With tables neatly set, wine poured and napkins laid, one had to simply wait and watch the magic unfold. A well-orchestrated evening ensued and diners were equally enthralled by both sides of the Italian tasting menu. For most carnivores had set their eyes and stomachs on the vegetarian menu that night, those who held ground were pleased with the end result of their loyal choice. Eight courses and two-and-a-half hours later, the diners dispersed—delightfully content and almost lulled into what is commonly known as a ‘food coma’. All slept well.
From Italian shores to Indian stoves
In the month of April, the JW Marriott, Juhu, played host to many such diners who made their way to the spacious property to get a taste of French-Japanese and Italian cuisine. In association with 4xFour, a Singapore-based company that curates unique dining experiences showcasing renowned international chefs, the hotel bore witness to the genius of Chef Giovanni D’Amato in the second instalment of the event that took place between April 15 and 19. Respected and known for his prowess in cucina Italiana, Chef D’Amato and his son Federico run Il Rigoletto in Italy. With two Michelin stars and a rank among the ‘Relais & Châteaux Grand Chef’, Chef D’Amato was determined to take as much back from India on his
maiden trip.
Eat up and the pop-up
The menu for the night had two of each: soups, entrées, mains and dessert. Chef D’Amato believes in fusing traditional ingredients with modern techniques. And so in one dish for the night, a seemingly mundane celeriac was transformed into a tiny, plump disc, resembling a scallop and served with a beetroot mash and potato cream. A splash of jasmine tea balanced the entirety of this dish making for a spectacular entrée. A unanimous hit amongst the meat eaters was the beautifully cooked Black Cod Fish in Black Sauce with Black Trombetta Mushrooms—a black beauty trifecta! The best, however, was kept for last. Chef D’Amato ‘picked us up’ in true Italian style with his Explosion of Tiramisu, a cleverly deconstructed avatar with wafer-thin coffee meringue, coffee crumble and a disc of coffee, rum, espresso and dark chocolate surrounding a fluffy portion of mascarpone cream. A truly befitting end to a brilliant meal.
Experience an award-winning meal yourself by logging onto www.4xfour.in for more information as well as updates on future events by 4xFour.