A Michelin Star Meal in Delhi: Adriano Baldassarre at MKT, The Chanakya

In recent years, Delhi has seen a large expansion of its food repertoire. Though it still lacks a Michelin star restaurant, many visiting Michelin star chefs are presenting one-of-a-kind gourmet experiences to Delhiites. Last year, I tried a fabulous meal by chef Claude Bosi at Indian Accent at The Lodhi Hotel (read about it here), and seafood delights from chef Dharshan Munidasa at  the Ministry of Crab pop-up in Shangri-La’s Eros Hotel (read more here).

2019 has begun on a food high for me, with last night’s meal at MKT, The Chanakya, curated by Michelin star chef Adriano Baldassarre. Read on to know more.

With Michelin star chef Adriano Baldassarre

MKT, THE CHANAKYA:

MKT, modelled on international luxury food halls, has been a sweeping success since its launch in Delhi last year. It’s a one-stop shop for organic, healthy and hard-to-find ingredients.

Apart from being a specialty supermarket, its also a dining hall. You can choose from live grills, or chef Imtiaz Qureshi’s Indian delights, among other dishes. The restaurant periodically hosts renowned guest chefs as well. Chef Adriano Baldassarre is curating a special Italian menu here, till January 15, 2019.

The special Italian menu curated by chef Adriano Baldassarre

CHEF ADRIANO BALDASSARE:

Chef Baldassarre’s first restaurant, Il Tordo Matto received a Michelin star in 2007, and he hasn’t looked back since. Now the proud recipient of 2 Michelin stars, chef Baldassarre is all set to open a fine-dining Italian restaurant at the Lodhi Hotel called Perbacco.

Till its launch, people can sample his culinary skills at pop-ups, such as the one currently taking place at MKT.

Capriciossa Pizza; Foccaccia Bread with Prosciutto 

Clockwise from top left: Prawn fettucine; meat tortellini, Chilean sea bass; roasted lamb

THE MICHELIN STAR MEAL AT MKT:

The chef graciously left the kitchen to meet us personally and recommend his favourite dishes.

We began with the Capriciossa pizza, with sausages, artichoke hearts and mushrooms; and a deliciously salted Focaccia bread served with delicately sliced Prosciutto ham. We also shared the tasty Lamb Polpette, fried lamb meatballs served with a black cardamom mint and pecorino sauce.

For main course, we ordered the Prawn with whole wheat Fettuccine pasta in Arabiatta sauce; the Meat Tortellini with Parmesan cream; the Roasted Lamb with yogurt, cumin and gratinated potato; and the Chilean Sea Bass Guazetto. I thoroughly enjoyed the sea bass, which was cooked to perfection. It’s soft and foamy texture was offset by a rich sauce with a slightly tangy flavour. Of all the dishes, the Sea Bass and Roasted Lamb were our favourites. We relished a delicious Cabernet Sauvignon from Baron de Rothschild, along with the meal.

We enjoyed the subtle Apple Tart Tatin served with Cardamom ice-cream for dessert. 

Lamb polpette; Apple Tart Tatin

WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT MKT X ADRIANO BALDASSARRE:

This initiative of MKT and DLF, is wonderful as it allows Delhiites to sample a Michelin star meal at an affordable price. Most other Michelin meal pop-ups in Delhi are highly priced and offer a limited number of covers. MKT doesn’t take prior bookings, making it easier to try chef Baldassare’s work, without booking well in advance.

People aren’t confined to ordering from the special menu, and can mix and match from the regular menu as well. This flexibility will appeal to large families or groups.

I highly recommend a visit to MKT, especially when chef Baldassarre is presiding (all details below). In case you miss his stint there, you can wait for his restaurant to open at The Lodhi hotel.

INFORMATION TO KNOW:

Venue: MKT, The Chanakya, 13A-16D, Tikendrajit Marg, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi

Telephone: 011-66144444

Days: 12th – 15th January, 2019

No prior bookings allowed

*All photos are taken on my phone. Copyright belongs to nooranandchawla.

**This is not a sponsored post.