Flavour of the Season

“Pune is growing,becoming more and more cosmopolitan and Italian cuisine is one that appeals to a lot of people from all over the country,and also expats. The Pune market is also more affordable,trying to set up an establishment is far more difficult in places like Mumbai. As far as the food itself is concerned,many of the flavours and spices are such that they can be easily accepted by the Indian palette; also the vegetarians have a lot of pick from in this cuisine,” says renowned chef,Karen Anand,who is also the owner of Little Italy. On being asked if she feels that there is pressure to Indianise the food in Italian restaurants,she admitted that there is definitely that pressure. But that there is also a way around it. “Instead of changing the dishes to suit the local taste buds,I feel it is easier and more authentic to serve those that you know will be well received. Like the pasta Arrabbiata is something that will obviously be better received than a preparation with goose,” she says.

But in this sea of choices,you are wondering how to spot authentic Italian fare,Chef Shailendra Singh of Bristro at Oakwood Premier,has some tips. He believes that the basics of the Italian cuisine comes from it’s flavours,and to create these flavours,there are three main ingredients. “The first is Olive Oil – when we talk about Italian cooking,olive oil is one of the most essential ingredients. It has great flavours,it’s healthy as it’s free from saturated fat. A generous drizzle of olive oil on Italian dishes takes them to a different level altogether. The second being herbs – fresh herbs like basil,oregano,parsley,rosemary,thyme,sage,and more infuse flavour in every dish. Every herb has a unique flavour. A lot of the times,they are used in combination with each other to lend a different taste. The third is garlic – just like us,even the Italians use garlic,” he says.

Italian food and cheese have become almost synonymous; some varieties might be available in India,while the rest are imported by these restaurants in order to give their food authentic feel. Tellagio,Dolcelatte,Bel Paese,and Provolone are not available in Pune,as some aren’t even produced in India. While a few others like Gorgonzola,Parmigiano Reggiano,Gouda and,of course,Mozzarella can be found here aplenty.