A healthy start

Wnt to indulge in guilt-free snacking? Ty the antipasti menu at the imperial

In theu00a0oil and masala loving Capital, it is not always that you get to sample healthy meals. Not unless there is a promotion going on which brings together food from across the shores. So when I got to know that The Imperial is holding an antipasti promotion, I resolved to check out what it is all about. Antipasti (or antipasto in singular), form the traditional first course in an Italian meal. The executive chef at the hotel, Willi Haueter, calls them the answer to Spanish tapas.


The decor transports you back to the days of the Raj

Antipasti is something that the chef was planning to do for quite sometime, as he wanted to give Delhiites the opportunity to snack on without feeling guilty. Traditionally, antipasto would include everything from cured meats, olives and roasted garlic to mushrooms, anchioves, various cheeses and are usually topped with olive oil.

As I walked into the very Victorian 1911 Bar at the Imperial, it felt like stepping back into time and getting back to the days of the Raj. Stained glass and antique wood dominated the d ufffdcor. An 80-feet long mural by AP Mongin made in 1786 adorned one wall portraying a panorama of India. Soft leather chairs and settees, period photographs and a canopied bar area bang in the middle of the roomu00a0all transport you back to the days when the white men from across the oceans ruled our country. A very politically incorrect place to be at a time when the 'second freedom movement' is taking place not too far away in the same city, I thought, grinning happily.

Going global
But one shouldn't have too many qualms when it comes to food, I told myself as I settled down with a cocktail. The menu comprised no less than 10 dishes with a sprinkling of vegetarian items thrown in. each of the dishes could be paired with various wines. The bar offers a mind-boggling 500 varieties of beverages, but thankfully, the service staff here was quite well-informed and saved me the task of deciding what wine to pair with my food.

I started with Fritto Misto Di Mare, batter-fried seafood with rucola pesto and saffron aioli. It was a typical Italian mix fish dish that comes with different fillets. The one I tasted was fresh, though the batter was a tad too heavy. The dish is a common appetiser in Italy and paired well with the dry wine that was served. Next on the plate was Fave e Salame Con Parmigianou00a0broad beans with fresh salami and aged Parmesan cheese. True to the name, the salami was indeed fresh and tasted good. The dish is eaten with olive oil and crisp breads.
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Cheese fiend that I am, I could not resist myself when I spotted Pecorino Al Pepe e Olio on the menu. This consisted of aged Pecorino dices which were marinated with crushed black peppercorns and olive oil and consumed with crisp breads. The Crostini di Frutti di Mare was like a bruschetta and was essentially marinated with thyme, olive and garlic and came with a seafood salad. Have this with rose wines or Chiantis.

The meal ended with some nicely cooked Bruschetta Di Merluzzo E Prosciutto ufffd with warm flaked cod and Parma ham salad. While the bruschetta had a little too much ketchup, I liked the cod and ham salad. Very fresh and very tasty. Have some if you want to indulge in some guilt-free snacking.

At: 1911 bar, the imperial, janpath
On till: AUGUST 26
Timings: 11.30 am to 12.45 am
Ring: 23341234
Meal for two: rs 1,200 + taxes (without alcohol)