Nestled in a calm unassuming corner of St Thomas Town at the near dead end of a concrete walkway lies an obscure sign with an arrow pointing left that reads ‘Way to Italian Restaurant’. Walk up the stone-riddled path and a two-storied house with a simple gate and mesh door greets you. Welcome to Flavours of Italy.
Walking in, you will receive a genuine toothy smile from one of three young lads hailing from Orissa who take care of the joint. With light music playing in the background, the quaint place can just accommodate not more than 20 people. But it’s only when the food arrives and the feasting begins that you will realise the amazing magic that stems out from this obscure home at the dead end of Hutchins Main Road.
With a cuisine that reflects the strength of Italy’s culture-rich gourmet, the tiny suburban joint offers so much more than meets the eye the first time. With a vibrant atmosphere filled with Italian paintings and traditional garlic and chilli bundles hanging from the tapestry, the joint seems to transport you to another time and place.
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Owner and chef Federico Aldrighetti says he never planned to make the joint a big place. Hailing from the historic city of Verona in Northern Italy, the 42-year old points out that the joint began as a part-time venture along with the company he works for - Carla Travel-Italy. “I plan to open small takeaway joints in a couple of places soon. But never really a large setup because this is how Italy’s cuisine should be experienced – small, yet beautiful.” Opened in February this year, he says they try their best to reflect the real flavours of Italy in the food. Trained by the chef himself, the three boys dish out the wide repertoire of food in true Italian style.
A look at the menu and you will be in awe of the variety of food this tiny joint can serve. As all Italian meals, always begin with starters. The frittelle di ceci al rosmarino (a combination of chickpeas fritter and Rosemary), served in triangular slices and sauce, gives you the perfect kick-start into the meal with its flavour-rich taste. You can then choose from a range of lasagne, tortellini and ravioli to dive into the Italian experience.
Taking special care for veggies, Federico recommends the gnocchi al pesto (potato dumplings) and the penne panna e funghi (mushroom and penne pasta) along with a variety of eggless lasagna vegetariana and ravioli.
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Meat lovers can pick from the brasato al vino rosso (marinated beef), pollo al forno al rosmarino con patate (chicken) or a favourite here – the lasagne. Served for takeaways in a special microwave box, the chicken and beef lasagne melts in the mouth with a lingering taste that makes you reach for more servings. The chicken ravioli is another beautiful dish that is cooked with special attention to detail and is served like a work of art making it all the more desirable to consume.
No Italian meal is complete without pizza. The restaurant serves pizza salsicce (chicken sausages) and the most famous and simple pizza margherita (veg) with mozzarella cheese.
The highlight of the meal will always be the dessert. Flavoured with Mascarpone cheese cream all the way from Italy, the Tiramisu is by far one of the best dishes Italy has ever given birth to and Federico insists it’s as common in Italy as payasam is in India. Biscuits dipped in Italian coffee layered in cheese and topped with cocoa, the Tiramisu melts in your mouth with ease and makes you want more with each spoon.
Rich black coffee specially made and served in a moca machine helps drink down the delicious meal which is topped with chocolates that Federico explains is what everyone has in Italy after a meal.
Flavours of Italy is located at the end of Hutchins Main Road after the Mini Bazaar. Call 9742383992 or visit www.flavoursofitaly.in for more details.