What’s for Dinner? Two Italian Meals this Week

Italian Week at La Cucina, Hyatt Regency, Kolkata

He calmly blow-torches the fine sugar on top of a pale yellow custard in a small glass balloon to a glorious caramel, firmly plants it in large, pretty bowl decorated with flowers, then looks straight into my eyes and says, “Eat this first. I will send more food.” Its an order I really cannot help but obey.

Chef Mauro Ferrari
Chef Mauro Ferrari

That’s Mauro Ferrari for you. Unapologetic and wonderfully Milanese, he cooks up a storm – plating his food in front of us, showing off the delicate red of the yellow bell pepper mousse that he tops with deep fried balls of cherry mozzarella. We watch as he puts the final touches by adding fresh flowers, that feature in his plating throughout the meal – the theme of freshness continuing through the courses.

We are seated to sample the Vineyard Dinner at La Cucina, Hyatt Regency Kolkata, where a five-course meal is paired with wines from Fratelli. We start off with the Parmesan Crème Brûlée- silky saltiness offset by the sharp bittersweet crust of sugar on top, paired with the Grand Cuvee Brut from Fratelli, hints of citrus cutting through the creamy Parmesan.

parmesan creme brulee
parmesan creme brulee

The appetizer comes in next – I am rather pleasantly surprised by the gribiche that coats the poached chicken – the unmistakable tang followed by mild sweetness. It comes with the Sauvignon Blanc that’s rather too grassy for my taste. I am more enchanted by the Sette that follows it – the tannins presented a wonderful foil for the tender shoots of asparagus and the scallop-laden pasta.

Vineyard Dinner Hyatt
Vineyard Dinner Hyatt

The Sangiovese from Fratelli isn’t something I can truly enjoy, although I appreciate the sweetness and the floral nose, with hints of currants and apple, and here it was served with the panko-crusted Lamb Villeroy, medium rare, the flesh pink, tender, and easily parted with my knife. I savour this dish slowly, enjoying the creamed spinach and the tender potato, a way to assuage my guilty pleasure in savouring such decadence.

Lamb Rack
Lamb Rack

The dessert is a simple mango and mint parfait – its playful and interesting, the cold parfait caged with dark chocolate discs, that I quietly polish off. We finish with rum soda that had some mint in it, replete and reluctant to move after such indulgence.

This menu is going to be served for dinner at La Cucina till the 22nd of July, and its priced at INR 3000/- plus tax, for a five course meal with matching wines. You can find out more here.

Italian Food Fiesta at Seasonal Tastes, The Westin Kolkata Rajarhat

Chef Roberto Zorzoli
Chef Roberto Zorzoli

Roberto Zorzoli knows what he’s doing with his risotto and gnocchi. He likes his gnocchi with a beef Bolognese sauce, hearty and a classic – which is how he prefers cooking. We eat our way through the Burrata and the Crunchy asparagus with Bechamel Sauce, but what really stands out for me here, is the third dish that hits the table – the Wild Mushroom Risotto.

Wild Mushroom Risotto
Wild Mushroom Risotto

Slices of Portobello, Shimeji is cooked together with Vialone rice in a thick, brown stock – the rice cooked slightly more than I would have wanted, but that results in a decided creaminess that’s further enhanced with the addition of roughly shredded Parmesan on top. I marvel at the simplicity and the meatiness of the mushroom, and then move to the buffet that is rather impressive.

Asparagus with Bechamel Sauce
Asparagus with Bechamel Sauce

The lamb roast is served with more shimeji mushrooms in a brown sauce – the chicken is cooked skin-on, and served with green beans, but nothing makes me happier than to see baked ravioli, rolls of puff pastry stuffed with spinach, or the panzarotti, deep fried goodness. I also spy minestrone on one side, but I discard it, my roving eyes spotting the cold cuts section, and as soon as I’m there, I realize I have hit gold.

Salume Galore
Salume Galore

Wafer thin slices of of mortadella and Napoli salami is laid out beside slices of Parma ham and Coppa or Capocollo, salty goodness begging for a bottle of good Lambrusco. I fill a plate with the bounty and return triumphant to my seat, D and A staring at my plate with unashamed worship and lust. We finish the meal with a rather divine Cannoli, the wafer-thin shell shattering into a million bits to release the bounty of cream within. Helpless, I close my eyes, the rather perfect end to a glorious evening of gluttony, only to be surprised with a shot of espresso to finish off.

Cannoli to the right
Cannoli to the right

The Italian menu is available till the 22nd at Seasonal Tastes, The Westin Rajarhat Kolkata, and its INR 1399/- plus tax.

Disclaimer: Poorna Banerjee was invited to the two events by the respective hotels. 

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27 Responses

  1. The various dishes you mentioned looks so delicious yet beautiful like the chef really took the time and care to craft them. I am glad you had fun eating them!

  2. I always enjoy watching the chef exclusively preparing for their guests. His way of cooking is an art.

  3. Great! My husband is Italian and we eat majorly Italian cuisines, I really love the simplicity of their meals and how easy you can digest them. Great to hear this from you.

  4. I decided to skip dinner because I wasn’t very much hungry. But seeing those pictures made me hungry. Not hungry for the food in my house but for ones in this post. I’m Nigerian and I’ve always loved Italian foods and wines even though I’ve never actually tasted one.
    These are so beautiful. And the styling/presentation too.

  5. All of that looks amazing! I love how chefs can make their food look like art! The wild mushroom risotto looks delicious!

  6. Oh gosh! That made me hungry. 😀 Thank goodness Ialready ate. Thanks for sharing.

  7. I’m drooling over here! These look so delicious, especially the lamb rack! And I loved your intro – how can anyone resist more good food? Haha.

  8. Kinda suffered a bit while reading your post because I just had a smoothie for dinner like… 3 hrs ago. It’s almost midnight where I am so this post made me hungry haha. Great photos!

  9. All of the food you featured looks mouth watering and amazing! My husband and I would love this.

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About Me

Hi, I’m Panushwari

Welcome to my blog which is mostly about Food, Travel, Lifestyle and Beauty. I generally review restaurants and hotels in Kolkata and my work as a Restaurant Consultant and Food Critic in Kolkata allows me to maintain this blog as a showcase of my work. I am also a published author and have been a panelist at many events.

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