It’s hard to find anyone whose interest isn’t piqued by Massimo Bottura‘s evolutionary cuisine. His culinary creations are a true masterpiece, showcasing his exceptional talent and artistic expression taking an art form. Regularly honoured as the world’s greatest Chef, he is a champion of Emilia-Romagna cuisine, a crusader against food wastage, and an advocate for conscious dining. His three-starred Michelin restaurant, Osteria Francescana in Modena Italy ranked the world’s best, offers a 12-course tasting menu that is known to make patrons go on a six-month wait to savour. Indian food aficionados in Delhi don’t have to wait as long for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, as Culinary Culture partners with The Leela Palace, New Delhi to recreate the magic of Osteria Francescana in a pop-up dinner gala this weekend helmed by the maestro Massimo Bottura. Between April 19 and 20, 2024, patrons of Leela Palace can indulge in a mesmerizing world of incredible flavours that unfurl like an edible canvas.

Bottura’s affinity towards Indian cuisine, and the country is evident in this unique culinary partnership. For the third year in a row and the second time at The Leela Palace New Delhi, Bottura is showcasing his rendition of Osteria Francescana’s iconic dishes. Speaking of this remarkable culinary alliance, Mr Anupam Dasgupta, Area Vice President, of The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts and General Manager adds, “Food has always functioned as a link between different nations, cultures, and people. At Leela, we are devoted to including meaningful experiences that align with our guests’ interests and passions.”

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Bottura’s culinary prowess shines through his dishes. Each dish beautifully showcases the region’s rich culinary traditions abstractly and poetically. His ‘Five Ages of Parmesan Reggiano’ is an ode to the iconic cheese, rendered in different forms and textures defined by time.  A fluffy souffle served with a parmesan crisp and topped with an ‘air’ made from the crust of a 40-month-old parmigiano-reggiano wheel, layered up with melt-in-your-mouth foam and a light cream as the base could be viewed as a rare porcelain relic.

The special menu curated for the soiree at The Leela Palace, New Delhi will include Bottura’s vegetarian and non-vegetarian renditions of his iconic dishes such as, ‘Oops I Dropped the Lemon Tart,’ ‘The Crunchy Part of the Lasagne’ and the ‘Psychedelic Cod Not Flame Grilled’ to name a few. The chef will host a pre-dinner interactive session with the veteran journalist Vir Sanghvi, considered a chronicler of the Indian culinary landscape.

Bottura’s evolutionary modern Italian dishes are edible installations playing with pop culture, childhood memory, and art inspiration. The ‘Memory of a Mortadella Sandwich’ goes back to the chef’s childhood memory of enjoying the Italian luncheon, which turns into a foam-like texture in a RotoVapor machine. The ‘Beautiful Psychedelic Veal, Not Flame-Grilled’ draws inspiration from Damien Hirst’s spin painting. Bottura’s unique perspective on imperfection is a testament to his culinary innovation. Rather than seeing mistakes as failures, he sees them as a means to uncover beauty and meaning. Take the example of ‘Oops I Dropped the Lemon Tart’ which was transformed into a stunning piece of abstract art, following a kitchen accident by his pastry chef. Bottura’s ability to find beauty in imperfection is a reminder that sometimes the most unexpected outcomes can be the most captivating and inspiring.

Along with the much-lauded avant-garde cooking, his dishes take on a sensory journey and go beyond fleeting trends. His commitment to innovation in food, whether drawing from contemporary art, classical literature, or the rebellious spirit of culinary iconoclasm invites the world to reimagine what we eat, how we eat and the stories evoked through food.

Culinary art is one of the oldest and pristine arts since the invention of fire and Bottura has enhanced this art form using Italy’s rich tapestry of flavours and his culinary mastery – making this a memorable experience and a redefining gourmet moment. These wonderful evenings with Chef Massimo Bottura at The Leela Palace, New Delhi on April 19th and 20th, 2024, will cost INR 55,555 + taxes per person just for the sit-down dinner and for those fans of Bottura gearing up to attend book ahead owing to the limited seats available.

 For more information and reservation contact: Ashish Arora  at Culinary Culture