That’s the thing with desires, they always come sneaking back to make us aspire for more. Chef Amit Kumar of the recently launched restaurant, Bella Cucina, at Le Meridien Gurgaon, is a happy victim of these feelings. His ambitiousness gives him purpose, and that purpose is to make people happy. He does that through food.
It’s been more than a month since the restaurant opened.
The day it launched, everybody went ballistic talking and writing about it. Now that the commotion seems to be settling down, we spend a few quiet moments with him, trying to understand what it’s been like. “I feel more settled now. It’s given me time to think and ascertain how we’ve fared,” says Kumar. “What I’ve observed so far is that preferences are so varied that little customisations have become our forte. We’ve been taking notes of the requests and are working towards filling the gap spontaneously,” he says.
The upscale interiors of Bella Cucina, especially the beautiful kitchen, adds refinement to the ethos of the property. The wine cellar is classic, the upholstery is plush and the fireplace is comforting. This is coupled by a sumptuous view of the pool outside.
On your table, equally enticing visuals appear. Like traditionally, many Italian dishes are characterised by having four to eight ingredients, at Bella Cucina, that philosophy has been lived up to. “Following that decree we’ve prepared dishes such as Wild Mushroom Arancini, Parmesan Crusted Scallops, Chicken Parmigiana and Ricotta Gnocchi. Less is more,” he shares. And to fullfill the instagrammer in you, he’s also created some beautiful dishes that taste as good.
These include Compressed Beetroot Salad with Goat Cheese Snow, Bella Cucina Caprese Salad with Mozzarella Cream, Tomato Foam and Balsanjv Caviar, Atlantic Salmon, Cannelloni with Roasted Vegetables and Ricotta and Dropped Lemon Tart. “These are a great digital showcase. If a person falls in love with them at first sight, they’ll fall for them through taste too,” says Kumar. That’s the magic he’s
trying to create.