The best of Italy

Light meals

Most of the pizzas we relish tend to have a fat (almost obese) crust, and are strewn with the most unlikely of vegetable combinations. But a visit to ‘Alba’, the Italian restaurant in JW Marriott, is a wake-up call to all those who have a long-standing relationship with the Italian cuisine.

With handcrafted pastas, wood fired pizzas and an array of fresh salads and soups, the new menu at the restaurant is something to behold. Moulded by chef Antonello Cancedda, the Chef de Cuisine at ‘Alba’, the menu offers a wider variety of vegetarian dishes to its diners.

Beginning with the antipasti, dishes like ‘Insalata di asparagi bocconcini alle olive’ are worth a try. A mixture of mixed greens, olives, tomatoes, bocconcini, asparagus and extra virgin croutons, the salad is light to taste and is the perfect start to a well-proportioned meal. The ‘Coscette di pollo alla aceto balsamico’ has tender grilled chicken, with the right amount of spices and flavours, which is enhanced by a dash of lemon, rosemary, balsamic and a side helping of caponata.

For zuppa, there is ‘Minstrone alla contadina’, a tomato and basil soup with locally sourced vegetables. But its non-vegetarian counterpart, ‘Zuppa di cipolle finocchietto e pollo’, is a more becoming option, with fin chicken pieces, baked onions and fennel. It closely resembles a homemade potato soup that everyone loves so much.

This is one of the few places where one can try authentic Italian flavours and ingredients. From truffles, which are a speciality of the town of Alba, to artichokes, olives and fennel, the ingredients are fresh and even the bare minimum can enhance a dish. For the main course, there is ‘Triangoli di ricotta’, which is a spinach and ricotta ravioli with parmesan truffle cream sauce. Few bites of this and you are done for the day – the overflow of warm mouth-melting cheese is something to behold. A lighter dish is the ‘Cotoletta di pollo alla parmigiana’ – the spaghetti pomodoro is to die for as it is accompanied by chicken parmigiana and mozzarella. The chicken needs a special mention; it blends with the parmesan in a delicate manner, oozing unusual flavours.

The tiramisu is the best way to finish the meal, which doesn’t leave one feeling too full. The lady fingers are the right sort of crunchy. The bonet, which is chocolate pudding with amaretti, pales in comparison.

The new menu is available from 12 pm to 3 pm and 7.30 pm to 11 pm. ‘Alba’ is located in JW Marriott, Vittal Mallya Road; for more details, call 67189999.