For the love of Italian Cuisine in Delhi!

The food scenario in India is perpetually evolving and has exposed us to multifarious cultures and cuisines from all around the world. They say, with food, you get a whiff of another culture altogether.

For anyone who has a knack to explore and learn, food undeniably takes up the first place! Food helps us meet new people and binds in this ineffable bond, that can’t be compared to anything but raw and pureness. 

Delhi, one of the biggest sprawling cities in India also has this peculiar growing affinity towards food and trying out different taste palettes. Currently, the Italian food is massively emerging from all corners. Easy to make, Italian cuisine has been picked up rampantly by urban households.


According to a global survey, Italian cuisine’s dishes like pizza and pasta are globally famous and are steadily replacing the conventional Chinese taste! There is something really nice about the flat bread seasoned with tomato sauce and herbs and spices- Pizza. Can’t recall anyone who doesn’t love Pizza! From a kid to an adult, people from all age groups have an innate love for this delectable bread covered with cheese! There are many pizza restaurants in Noida and Delhi that serve up a selection of great pizzas with plentiful delicious toppings over it! 

Besides the pizza, the greasy and twisted strings of Pasta are another hot favorite of the lot from the Italian cuisine. The lip smacking taste of this carbs infused dish is absolutely a win! Made in 600 varieties, pasta has won us all over.

As for food joints, many Italian restaurants in Delhi like Pizza Express source their recipes from the city of Italy so that people like us can get a real taste of it all. Of course, one takes time to develop and get used to new cuisines, but Italian dishes like Pasta, Pizza, salads, risotto are those few dishes that are ardently just admired and devoured by the lot!

In no time, it is pretty evident that Italian cuisine has garnered praise in all our hearts for the right reasons. So visit a good eatery, dig into the food and savor the flavors from the diverse plate of Italian cuisine like no other.

Cuisines to explore in Delhi

I have been running around Delhi from past 20 years exploring and discovering just about everything. After having travelled around the world as well, I can easily say that Delhi has picked up the ‘western’ culture pretty well.

Talking about the food and cuisines that have emerged in the past two decades; that too world class quality is surprisingly over whelming! Delhi is also a haven for a foodie’s delight. From Italian to Mexican, one has convenient food options laid in front of them.  Here are my favourite picks of cuisines around the city that you could immerse yourself into too!

•Italian dishes: According to the world theories, Italian food is the most popular cuisine that one can find anywhere! From the traditional flat bread topped in Tomato sauce, veggies and copious cheese to varied shaped dough and cheesy pasta, I found all. Looking for the authentic taste? Straight away head to the best pizza restaurants like the PizzaExpress to find that one dish that will just leave you spell bound. The fare’s not too high, and easy on pocket, dig into the food available here.

•Chinese way: We know that the city is thriving with plethora of Chinese electronic items; but now even food items have made their way to our hearts and pockets. Craving for the dim sums or a good plate of noodles? This city has exciting places to visit for a royal Chinese experience.

•Street Food and regional delicacies: Well, street food isn’t a cuisine per se, but sure this capital city has become more exciting with myriad amazing regional cuisines availability – Bengali, Parsi, Chettinad, Bihari, Tibetan, Naga etc., along with the Gol gappas,  spicy chaat, different textures of parathas, juicy jalebis, Biryani etc. – all have set a long culinary trail to try. All the recipes are a hand me down from the gastronomic secrets from the ancient times.

Agreed, the street food scene has amplified great amounts, but for me, sitting in a fancy restaurant, taking a quick bite before a movie or to impress my date while I put some yummy in my tummy, Delhi has become that city now! With the best of restaurants in Delhi, I can simply learn around since there is still so much to discover and have a meal to my heart’s content. 

From Italy, to your plate

Internet has led to massive globalisation of the world in terms of culture, fashion, music, films and most importantly in food. Stuff you used to see and drool on while a character in your favourite foreign television show munched on it, can now be ordered at home after just a few clicks. You can be in China and enjoy Mexican wraps or be in Canada and enjoy middle-eastern hummus and pita bread. Similarly in India, there’s no shortage of international cuisines. Italian, Chinese, Mexican, Japanese, Spanish are just a few of the cultures infused in Indian foods.

However, if there is a cuisine that has established itself firmly in India, it’s Italian. Pizza love has been there all around the world for decades, but dishes like Lasagna, Bruschetta and more have now made way into the regular food habits of Indians. Cooking Italian is easy and fun; you need simple ingredients, every day apparatus, and not more than 50-60 minutes.

