‘Don’t be afraid to commit mistakes’ is Chef Massimo Bottura’s mantra, that is how his iconic dish came to life, writes Gyaneshwar Dayal
The renowned Chef Massimo Bottura was in New Delhi once again with the culinary marvel, Osteria Francescana. Twice rated as The World’s Best Restaurant by The World’s 50 Best, Chef Bottura’s culinary masterpiece returned to The Leela Palace New Delhi for a second consecutive year, This unparalleled partnership between The Leela Palace New Delhi, Culinary Culture, and the culinary virtuoso himself was an unforgettable gastronomic experience.
Massimo Bottura is a renowned Italian chef and owner of Osteria Francescana, a three-Michelin-star restaurant in Modena, Italy. He is not just a culinary maestro but also a passionate philanthropist, earning international acclaim for his dedication to social and environmental causes. As a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the founder of the non-profit organization ‘Food for Soul,’ Bottura advocates for sustainability and the reduction of food waste, aligning perfectly with The Leela’s eco-conscious ethos.
For the uninitiated, Chef Bottura is one of the top chefs in the world and people wait to eat at his restaurant Osteria Francescana for at least three months. Some say you need to be prepared because the restaurant is fully booked for four months. Osteria Francescana was ranked the #1 restaurant in the world in 2018. The menu includes dishes like Modena’s borlenghi, polenta with eel and saba, Aula on tempura, and Tortellini in cream of Parmigiano Reggiano. The chef brought his restaurant to Delhi for Rs 55,555 + taxes per person.
Under Chef Bottura’s guidance, Osteria Francescana has captivated global palates with its innovative approach to Italian cuisine. He is known for reinventing the Italian dishes. The restaurant has consistently secured its position among the world’s best, offering a sensory journey unlike any other. Iconic dishes such as ‘Oops! I Dropped the Lemon Tart,’ ‘The Crunchy Part of the Lasagne,’ and ‘Psychedelic Cod Not Flame Grilled’ will grace the special menus offered during the event.
Bottura is a philosopher in his own right. He is passionate about making mistakes. That’s right that is how his world-famous iconic dish ‘Oops! I dropped the lemon tarts and came to life. Chef Bottura’s culinary philosophy, is deeply rooted in embracing mistakes and turning them into culinary masterpieces
Bottura shared a story in his interactive session in Leela, about the creation of a dish that symbolises embracing imperfections. It originated when Francescana’s sous chef Taka Kondo accidentally dropped a lemon tart. Feeling distraught, Kondo’s perfectionist tendencies clashed with his mistake. Bottura intervened, reframing the mishap as a metaphor for the fusion of sweet and savoury, breaking boundaries. Bottura emphasised the importance of leaving room for poetry in daily life, allowing for imagination and creativity to flourish. “If you don’t make mistakes, don’t dream big, you end up no where, won’t learn a damn thing,” he quips
This ethos of embracing imperfection and transforming it into something extraordinary resonates throughout his culinary creations. Chef Bottura hosted an interactive session, engaging in a conversation with Vir Sanghvi, India’s foremost food expert, offering insights into his culinary journey and philosophy. During the conversation, they had a difference of opinions but agreed on two things. Italians like Indians are mama’s boys and two both love their food. Sanghvi remarked, “Massimo Bottura transcends the role of a chef; he serves as a global inspiration, leveraging his influence to bring about positive changes worldwide.
Mr. Anupam Dasgupta, General Manager of The Leela Palace New Delhi, expressed his enthusiasm for this unique culinary collaboration. He stated, “It is our privilege to host Chef Massimo once more at The Leela Palace New Delhi. We eagerly anticipate the epicurean delight that Chef Massimo will curate for the pop-up dinners.”
Speaking with anticipation about his return to India, Chef Massimo Bottura expressed his excitement, saying, “Namaste, India! I am delighted to return to your beautiful country. In New Delhi, we are working with Culinary Culture and The Leela Palace. I love India - the food and the people - and can’t wait to be back and give you all a big Italian hug!”
Indeed, chef Massimo Bottura is just not a chef he is a philosopher and a package you could talk to and take lessons for your kitchen and life. Chef is all for dreaming big and how creativity and dreaming big means a lot in life. His mantra: Dream big, it costs nothing and don’t be afraid to make mistakes if you don’t mistakes you will never learn anything new. Just a trivia here, any guesses what Massimo Bottura was most excited about in the evening, It was his breakfast with the underprivileged children he had invited for breakfast the next morning. So the world waits for Masimo Bottura’s dinner and he for a simple breakfast with children of lesser God who give him all the inspiration he needs for his next masterpiece
