RIYADH: As Ramadan draws to a close, you could be running out of ideas for the iftar table. Fear not, however, as Riyadh’s outpost of Italian restaurant Eataly is offering up delicious treats that will be a welcome break from the Arabic fare you have no doubt been inundated with throughout the Holy Month.
Following the same aesthetic and appeal as its 40 branches around the world, the Eataly on Tahliya Street replicates an indoor European market — it is simple and rustic, with black overhead pipes and thread-bare lightbulbs, wood panelling, and makeshift cartons serving as planters. The newly-refurbished outdoor seating area resembles an old-fashioned Italian café — the kind you could easily while away many a spring evening sipping on thick, Italian espresso.
Store manager Bilal Hakim explains the unique experience that the restaurant strives to offer its customers.
“We strive to bring accessible and affordable high-quality Italian cuisine to the masses. You could try something in the restaurant and our chef can tell you exactly what products you need to recreate the same recipe… in the comfort of your home.
“Eataly combines the words Eat and Italy. Much like the Arab culture large, extended families coming together to celebrate food and each other, family meals around the table make for a significant part of Italian culture.”
Eataly was conceived by Italian businessman Oscar Farinetti as a marketplace where several food and beverage farmers and suppliers could sell their artisanal products. The core brands — durum wheat pasta from the Mulino Marino mill, Riviera Ligure olive oil, Giusti balsamic vinegar, Castelmagno and burrata cheese, and Antonella pasta sauce — are flown in to Saudi Arabia from Italy.
The marketplace is dynamic and vibrant — a whiff of freshly-baked bread will take you toward the bread counter, where you can sample or order cheesy focaccia breads, wholesome seven-grain breads, and fluffy dinner rolls. Hand-made pasta is rolled out and made into every shape and size possible, from tagliatelle to ravioli. The cheese counter boasts a large variety of cheese and other antipasti, from the classic Parmigiano Reggiano, to a decadent carpaccio di Pomodoro e burrata.
If you would rather save space for iftar or suhoor, you can choose a simple Margherita pizza or spaghetti al Pomodoro e Basilico (spaghetti with tomato sauce and fresh basil) from the extensive menu. But make no mistake, these simple staples are flavourful, complex, and delicious. After dinner, sample a traditional cannoli stuffed with sweet ricotta cheese, hand-churned Sicilian gelato or artisan chocolates. Alternatively, choose a specialty coffee blend featuring nine different types of Arabica beans to go with a range of delectable cakes, croissants, and petit fours.
0 التعليقات:
إرسال تعليق