la Vie is a place for those who understand authentic Italian cuisine, says Ananaya Banerjee
There is music in the air and you can smell the tangy sauces being tossed in pans with vegetables and cheese and a waft of aroma is coming from the wood fired ovens cooking pizzas. la Vie, essentially an Italian restaurant is catering to the needs of the food aficionados who stop by Khan Market.
The ambience is soothing, in shades of white and purple. Under the guidance of chef Naresh Verma, the open kitchen functions with an unparalleled smoothness, which can be traced back to his previous experience of over two decades in Italy where he picked up the art and honed his skills. An Indian born, Naresh moved back to his homeland on the behest of entrepreneur Anirudh, to head the kitchen of his maiden venture la Vie.
The lavish spread that awaits you begins with soups and salads but once you take a whiff of the cheese, trust me, no morsel of salad will go down your throat with ease, you will keep thinking of the flavours you will be exploring ahead. Garlic bread is for starters, made like you’ve never had before and served with two kinds of oils to be sprinkled liberally over the freshly baked surface. It has just the right amount of cheese and garlic to make you keep eating slice after slice. A drink to follow with the infusion of flavours goes without saying. Served in slender glasses, is the special offering called la Vie Da, in the beverage section. It’s an interesting mocktail concocted with jalapeños, oregano and lime giving a distinctly spicy flavour. Initially, the addition of oregano is received with a certain kind of skepticism but once you’ve actually had it you will know it’s not the one to be missed.
The main course list is extensive. Amidst the pastas presented, one that stands out is the green basil pesto ravioli with spinach. You will dig into this with fervour even if you aren’t a fan of veggies. Served with buttered bread on the side and cooked in the succulent pesto basil sauce with heavy hints of cheese, this ravioli has spinach placed delicately between two pasta sheets to look like a dome.
After devouring several tiny pasta domes, one is tempted to try the wood fired pizza that has been talked of very highly by every chef who has tried his hand at Italian cuisine. The pizza Mexicano is the chef’s choice but I can vouch for pizza Italiano as well. Topped with thin slices of chicken ham, red and yellow bell peppers, finely chopped onion, baby corn and cherry tomatoes, tremendous flavour is infused into them with mozzarella cheese. The crust is thin and light and the aroma is a trademark of Italy’s street cafés.
This meal will leave you feeling full with only a desire for a dessert. lemon tarts, chocolates tarts and a special addition of tiramisu delights are at your beck and call. You can taste one, two or all of these sweet offerings. In all, this place will definitely make you happy if you are a foodie with a penchant for authenticity and want to be served with only the best.