BENGALURU:Breads are an integral part of any Italian meal. The Chef Armando Di Filippo says that if there are no breads, there’s no tables in Italy.
To serve a global favourite – pizza – Movenpick has crafted ‘Italy on your Platter’. There are Italian herbs and flavours, luscious cheese and array of toppings to spoil your choice.
The Italian chef says that the charm of a pizza doesn’t only lie in the myriad toppings but starts with the dough and the base.
Chef Aramando says, “Pizza is also considered a bread in Italy. Several decades ago, with no bakeries, families in Italy used to bake breads at home. Bread is a must on the menu.”
The dining begins with a welcome watermelon drink. The starters consist of Bread Sticks, Baked Zucchini, Aranchini and Bruschetta. The platter is simple yet appealing.
The round Aranchini, made of rice is crunchy outside and creamy inside. There are breads in different shapes and sizes too. The Bruschetta is said to complement many dishes. The bread is topped with fresh chopped tomatoes and sprinkled with salt and pepper which helps draw out the tomato juice. The sweet and tart flavours magically blend in your mouth. Even people who don’t care much for tomatoes will be tempted to have a bite.
The slice of Zucchini is baked with ricotta cheese and mixed with veggies, lending it a fresh flavour and creamy texture. The pizzas on the menu are with a thin crust and named after different places in Rome. The Trinita Dei Monti is named after the church in Italy. The velvety ricotta cheese lends it a sweetness. The asparagus topped on the light pizza base is crunchy.
The Colosseo Pizza is topped with cheese and crushed black pepper. More the black pepper, better the taste. In Quirinale, cream of broccoli, you can get the raw and bitter taste of the florets.
The Pincio is unique. Topped with thin slices of ham, decorated with figs, they are perfect to romance with this monsoon. These pizzas pair well with the beer, which is also served.
The Aventino – All’arrabbiata is served with penne pasta. The arrabbiata sauce makes it spicy. The base is as usual crispy topped with fine cheese. It is a treat for the pasta lovers.
No menu is complete without a dessert. Pannacotta, the cooked cream topped with berries, tastes like custard.
The best bit is that the pizzas don’t stuff you. They are light and you can taste the toppings, unlike the others that are usually smothered with cheese.