I am a creature of habit. I have a few favourite spots that I haunt for my food forays. And I tend to avoid some areas – even if they are full of food outlets. Hauz Khas village is one example. I used to go there during those days when it was just coming up, and Delhi was still gingerly experimenting with international and regional cuisine. But over the years, parking became such a problem there that I stopped visiting this bustling designer market place.
But when my friend Ritu Dalmiya summons, I can't say no. For one, Ritu is not the kind of a person who takes a no for an answer. And second, her food is anyway to die for. I have been a great admirer of her culinary skills for years – ever since I dined at her restaurant Diva with a friend many years ago. Even earlier, I had gone to her first restaurant called Mezze luna, and remember it as an experience that I greatly enjoyed.
But Mezze luna, as many believed, came before its time. The restaurant folded up. Meanwhile, Ritu has gone from strength to strength. Diva is a favourite of most foodies, as is her restaurant in Khan Market, Latitude. Diva Café is quite a hit too. And I still admire the way she wields her ‘karchi'.
So I went to her restaurant in Hauz Khas Village the other evening – and I was surprised to find that Hauz Khas Village had improved. It's cleaner than before, and there is ample parking space outside on the main road.
Compact place
The name of her new restaurant is Diva Piccola. Piccola, as those of us who've learnt our Italian watching Antonioni and Fellini know, means small. It is a compact place, with 28 covers. The furniture is old and comfortable. It's the kind of a place where you can mull over your mozzarella and tomato salad and grilled fillet of sole and then finish it with some delicious dessert.
I'll tell you what Ritu had organised for me. I ate ravioli filled with minced meat and tossed in red wine (Rs.430), piccante – a pizza with spicy salami and crumbled sausages (Rs.480), and spaghetti with prawns, basil, white wine and fresh tomato bits (Rs.480). Each dish was delicious. I think that's partly because the ingredients that Ritu uses are fresh and therefore incredibly tasty. The pizza, for instance, was juicy and crisp – the salami was spicy while the sausage added to the flavours. The ravioli was smooth and its minced meat stuffing was superb. She had sprinkled some parmesan cheese over the ravioli, which, of course, added to the taste. I enjoyed the pasta too – the prawns were sweet and tender, and the sauce was most aromatic.
I ended the meal with a delightful dessert called Torta della Nonna – which was a soft, creamy and nutty cake (Rs.270). And then I went home, happily singing O Sole Mio. I have changed my mind about Hauz Khas Village. Watch this space for more!
