la Piazza at the Hyatt Regency has an all-new menu to choose from a selection of wine we just can’t get enough of. BySharang Bhaskaran
For over two decades now, la Piazza at the Hyatt Regency, New Delhi, has delighted its guests with an offering of authentically flavoured Italian cuisine that’s as good as it gets. Synonymous to one of the first Italian trattoria style dining with a live kitchen concept in the city, the restaurant is also one of the first to be known to have imported Italian products, as well as introduced customers to little known Italian wines back then. With the introduction of this new menu, la Piazza also vouches to give Delhi one of the most extensive Italian menus since its launch 22 years ago. The restaurant has introduced a new menu specially curated by the Italian master chefs Ivan Chieregatti and Alessandro Sandrolini with some sumptuous new dishes and a selection of wines that warrants a visit.
The new menu is inspired by traditional Italian cuisine and seasonality of the ingredients; fresh ingredients are procured from the hotel’s own vegetable farm. It has been changed radically, from starters to desserts, being more creative in term of presentation and crockery selection, but keeping the authenticity of the recipes. The menu for the most part remains true to being authentic, beautiful and flavoursome. Also, options for vegetarians have been increased with some great new dishes made from a selection of the freshest ingredients.
The emphasis of the restaurant rests on the show kitchen, which features a wood-burning pizza oven that lends a typical flavour to the pizzas, as well as a counter displaying herbs and other food items from the land of this popular cuisine, plus the action created by the chefs as they cook pasta dishes and pizzas. The smell of the freshly prepared dough coupled with that of the butter and cheeses make you all the more aware of the whole process of cooking even in the dining space. The wine list at la Piazza comprises a significant line up of some unique and fine wines from around the world.
The wines have been chosen specifically because they are able to stand up to the distinct flavours of the cuisine. The ultimate celebration of this is in the nuances that each wine highlights — the subtle expression of the grape variety, the terroir, the vintage and the wine maker. The list entails a notable selection of old and new world wines that are true to their origin and reflect their roots. Fair mention of Italian and Spanish sparkling wines adds to the selectiveness of the list. While exclusive classic vintage selection further enriches the wine list with a catalogue of premium wines with names like Chateau lafite Rothschild 94 vintage on the top offers.
We had the opportunity to meet and interact with chef Alessandro Sandrolini, a gentleman whose enthusiasm and love for food is only surpassed by his expert culinary skills that make the dining experience at la Piazza an extraordinary one. Sandrolini has an extensive culinary background, having begun his career in Bologna, Italy’s culinary centre, in 1989. Since then he has worked with different Italian restaurants, sharpened his skills at many fine-dining havens before arriving in the land of spices. Commenting on the Italian food scene in India, chef Sandrolini remarked, “Italian food is restricted to pizzas and pastas in this part of the world. People should experiment more with l’antipasto, hot and cold appetisers, and the Il primos, the first courses.” Considering the Indian taste for food, and the influence of north Indian food in Delhi, he gets a requests time and again from diners to customise the dishes for them. But the chef maintains his artistic integrity nevertheless. He added, “I get some customers who demand for some extra cheese or spices, but I very politely tell them that the dish is presented in its intended flavour, staying true to the traditional recipe. It's the original ingredients and nothing else.” The chef took us over the menu he has planned and the choices of wine on offer. He himself selects the ingredients, paying close attention to each item to be used in the kitchen, right down to the choice of crockery.
The restaurant, authentic Italian joint uses pasta and cheese that is specially brought in from Italy. “Every ingredient in the dishes except the vegetables is from Italy and brought in specially. So we are able to achieve atleast 95 per cent of the authentic Italian taste,” Sandrolini said. Also his eye for detail is evident in the exquisite presentation of the dishes that are works of art in itself and shows just how meticulous he is with his food, and strives to make his dishes as visually alluring as they are delicious. The first course is the misticanza, a salad with assorted lettuce, cherry tomatoes with a sprinkling of goat cheese, followed by a barley salad comprising of pearl barley, lentil fresh basil and spicy tomato dressing that gives you glimpse into the a variety of flavours and ingredients yet to come.
Italian cuisine, being dynamic and highly improvised is a culmination of the recipes and cooking styles of different regions of the country and also varies from city to city. Is he influenced by any particular style or use of ingredients in his cookingIJ “Since I’m from northern Italy, I cook in that style more, but I like to use a lot of Sicilian ingredients as well.”
Soon the next course arrives that includes a ricotta tortellini in potato parmesan cream sauce and basil filled chicken breast with a side of arugula mashed potato in thyme sauce. But the piece de resistance of the entire menu is the prawn risotto with lemon and rosemary that brings the main course to an end.
Dessert is a chocolate fondant and banana ice cream and bonet with bourbon vanilla dip and crushed amaretti that brings the Italian culinary trip to a fitting end.
Whether you are in search of a romantic Italian evening, a night out with the family, or a place to hold a delicious gathering with friends, la Piazza will meet and surpass all of your expectations. It’s the perfect setting to unwind, to have a light meal from the bar menu or to simply have a cocktail and great conversation in an environment where no one is a stranger.