Italiano Royale. Review on Fiorella, Andheri, Mumbai

Culture Breeds cuisine , thus we have varying cultures with varying Cuisines throughout the world and within a particular Country. Global Food was not very much in vogue around 30 years ago , considering the age of evolution of man this is quite a recent development , at least in India. I remember as a child eating only Rotis , paranthas, Subzis , Rice Dosas , until the Chinese invaded India … through its cuisine. The Fried Rice and Noodles with its Exotic Taste caught on , in all probability the next was Italian , but only through its Pizzas which were influenced heavily by NRI’s , but these were happily massacred by Indian restaurants smothering it with Tomato Ketchup and garam masala. For the past 10 years or so we have seen Mexican , Traditional Italian, Chinese

( Regional Cuisines), Thai Food, French ( it didn’t last long) , Indonesian , Lebanese etc.

The Restaurants which served these exotic world cuisines were a select few Five Star Restaurants. The taste caught on and now Thai , Chinese, Mexican and Italian

( Indianised ) are available in various Restaurants in major cities and Metros.

Italian Food !!! , ask an Indian Layman and he will reply , with eyes as big as saucers “ Pijjas , Macroni and whats that Noodle shaped haan …. Spagetti ”. These have become household names. I have personally made Macroni upma with tadka et al !!! .

But in reality Italian Food is different , they have different varieties of Pastas and a sticky type of Rice as the main ingredients , but what stands out is the different Fresh breads and generous helping of Cheese especially Mozzarella. The flavors used to enhance the dish are subtle like Oregano, Basil Rosemary and the like. Usage of vegetables like Asparagus and Artichokes are abundant. Their sauces are either tomato or cheese and milk based white sauce or meat based sauce.

With that Introduction we step out of the International Airport and close by is the famous Five Star Hotel “ The Leela ” . Sprawling and a treat to see like any other famous Hotel the interiors dazzle !!!. Catch the lift to the top floor and moving ahead we enter the Italian Restaurant Fiorella The look is absolutely European , impeccable with neatly arranged seats. The place has been done up to look Italian but its dosent give that extremely Italian ambience. The manager comes and welcomes you as in any other Five star restaurant , for them service is the key apart from the Bill you pay !!!.

The Menu is only Italian , the stark absence of Pizzas is noticeable. All the Sub headings and Dishes are in Italian with Indian subtitles ( sound like a foreign movie !!!) , so here we go –

Antipasti ( Appetizers )

Secondi Piatti ( Main Course)

I wouldn’t be able to take you through all the dishes though I shall mention a few of them. At first let me give you a pleasant surprise, If you go in a Group , the Breads ( Bran Bread, Onion Bread , Garlic Bread and the like) are on the house and butter too keeps flowing like water.

I cannot recollect the Starters but it was brilliant with a thick creamy sauce in tart cups with sauted artichokes. This was an impressive start , it had a dreamy taste around it .Next came the Minestrone alla Genovese which is Vegetable Soup to be precise and didn’t go down with my group , their toungues couldn’t adapt to the taste a very bland soup with veggies in stock with little seasoning , the Cacciucco which is Tuscany Seafood Chowder also met with similar success. Zuppa Di Pomodoro e Mascarpone which is a creamy tomato soup would have more or less appealed to the Indian taste.

The salad Insalata di Stagione is good … and there are few other vegetarian and meat based salads. Next we come to the Pastas which are generally had with Garlic or other Bread. The medium of cooking Italian food is Olive oil which is not only healthy but has that exotic undertone to it. We have different Pastas like Bowtie Pastas with Asparagus, Artichokes and Portobello in Fartalle Alla Leela . We have a choice of pasta in different sauces and combinations like tomato based or white sauce for Veggies or Ragu Meat sauce, chicken based or seafood based sauce for the meat Lovers. We have pastas like Penne , Fettuccine , Gnocchi and of course Spaghetti along with Risotto which is a rice dish.

The main course is thoroughly Non vegetarian with Chicken , Seafood and Lamb is delectable sauces. Next we come to the best part the Desserts, the King of Desserts in Fiorella is Tiramisu , it blows your mind, incredibly tasty and sinfully filled with cream cheese chocolate and the like, they also have a dessert tray which have a choice of Pastries to Choose from and so we end the adventure at Fiorella.

The taste is undoubtedly authentic Italian and one must have or develop a taste for it , the Indian tongue is adapted to spice and blandness generally turn us off. This place is a great place for Italian food ,and is patronized by people of other nationalities than Indians as it brings them closer to home. The prices are awfully sinfully expensive a treat for two should cost one Rs 2500 to Rs 3000 and this is on a slightly lower side.

So Italiano lovers go on and have a go at this but make sure you check your purse and your bank account before going in here. Though the food may not appeal to Indians I am giving 5 stars for its ambience and for keeping the cuisine traditionally Italian !!!