By Marie-Antoinette Issa.
#EuroSummer may no longer be flooding our Instagram feeds, but the scent of fresh citrus in the air, a Spritz in hand and a sunlit stroll through a Sicily-esque piazza lingers at Otto Ristorante, which is now serving up its new Boozy Dolci dessert series across Sydney and Brisbane this Spring and Summer.
Pull out your white linen pants and Cavalli-print kaftans whether you’re wistfully reminiscing about your escape to the La Bella Isola or simply seeking a more attainable alternative. To celebrate 25 years of Italian culinary excellence, Otto has taken the humble Sicilian cannoli and given it a spirited, playful twist - one that blends iconic Italian cocktails with the kind of pastry craftsmanship that channels la dolce vita.
Until Saturday, February 28, diners can experience these limited-edition treats table-side from an elegant trolley. Available a la carte at $14 each, Boozy Dolci transforms dessert into an event, making it the perfect finale to a harbourside dinner in Sydney or a riverside evening in Brisbane.
The magic lies in Otto’s playful reinvention of the cannoli. Sydney Head Chef Richard Ptacnik and Brisbane Head Chef Will Cowper have crafted four distinctive flavours inspired by Italy’s most beloved liqueurs and cocktails, each one a little story of sun, flavour and mischief. These include:
Nocello - Hazelnut pastry cream paired with savoiardi soaked in Nocello, nutty and comforting like a slow afternoon in a Tuscan villa.
Aperol - Aperol-infused ricotta cream with candied orange peel, bright and bittersweet like the first sip of a sunset Spritz on a Venetian terrace.
Espresso Martini - Coffee and Kahlua pastry cream, rich and bold as an after-dinner espresso in a candlelit cafe on the Amalfi coast.
Limoncello - Ricotta cream with limoncello jelly and lemon zest, zesty and sun-kissed like a stroll along a cliffside lemon grove in Capri.
Created to pair perfectly with Otto’s cocktail and digestif list and served via a table-side trolley that adds just a touch of theatre, these desserts invite diners to choose their indulgence while soaking in the restaurant’s water views, the gentle hum of conversation and the clink of glasses.
"With Boozy Dolci, we’ve taken a classic and given it a spirited personality - rich, indulgent and unmistakably Otto. It is dessert with a little Italian mischief,” says Richard.
"We wanted each cannoli to tell a story of flavour and sophistication. Boozy Dolci celebrates Italy’s iconic cocktails in a dessert that’s refined, playful and utterly irresistible,” adds Will.
To mark the occasion, Otto is also offering 25% off a la carte dining until October 31. Chef Richard has also curated a refreshed six-course degustation, showcasing Otto’s greatest hits alongside the playful Boozy Dolci series, letting guests savour the restaurant’s rich culinary legacy.