Italian food is also very healthy and provides complete nutrition along with the cheesy surprises. Also, meat goes amazing with Italian preparations and if you’re an avid seafood lover you can stuff your pasta with all the watery goodies. For pizzas, of course, the list is endless. You can grab a meaty pizza at pizza restaurants in Gurgaon or bake a simple, yet cheesy margherita at home.

The best part though is that after long associations with junk food or fast food, pizzas have now gone the healthy way. Toppings that include green salad, whole wheat crusts, tomatoes etc., add the health factor to pizzas. Pastas are  also ranked among the most popular dishes in India these days. Alfredo, Pesto, Marinara to couple with spaghetti, fusilli, penne, risotto etc.

You can visit the best restaurants in Delhi to try out some yummy bruschettas, filling paninis or old school meatballs. Italian cuisine will keep getting more popular and with newer innovations and tastes, even the taste buds will feel something exciting every time.

Trying out new cuisines is important for us; it is the best way to promote global unity. The best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, and with the right food, we can spread the message of love all across the world. Let’s bring about a foodie revolution. 

Some amazing Italian dishes that you must try in your kitchen

All thanks to pizzas and pasta, Italian cuisine has become extremely popular globally. The main reason behind its popularity is that a wide variety of dishes are available under this particular cuisine and each one of them has a unique and distinct flavour. The heavy and attractive influence of garlic, olive oil, and herbs make it irresistibly tempting. Most of the Italian dishes are tomato or white sauce based, usually garnished with different varieties of cheese. In some recipes, exquisite flavours of wine is also being used. In this blog, we will be telling you about few Italian dishes that you must try in your kitchen. Delve into the world of these amazing Italian recipes and have a happy meal!
        
Caprese Salad with Pesto Sauce
Juicy tomatoes and mozzarella cheese salad topped with freshly made pesto sauce. This salad is great start to your meal. The essence of Italian cooking lies in its simplicity and this dish is all about simplicity. Italian pizza restaurants have made this particular salad a part of the menu, due to its increasing popularity.

Bruchesta
This one is a classic Italian starter. Wholesome and tasty, it will make both your heart and stomach full. It is basically country bread sliced topped with different toppings, mostly tomato, garlic, basil, and mushrooms.

Panzenella 
Ideal for summers, Panzenella is a light salad, perfect to start your day. One peculiar thing about this salad is that you need not follow a particular recipe in order to make it but don’t forget to add tomatoes and bread to it. Have it with a chilled glass of Prosecco.    

Margherita Pizza
This particular dish has made Italian food popular around the world. We specifically suggest you to prepare it at home because nothing can be better than a piping hot pizza coming right from your oven. If you are interested in eating out then almost all pizza restaurants have Margherita Pizza as the main dish.

Bigoli in salsa 
This one is the signature dish of Venice. Resembling a lot like spaghetti, it tastes quite different. Specially prepared during the festive seasons, Bigoli in salsa contains a lot of vegetables and sausages. Simply, a perfect dish to give satisfaction to the taste buds.

5 European sausage recipes that you should be aware of

Sausages are Europe’s traditional legacy. From the mild British bangers to spicy Italian sausages, they are relished around the world. The best part about European sausages is that they can be eaten with other cuisines as well. You can do some experimentation and get an entirely new flavor. So learn about these amazing recipes in this blog. Try them in your kitchen, do some experimentation and have a quick look.

The Andouille sausage 
Andouille is a spicy French sausage having jambalaya and gumbo as its main ingredients (if you are a vegetarian, you can eliminate the meat part). If you wish to make it a little smoky in taste, you can heat it well for quite well sometimes.

Because Andouille is usually pre-cooked, it can be served cold as a snack or an appetizer. If you are lucky enough to get unsmoked Andouille sausage then you can cook it in the casing itself and slice it before serving.    

Italian Sausage 
Italian sausage mostly comes in two varieties—hot and sweet. Best Italian restaurants keep both in different varieties. Hot sauce usually consists of garlic, anise seeds, red pepper flakes and seasoned with salt. Sweet sausage does not have pepper flakes. Both of them are highly interchangeable.

The best part about Italian sausage is that it can be prepared in a variety of ways. You can grill or sauté it. Tomato sauce can also be added to the Italian sausage. You can either add the sliced one or the sautéed, depending upon your liking. Italian sausages are best to be served with pasta or a pizza.

The French onion soup
This particular recipe is highly nourishing and tasty. It is made from crusty vegan buttered bread and shredded grilled vegan cheese. This French sausage recipe is quite easy to prepare and can be used with a variety of European dishes.

