Raising the Bar of Malaysia's F&B Scene

I love my nasi (rice) and mee (noodles). Food thrives in Malaysia. Our multicultural society makes for a highly diverse, complex, and delicious cuisine. That’s what makes our country so unique and distinctive.

I’m always on the hunt for the best eats across the world. To me, trying out new food is an adventure. Whether it’s a casual or fine dining experience, I’ve always wanted to share my love for authentic international dishes with other people.

(Above Photo: Enjoying Malaysia’s best curry noodles with Winy, at Yu Ai Curry Mee in Segambut.)

That dream came true with Petra Cucina, Petra Group’s F&B arm. What started as a food for thought transformed into a dynamic and fast-expanding operator of food establishments in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore that I am so proud of.

Petra Cucina is headed up by Roberto Guiati. He is one of the most dedicated and hardworking people I know. He is not just a colleague, but a younger brother to me. And of course, he’s definitely a foodie just like me. He shared with me that in Italian culture, families eat together every day, no matter what. Food is what brings a family together - and it’s the same in Malaysia’s culture.

Once, he shared that he was sourcing ingredients such as olive oil, fish, and vegetables all the way from Italy. Initially, that baffled me. Why go through all that trouble when Malaysia has these ingredients? Then he told me, “Treat your ingredients with respect and love, don’t short-change them - that’s the secret to preserving authentic taste and flavours in Italian cuisine.”

Over the years, he has built an impressive reputation in Kuala Lumpur’s dining scene with authentic Italian fare through his outlets, Zenzerro Restaurant & Wine Bar and Luce Osteria Contemporanea, which was recently ranked as one of the Top 10 Pizzeria in Asia 2020

But that’s not all. In December 2020, we officially launched our flagship restaurant - Roberto’s 1020 Osteria (Roberto’s). It will be the first of many franchise outlets that will deliver original Italian hospitality served in a stylish urban setting, by combining traditional regional cuisines, authentic ingredients, and Italian flair to create memorable dining and entertainment experiences.

(Above Photo: The launch of our flagship restaurant - Roberto’s 1020 Osteria - on 16 December 2020)

Roberto and his head chef, Christian Grandi, worked meticulously on the menu which showcases a variety of classic Tuscan and Emilian dishes. There’s handmade pastas, cold cut platters, and of course, the famed pizzas. One of the most exciting sections of the restaurant is the Alfa Forni wood and gas fired pizza oven that was brought in specially from Italy. Whether it's for a nice date, business meeting, or to satisfy your Italian cravings, do head down to Roberto’s 1020 at Bangsar Shopping Centre.

Many asked why launch Roberto’s 1020 Osteria amidst Covid-19? Once this pandemic passes, people want to live again. They want to go out again to experience good food. Now is the right time to begin stimulating Malaysia’s economy, and the F&B industry is crucial in leading this. Of course, we will take all the necessary precautions and adhere to all government SOPs and guidelines to ensure our staff and guests are safe. 

We’ve also got an exciting space coming up in Singapore at the Marina Bay waterfront. The famous boathouse at The Fullerton Hotel in Singapore will be the next outlet to carry the Roberto’s Osterio brand.

This milestone shows that Malaysia is fully capable of being a developmental hub for the F&B industry, and that we can take our successful businesses far and wide. At Petra Cucina, we are actively pursuing expansion opportunities, and are planning to establish new brands and outlets in the region. But I can assure you that one thing will stay true - our cuisine will always honour its local heritage and traditions, and stay authentic to its theme.