The Spring Asparagus Sojourn at Ottimo, ITC Gardenia

Inspired by the Spring weather in Italy, Chefs Vittorio and Sasha from Ottimo, ITC Gardenia, have come up with a set of unique dishes that showcase all the best qualities of the asparagus – both green and white versions.

And, of course, K and I had to visit and try out their delectable creations.

We started with a fresh and crunchy salad consisting of asparagus, lettuce, sesame seeds, and pine nuts, with a light sauce drizzled over them.

I really loved the combination of the ingredients that went into this salad, and I think I will try recreating this one at home.

I guarantee, though, that it will not come out so pretty as the one we ate 😀 .

We then moved on to the tartara asparagi, pomdori, sechi e burratta.

This consisted of an asparagus tartare layered on top of sun-dried tomatoes on top of the creamiest, richest burrata cheese I have met.

For a dish that was so cheese-heavy, this one was surprisingly light and easy.

And now we come to my favorite of the day!

The tortelli di asparagi con crema al parmigiano was simply mind-blowing. It looked straightforward, even plain, but boy did it pack a punch.

The Tortelli was stuffed with ricotta and was presented to us with sticks of asparagus and floating in a parmesan cheese broth.

Heaven! A must-have delight for cheese lovers!

Next was the asparagi gratinati Alla Milanese – asparagus gratinated with saffron, parmesan, and truffle oil.

This one I liked but didn’t quite love. It’s not the dish; it’s me. I don’t care for saffron much, and in a dish with asparagus, cheese, and truffle oil, I felt that the saffron dominated the taste a bit too much. That said, the asparagus was really fresh and snappy, just the way I like it.

For dessert, we tried the White Asparagus and Ricotta Tarte with Green Asparagus foam, and this was the next best dish on the menu. I started it a little apprehensively because who likes veggies in a dessert?

But this one was amazing. I was already stuffed to the brim, but I somehow made some extra space in my tummy and got this one in.

This is another must-try dish. You will definitely not be disappointed!

For the meat and seafood lovers

Here is a crumb fried crab on a bed of polenta (asparagi moleche e polenta) to whet your appetite.

K dug into a chicken tagliolini in white sauce, and this was his star dish; he licked every scrap off the plate. This was also probably the most conventional option on the menu.

And to drink

The sommelier recommended a sparkling white wine from Tuscany, and I think it was a perfect choice. A bottle of red wine would have overwhelmed the delicate flavors of the dishes.

A truly great culinary evening!

Details

The Spring Asparagus Sojourn is on at Ottimo from the 10th to the 20th of May. Prices for the limited edition menu are from INR 600 – 2550, exclusive of taxes.

Ottimo

ITC Gardenia,
1 Residency Road, Bangalore 560025.
Call for reservations. Open only for Dinner.
Cost: Rs. 4500/++ for a meal for two with drinks.