Mezzo Mezzo Creates a Little Apulia In Mumbai

One of Italy’s best-kept secrets is out! From a little town on Italy’s South East Coast (the heel of the Italy’s boot shape), comes authentic Italian food brought to Mezzo Mezzo, the Italian restaurant of JW Marriott Hotel Mumbai, by Guest Chef Tommaso. He and renowned Resident Chef Danio Galli will be pooling their considerable resources to produce a feast worthy of the gods from the 20th of October to the 2nd of November 2003.

Apulia is a food and wine lover’s paradise. One reason is that the fresh produce is of such high quality. In fact, many of the basic elements of the Italian kitchen originate from Apulia – a huge proportion of Italy’s fish is caught off the extensive Apulian coast. 70% of the country’s olive oil is produced here and the region provides 80% of Europe’s pasta. Just to give you that uncompromisingly pure Apulia feeling, Chef Tommaso brings his ingredients all the way from the little town itself.

Vegetarians will be pleasantly surprised with Antipasti Vegetariani, pure vegetarian specialities like Bruschetta del Tavoliere delle Puglie con pomodorini secchi (Bruschetta from Puglia’s Tavoliere with sun dried tomatoes) or Frittelle Di Ricotta Ed Alghe Marine Con Pomodorini Del "Salento" Marinati All'origano (Deep-fried Ricotta cheese balls and seaweed served with cherry tomato marinated with dry oregano).

But non-vegetarians certainly need not feel ignored what with Calzone alla Barese con la ricotta forte, Manzo e cicoria (Calzone Barese style with strong ricotta cheese, beef and, yes, chicory!) or Polpo Al Forno Con Le Patate E Zucchine Al Profumo Di Menta (Baked octopus with potato and zucchini in mint flavour). For gourmets, there’s also a truffle menu. Round it all off with a dessert of Dita Degli Apostoli Farcitio Con Ricotta, Pasta Di Mandorle, Cannella E Frutta Candita Con Salsa Al Caramello ("Apostle fingers" filled with ricotta cheese and almond paste in cinnamon flavour and caramel sauce). Then wash it down with a wide selection of Italian wines, grappas and digestives.

Mezzo Mezzo is located on the lobby level of JW Marriott Hotel Mumbai. The interactive open kitchen at Mezzo Mezzo allows one to view the chefs at work, where jars of pickled items such as sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and artichokes take prominence. The restaurant’s gild rimmed mirror dominated bar offers a wide selection of wines by the glass, and an extensive selection of cocktails. The bar area of the restaurant is used as a pre-dinner drinks or coffee and drinks bar after dinner. Fresh flower arrangements mainly in monotone or duo tones complement the settings. Mezzo Mezzo is currently open for dinner from Tuesday to Sunday from 6.30 p.m. till midnight and serves brunch on Sundays from 12 noon till 3:30 pm.