At ESCA, we believe in the power of food to tell stories — of origin, influence, and identity. On May 22, that philosophy takes centre stage in Perth as Chef Erik Ortolani of our hatted Surry Hills restaurant Itō joins forces with the team from QT Perth’s Santini Bar & Grill for Itō x Santini: A Menu Without Borders. Presented by Good Food Events, this one-night-only dinner brings together two creative culinary voices in a bold expression of Japanese-Italian cooking that honours tradition while embracing the unexpected.

For Chef Erik, the collaboration marks both a milestone and a return to the kind of freedom that first drew him to Australia. From the fine-dining kitchens of Milan to his pivotal time at Nobu and later Cho Cho San, his cooking has evolved into a refined yet playful blend of Japanese technique and Italian soul — the kind of quiet innovation that Terry Durack described as “organic and natural” in his Good Food review of Itō.

As Erik prepares to cook alongside Santini’s Nic Wood and Jake Lynch for this national spotlight event, we’re proud to support a chef whose thoughtful creativity continues to push boundaries.

Tickets are $159 per person and available now. Thursday, May 22 at Santini Bar & Grill, QT Perth.

Read the full Good Food feature here.