare salami; and main courses of porchetta, sirlion tagliata, and grilled lamb rack. A 7-course meal to please any carnivore with a taste for various meats in various forms; and enough wine heighten the flavors and arouse the senses.

No wonder it is commonly said that Italians are sexy.