The sweet caramel sauce      
This recipe is for those having a sweet tooth. This classic sausage recipe is simple to prepare and decadent. The texture of this sauce is smooth, creamy and it complements perfectly with plump raspberries. Moreover, you can also add it to your pizza if you want. Such sweet pizzas are already famous in entire Europe. Pizza restaurants in Noida like PizzaExpress are also keeping different varieties of sweet pizzas.

So what are you waiting for? Get into the kitchen and try these amazing pizza recipes Now!

Italian on your mind? Try these dishes

A lot of us believe that Pizza and Pasta are basically what Italian cuisine is all about, and while Pizza and Pasta’s have made Italian food everyone’s go to comfort food; Italian food is way more vast than mainstream food joints let on. Fast food joints only serve pizzas, pastas and the occasional garlic bread; but even those reek of substandard quality and half- hearted efforts. If your are looking to experience a gastronomic experience that takes you straight to Sicily, then you must try these dishes:

Bruschetta
This appetizer is a health freaks delight for two reasons. First, it is extremely delicious and second it goes easy on the calories. A bruschetta is a finer variant of garlic bread in layman analogy. Bread drizzled with olive oil and baked, then topped with fresh veggies, herbs and/or a dash of cheese. It indeed is a delightful way to begin your meal.

Antipasto
Another starter, the Antipasto is vibrant and filling enough to be your meal itself. Antipasto can be termed as a platter for easier understanding. With an array of meats, cheese and breads along with dips –this dish pairs unsurprisingly well with wine.

Risotto
I personally feel this is the most underrated dish on the Italian menu. Risotto is a rice dish made with wine, and slowly cooked to extract starch out of the rice until it becomes creamy. A dish that sounds simple, hardly any best restaurants in Mumbai or other parts of India get it right. If you want to try a perfect risotto, I recommend you visit places like Pizza Express. Risotto usually goes well with additions like Portobello or porcini mushrooms, for hey add a layer of flavor to the dish.

Everything pesto
If you have been an Italian cuisine amateur, then your understanding of sauces is probably categorized under ‘white sauce’ and ‘red sauce’. You must know that these sauces come in a lot of variant ingredients from arrabiata to Bolognese to béchamel, but fast food joints often omit the most fragrant of them all; Pesto. Made from fresh Genovese basil leaves, rich Parmesan cheese, garlic and pine nuts/almonds; pesto has a delicious flavor and can be used in anything Italian! Pizza, dip, a pasta sauce; pesto befriends all.

Tiramisu
Italy’s gift to the world, this layered dessert with mascarpone cheese, bread, coffee and a little bit of liquor takes me to haven! You must try Tiramisu at the end of your meal.

Bar Nights going slow? Here is what can be done!

If you are one of the fancy bars or bars and grills owners who have a shop set up in the city’s high profile high on chic areas, you know it quite well how some days, mostly weekdays, seem to drag themselves lethargically, purposelessly. Honestly, this is not a blog to say it won’t happen but a blog to say there are things to spice things up because honestly it is pretty unavoidable.

To keep the party going, you can throw promotional giveaway for grabs or offer meal deals to get every one out and going. While it is only bars and grills that go for such schemes, it is not unimaginable for a restaurant to opt for such deals too.

Here are the bars night ideas that can make a change:
What is your one major strength you feel you can bank upon? One thing bars are usually known for is the sports events they hosted, no conditions applied. Building upon this, you can host a number of events based on themes that appeal to your audience. People may get used to it and turn it into a weekly outing.

Few examples of these:
Trivia Night: Pizza and pitcher of beer can set the mood for any challenge. If you don’t serve food, try roping in some great Italian restaurant. In Mumbai, there is absolutely no dearth. Fans, especially college kids love some friendly competition amongst peers. You can either organize it yourself or hire someone to come up with questions and set up the show. This will bring people together but make sure to run a trial once and twice in order to find the perfect spot of sweet difficulty because while it is true people want to be challenged; no one enjoys a very hard game.

Board Game Night: game lovers would love this one too and who knows if the fan club for these may end up having sports enthusiasts too. While it would be niche, broadening the clientele won’t be such a thing. These are usually more hands off than the other ones. The best part about organizing such a night is that most people will bring their own boards and friends along. So, you can serve them and relax and they for their turn can stay focused on their competition.

The aim should be to include pizza and to pair it with the right beer. Best pizza in Mumbai can be had at Italian restaurants like Pizza Express. What about liquor? Well, that never is an issue!