Fabbrica Darlinghurst Presents: Calabria

The sun-smooched toe of Italy's boot is the next stop in our regional dinner series. This is Calabria, by way of Fabbrica Darlinghurst. Join us for an evening of dining steeped in the Mediterranean flavours of one of Italy’s most idyllic regions.

Executive Chef Damiano Balducci’s set menu ($85 per person) approaches the salty, smoky, spiced hallmarks of Calabria's la cucina povera with Fabbrica flair. There will be a trio of antipasti, including fritelle (fried potato dough balls) with a smoky, cheesy caciocavallo cream and ‘nduja oil. For primi, a classic southern Italian coastal combo of swordfish, tomato, eggplant and pine nuts. It wouldn't be a Fabbs experience without handmade pasta, and in this iteration, the swordfish is encased in hand-pinched and shaped cappelletti.

Calabrian liquorice is widely regarded as the best in the world, and as a nod to this ‘Black Gold’, secondi will feature slow-cooked pork neck in a liquorice-infused glaze, served with roasted potatoes. Finally, dolci of fresh ricotta mousse with candied orange and cantucci biscuits; Dami’s spin on the flavours of cannoli, which can be found in almost every pasticceria in Calabria.

To drink, an optional four-glass wine pairing ($60). Join us this November and experience Calabria.