Tony Delachi, Owner of Heritage Pizza
At the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s Italian dining scene, Heritage Pizza stands out as a true testament to passion and authenticity.
In this interview, we speak with Mr Tony Delachi, the founder, whose deep love for pizza—and dissatisfaction with what was available locally—sparked the creation of a restaurant that has since become a reference point for Italian cuisine in the city.
From obsessively fine-tuning dough recipes to carefully sourcing ingredients from Italy, he shares the uncompromising standards and behind-the-scenes secrets that ensure every bite reflects the true spirit of Italian culinary tradition.
Tony Delachi, Owner, Heritage Pizza
1. Heritage Pizza has become a reference point for Italian cuisine in Kuala Lumpur. What was the initial inspiration behind opening the restaurant, and how did your vision of Italian authenticity come to life?
It was a simple big desire more than an inspiration. As most italians, I love pizza and I can’t do whithout at least one per week. I was not happy with what I could find in the city, not so much for the lack of decent pizza around , but because I struggled to digest after eating them. As I consequence I told to myself : “why don’t I make my own pizza place ?
Capocollo Pizza. Capocollo—a dry-cured whole muscle salume celebrated across many regions of Italy—this pizza delivers bold, authentic flavour.
2. Your success has helped strengthen the reputation of Italian pizza in Malaysia. What strategies and secrets have you adopted to ensure such high and consistent quality over time?
The “strategy” is quite a simple one. It is an obsession for quality. We check and check every single ingredient, every day, non stop. We do that for our pizza and for every other item in our menu. We also make sure that all procedures and receipes are followed as per our “manual”. We actually run a “quality book” that is constantly monitored and updated.
We run weekly sessions in which we also analyse what can be improved. Sometimes our team tells me I am a maniac. We stretch it to the point of measuring the flour hydration each time we make a batch of new dough and if it turns out to be too high we dry the flour with an air blower and we filter it !
We also make micro adjustment in the dough hydration depending on the weather humidity. I doubt other places reach this level of care and attention to details.
The team at Heritage Pizza
3. Your menu is rich with authentic Italian flavors. What role do Italian ingredients play in your dishes, and how do you select them to maintain authenticity?
It is a fundamental role. A part from some fresh vegetables and seafood that we source locally, every single ingredient is imported from Italy and we only source premium products. We are also “Italian obsessed”.
In Heritage Pizza you will only find Italian “things” . All beverages , including beers wines and spirits, are also Italian. I like to say that we are 1,000 sqf territory of Italy within Malaysia ! a litte italian “enclave”.
Parma with Buffalo Burrata pizza
Heritage Pizza’s Logo
Focaccia with Mortadella
4. Looking to the future, what are your goals for Heritage Pizza, and how do you envision further solidifying your role as ambassadors of Italian culinary tradition?
We just wish to continue to please our customers and win many new ones. Maintaining our level of quality, day after day, is not as easy as someone may think. Being able to keep such a consistency is already a very strong goal!
However, we are also investing in a new project called Pizza Day!
Piatto Heritage for 2. A selection of premium Italian charcuterie & cheese served with pizza bread sticks.
5. Heritage Pizza has been awarded the prestigious “Ospitalità Italiana” certification, a mark of true Italian quality and authenticity. What does this recognition mean to you, and how does it reflect your commitment to upholding the standards of Italian hospitality and cuisine?
This award makes us obviously very proud and happy. Even more so as it comes from the Italian Chambers of Commerce abroad (Camere di Commercio Italiane all’Estero – CCIE), in collaboration with Unioncamere (the Italian Union of Chambers of Commerce) and ISNART (Istituto Nazionale Ricerche Turistiche – National Institute of Tourism Research).
Being the only pizza restaurant in Malaysia to receive such a certification is a very important recognition. It makes us feel like we got a “stamp of approval” by my beloved country for offering an authentic Italian experience to our guests. It’s a lot!
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Heritage Pizza
Address: 26-G, Jalan Doraisamy, Chow Kit, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Hours:
Monday – Thursday:
6–10 pm
Friday – Sunday:
12:15pm –3 pm
6–10 pm
Contact: 03-2602 1919
