Chef Roberto Boggio Weaves Italian Magic at Prego

During the last few weeks, there were quite a few Italian food promotions in Hyderabad. The launch of the Italian Sunday brunch at Tre Forni was followed by the Pasta Festival at the Park, and then Tuscany showcased their new menu. It is now the turn of Hyderabad hosting Chef Roberto Boggio, the Italian culinary ambassador from Le Meridian Pune. Chef Boggio is curating a festival of authentic Italian cuisine at Prego, the Italian restaurant at The Westin Hyderabad. As the poster for the promotion says, it is “Italian, by an Italian, at the Italian”.

Tuscany at The Trident Unveils a New Menu

Tuscany, the Italian restaurant at The Trident at Hyderabad is known among aficionados of Italian food for its exclusive fare. Tastefully designed as a Tuscan villa with Terracotta flooring, the restaurant boasts of a very loyal clientele. Another reason that makes Tuscany special is the myriad choice of dishes available in its menu, representing all the regions of Italy. For the ensuing winter months, the management has recently redesigned this menu to provide new choices to their customers. One of the highlights of the new menu is that it is also rich in vegetarian items, a few I noticed on it being Stewed Fig and Cheese Bruschetta, Roast Pumpkin Soup and Gorgonzola Polenta.

Beetroot Risotto

The New Hyderabadi Irani Café menu at SodaBottleOpenerWala

The Bombay Irani Café offerings from SodaBottleOpenerWala have been very well appreciated all over India. Berry Pulao, Murgh Farcha, Bhendi Bazar Ke Seekh Kabab and Egg Kejriwal are some of the dishes which have been favourites even in Hyderabad. However, Hyderabad has its own Irani Café culture serving a different kind of cuisine. For generations Hyderabadis have been patronizing these cafes, and their Osmania biscuits, Dilpasand and Lukmis are much in demand here along with the typical Irani chai. Dishes like biryani, Chicken 65, Talawa Gosht are much sought after by food lovers from all over India and the world. SodaBottleOpenerWala in Hyderabad has now extended the Irani Café menu to embrace the Hyderabadi version into it. This will be the first outlet of the restaurant to serve both versions of Irani cafe cuisine. I had the opportunity to sample the new items at the launch of this new menu. (Also Read: The New Menu at SodaBottleOpenerWala)

Festival Feed: Handcrafted Pastas at The Park, Hyderabad

Pasta along with pizza are definitely the most popular Italian dishes in India. They are ubiquitous in restaurants, QSRs and even food trucks in all corners of a city. So, when a popular hotel in the city holds a pasta festival, one feels a bit curious.

Parma Ham Roll with Emmenthal

Festival Feed: The Friday Evening Seafood Festival at Novotel Airport

“Thank God it is Friday” is a common phrase heard from many of the busy corporate executives. After a hectic work week, there is an often felt urge to start the weekend with a bang. This has led to many fine dine restaurants organizing special promotions on Friday evenings offering niche food and drinks to suit the taste buds of their clients.

Tandoori Pomfret

Festival Feed: Coastal Flavours from Thalassery at ITC Kakatiya

During the last few years food lovers of metro cities have become aware of the cuisine of Moplah or Mapillah community from the Malabar region of Kerala. The mildly spiced recipes have quite a bit of influence of the food of Arabic traders who used to visit Kerala for spice trade in the eighteenth century. Last year, The Park Hyderabad had organized a festival curated by Chef Abida Rasheed which showcased the delicacies from the Calicut region. Now, ITC Kakatiya is hosting a promotion of Malabar food at Deccan Pavilion, their all-day dining restaurant.

The Highlands Whisky Club: All About Whisky, Cigar and Great Food

Let alone Hyderabad, the concept of a whisky club is not very popular in India, However, the scenario in the twin city is slowly changing. In the midst of current rage about micro-breweries and gastro pubs, the city’s first whisky club The Highlands provides an exclusive experience to the connoisseurs of whisky with handpicked single malts, cigars and great food.

Festival Feed: NH 44 Highway Food Promotion at Kanak, Trident

Roadside restaurants, dhabas and food joints on the National Highways of India, catering to the truck drivers and motorists alike, are known for some of the tastiest food. Recently there has been a few food festivals concentrating on the diversity of dishes along the highways traversing from one state to another. A few months back Taj Deccan had showcased food from states around National Highway (NH) 1, and now it is the turn of Kanak, the Indian specialty restaurant of The Trident Hyderabad to bring to us a festival celebrating the food around National Highway 44.