It has been a hard day in your office and having finished work you are ready to wind down. But you feel a tiny bit hungry and look for something to re-energise you. So what are the options?
In my case, I usually buy a soft drink and along with some nibbles to satiate my hunger. Sometimes when I come back home I request my better half to make me some pakoras or sandwiches with my coffee. Also at times, along with a colleague I head for a small eatery on the way back and chill with a drink and some eatables.
Now that’s what they call Aperitivo in Italy where food is a celebration. This early evening drink and snack, i.e the Aperitivo is meant to whets one’s appetite by opening the stomach for the grand dinner; the idea being that the drink opens (or stimulates) your appetite.
Italians can romanticize anything, and I mean even drinks n food. They believe that an aperitivo is the perfect prelude to a rich meal in the late evening hours. They believe that your gastric juices flowing by indulging in a pre-dinner drink with snacks and define an aperitivo as a pre-dinner sipping and snacking ritual intended to stimulate appetite and encourage digestion.
Aperitivo also is a precious moment to slow down and enjoy face time sans smartphones.
The word “Aperitivo” has origins in Latin; meaning “to open”, as something that literally “opens your stomach” and was born in the late 18th century when Antonio Benedetto Carpano created the first aperitivo drink; Vermut (better known as Vermouth), an herb flavored white wine that is served as a pre-meal drink.
It initially was just beverages one had with his/her friends or colleagues as they headed home from work. But they think it’s not good just to have drinks on empty stomach, so an Aperitivo today is always accompanied by some delis. Earlier it used to just drinking an aperitivo and nibbling on olives, chips or crackers, but today, by aperitivo it means a more complex snack with crostini, cold cuts, cheese, bruschetta, and other food spread like different types of fresh pasta, grilled or sautéed vegetables, and sandwiches.
An Aperitivo is a must do when in Italy. Its like going out for Tapas as they do in Spain, or enjoying Happy Hour as they do it in the U.S.A.
But what do you do when you are not in Italy? Don’t worry guys, I am gonna recommend a great place where you can go and indulge in Aperitivo and also in other delicious Italian food and desserts.
I am talking about Artusi Ristorante, Gurgaon. They have an outlet at Greater Kailash Part II in New Delhi too.
One can start with crisp Breads served along with a Platter of mixed Italian cheese, Formaggi Assortiti and then start the culinary journey with exotic aperitivos and drinks.
We visited the Ristorante and being vegetarians, tasted Rucola e Fior di Latte (crusty bread base i.e. Crostini served with Rucola and soft cheese toppings), Funghi e Formaggi (Mushroom and cheese crostini) and Gran Crostone (Gran crostone with grilled vegetables).
I loved the Funghi e Formaggi Aperitivo the most; it was a delicacy made with finest soft cheese gently melted over crispy bread with sauteed mushrooms. The Gran Crostone is an aperitivo served on soft breads and it also tasted divine.
Chicken/meat/seafood eaters don’t lose heart, they also have some amazing aperitivos in non-veg section too like the Pate di Fegatini (chicken), Tannato e Caperi (tuna n Chicken), Gamberetti Salsa Rosa (Shrimp), Salmone e Avocado (Salmon and Avocado).
We then continued our Italian journey and finished up with some delicious pastas and Risottos, and authentic desserts, namely Tiramisu and Cioccolato Nero e Scorza di Arancia, a dark airy chocolate mousse and caramalised orange peel.
Our sinful journey into the amazing world of a true Italian Gastronomy came to an end as we finished the last bite of our desserts. But this experience left us wanting more. Soon we have to head back to Artusi for a repeat.
Kudos Artusi Ristorante!!! Keep up your good work.
exatraveller 