Nothing
says Italy like its food, and nothing says Italian food like pasta. Pasta is
integral part of Italy's food history .Wherever Italians immigrated they
took their pasta along, so much so today it can be considered a staple of
world cuisine. Unlike other ubiquitous Italian products like pizza and tomato
sauce, which have a fairly recent history, pasta may have a much older
pedigree, going back hundreds of years.
The
history of pasta is difficult to trace for several reasons. The word itself
translates to “paste” in Italian. This is a reference to the dough, made from a
combination of flour and water or eggs – all simple components that have been
around for centuries. This makes it hard to differentiate pasta from other
ancient dishes made from the same ingredients. In addition, since pasta has
long been a food of the common people, it has not received as much attention as
more exotic foods…..sad, since it’s one
of the most popular foods on the planet……..
The
word pasta is generally used to describe traditional Italian noodles, which
differentiates it from other types of noodles around the world. Pasta is made
from unleavened dough consisting of ground durum wheat and water or eggs. The
use of durum wheat sets pasta apart from other forms of noodles. Durum wheat’s
high gluten content and low moisture make it perfectly suited to pasta
production. The durum wheat dough is pressed into sheets, cut into a variety of
shapes, and cooked before serving.
We, Indians relish Italian food and it
is now the third most popular cuisine, after Indian and Chinese in India. It
has come a long way from being part of special occasions, such as weddings and
birthday parties, to being more common home food in urban India. Fast food
restaurants, such as Domino’s Pizza and Pizza Hut, attribute their growth to
the sales of pasta. Furthermore, TV shows like Master Chef and David Rocco’s
Dolce India have contributed to the exposure of Indians to global cuisine.
Demand
for more authentic Italian cuisine is rising in India as Indians are
well-travelled and bring back with them important gourmet memories………Keeping
such thoughts in mind, Crowne Plaza Gurgaon has run a Pasta Festival at its
much coveted Café G.
We, TWCI- The Writers Collective of India were lucky enough to visit this restaurant for a lovely
meal. The ambiance of the place is warm and welcoming with ambient lighting
playing it’s important role in mood uplifment…..They have set up a counter
full of Italian pasta and related ingredients at the very entrance of CAFÉ G…...The Chef welcomes you at the gate itself , and you can tell by his confident smile, How good his creations are going to be !
Chef
Atul Kumar has passion and pride you expect of all, but do not find much of it
anymore elsewhere…….. He’s an encyclopedia with great knowledge about his
product and ingredients. He even knows the specific pasta originating regions
and their exact placement on the map …… What a wonderful person to talk with!!!
What a Chef and such passion for it all……….!!! This hands on Chef has crafted
many fresh pastas like ravioli, fettucini, agnioli etc……The sauces were crafted
with the love and care that only a proud mama or grandma can muster……The pasta
was perfectly cooked as if you overcook it, the world’s greatest sauce cannot
save mushy pasta……The flavors of each one of his preparation was fresh and
unique. The use of fresh tomatoes, parsley and basil and the most exotic truffles
with the best of cheeses made the whole experience, heavenly.
They have a good collection of wines, which
can be very well paired with the different pastas as well as other dishes. Other
than pasta, they also have the regular fare on the menu. A good variety of salads (both veg and non
veg) , cold cuts, Indian fare and a brilliant continental fare too. I loved
their meat and fish preparations done in Jamaican and Italian styles. I must
say, they have an equally talented Pastry Chef. As, most of the desserts, I
tried were masterpieces, be it the Mousses, the Cakes or the tarts.
I
will highly recommend this place to all my friends and foodies in general, to savour and enjoy a lovely gourmet meal in the best of ambiance and at a much convenient
location with the best of service and hospitality.............Cheers !!!
Cafe-G, Crowne Plaza, National Highway 8,
Sector 29, Gurgaon
Special Thanks : Mr. Indrashis Singh ( Associate Director, F&B, Crowne Plaza, Gurgaon )
Written By : Vickrham Vicky
Pics By : Vickrham Vicky