BENGALURU : There’s so much more to Italian food than the pastas, pizzas and lasagne, that we’re accustomed to seeing on menus. And taking us on a food journey through Italy, specifically Emilia Romagna, which is considered the heart of Italian cuisine, is JW Marriot’s Alba. With a brunch that comprises a wide range of dishes, the simple-yet-bold flavours from the region shine through.
We sampled some dishes from the menu, starting with an amuse bouche that the chef called ‘Textures’, and he was right. Prettily plated, we were served dehydrated okra, crispy beet, lamb croquette, sundried tomatoes and – the most interesting – truffle caviar. The Light Hors D’oeuvre was a great start to the meal, and had us eagerly waiting for what would come next. Another well-plated dish of creamy buratta cheese with cranberry, san marzano tomatoes and drizzled with cold-pressed olive oil was served to us. While not traditionally served together, we loved the buratta and sweet cranberry combination.
Next came the warm poached egg with asparagus – the egg was perfectly cooked and the generous parmesan shavings and mild truffle flavours had us wiping our plates clean with fresh focaccia slices. The gnoccho fritto came next – a dish unique to this region – which was served on a bed of rich tomato sauce. The duo of lamb was good too, with the artichokes cutting the rich flavours of the meat, and that just complemented the lamb well.
However, the braised loin, we found to be slightly overcooked. Full from our mains, but still ready for dessert, we first sunk our teeth into the basil panna cotta, which is ideal for anyone looking for a light, summer-y ending to their meal.
The tiramisu was next, and was rich on coffee flavours, but we wished the dessert was a little more firm and that the mascarpone cheese was used more generously. Paired with wine, the meal had us feeling satisfied, and not too heavy on the stomach. A special shout out to the dip that was served with the focaccia – a Sicilian pesto rosso with tomatoes, almonds, basil, lots of garlic and capers – which was absolutely delicious. So much so that we packed a little box of it to take home too.
Reserve a table at Alba for brunch on July 22.Approx. Cost for two: `2,249 (non-alcoholic) and `3,399 (alcoholic).