SAN DIEGO — Inside Ambrogio by Acquerello in La Jolla, you will notice the attention to detail. The fine dining experience at the Michelin-recognized restaurant begins with the amuse bouche, plated inside a delicate eggshell.
"On the bottom, braised onion, creme royal, parmesan, focaccia crouton on top," said Head Chef Enea Sintoni. "It's my idea of French Onion soup."
The 29-year-old, who was born and raised in Rome, helped create the menu.
He said you eat it from the bottom up, layer by layer. The creaminess mingled with the flavorful onions, dances with the texture of the focaccia.
Chef Enea attended culinary school in Italy and worked in other prestigious restaurants before his journey brought him to San Diego.
The cuisine, a modern take on Italian food, is created with Asian techniques, some dishes have touches of Asian flavors. The restaurant's Michelin-star sister restaurant in Italy is led by Chef Silvio Salmoiraghi and Chef Choi Cheolhyeok. Chef Cheolhyeok is from Korea.
"A lot of people say chefs are artists," he said. "But I prefer to say we are artisans because we are like a wood maker. We have some ingredients we have to modify and create different things with that."
The Menu
He brings out several dishes, including Agnello Arrosto, Timo e Melanzane alla Mentalamb, which is lamb seasoned with thyme and parsley and fried eggplant seasoned with fresh mint.
He also brings out Insalata alla Milanese, which is salad with breaded veal and 24-month-aged parmesan.
The dessert course was spectacular. It included Cinque Cioccolati, a dark chocolate with black garlic, raspberry and chili.
Career path
Chef Enea's career in the kitchen started at a young age. He dressed up as a chef for Carnevale as a child. He said it was his grandmother, Giulietta, the youngest of 12 and a nurse during World War II, who taught him how to cook and inspired him. She passed away just months before her 100th birthday.
"Me and my brother were very lucky," he said. "We didn't have a babysitter, but our grandparents were our babysitter."
He describes her personality as very strong, very kind. "[She was] the best grandma we could have," said Chef Enea.
He said she was very happy when he became a chef. He admits it was intimidating to cook for her.
Making handmade pasta reminds him of her and all of the memories they shared.
"She always said to me [that] the chef has to whistle in the kitchen. So you know they're not eating," he laughed.
Ambrogio by Acqurello is located at 7556 Fay Avenue, La Jolla, CA 92037. Find our more and make reservations here.