The Leela Kempinski Mumbai Nominated in Savvy F&B Awards Mumbai, March’06.

With the opening of Stella at the Leela Kempinski, Mumbai, there is finally an excuse not to travel to Italy for great Italian Food and Wines. Though The Leela Kempinski, is primarily known for it being the essence of India, they also serve the best International cuisines and this time they add one more specialty restaurant to their range of of fine dining restaurants – for the truly Italian fine dining experience – STELLA! It's one of the most comfortable and welcoming places in Mumbai, and one of the few that offers true authentic Italian food and the widest varieties of Italian wines.

Amazing is the first word that will come to your mind starting at the front door when you enter through the enchanting Stella wine library, the largest Italian wine library in the county to reach the Stella dining area.

Talking about Stella, Mr. Oliver Martin, E.A.M, The Leela Kempinski, Mumbai says, “Seeing where the country is going just amazes me. It is great to see the culinary richness and also that people looking to get a great wine experience. Therefore we have created a new wine & dine experience: STELLA! Our star, the first Italian fine dining restaurant with an Expat Sommelier and of course an Expat Chef from Rome. Also we are holding the largest Italian wine range in the country. Among all this we are only serving Italian waters, Italian sparkling, Illy coffee and much more. So please be invited to be our guest and see what we created for you.”

The food a restaurant serves speaks volumes about the place. The fresh bread is top notch, the entrees made to order with fresh ingredients you can taste and the desserts well save room for them.

Our Head Chef Stella, Maximiliano Cotilli shares,” About my cuisine, of course is Italian and it originates from the finest food available in the market every day. I like producing light dishes, starting from traditional recipes, pairing unusual ingredients, giving to the dish a modern touch using high techniques. The taste has to be balanced and sharp, each ingredient has to be enhanced, not covered. I love design and I amuse myself composing the plate. I like making fresh pasta and bred every day and prefer saucing with vegetable juice-based vinaigrettes, light emulsified stocks, and purees as well as delicate broths, and herb-infused meat and fish essences, unlike sauces which incorporate a lot of butter or cream our approach does not mute or block the basic flavours of the ingredients they are meant to support.”

He adds, “For me it is important that diners enjoy a perfectly balanced meal that continues to satisfy afterwards. Food doesn’t have to be rich to taste good.”

The guests can try various olive oils available at Stella from North, Central and South of Italy with some great Italian bread and has an option for their food to be cooked as per their recommended oil defining their preferences between Spicy, fruity and bitter. Enjoy a nice glass of White wine “Gavi” with it.

From the a-la-carte menu, try ‘Lobster Ceaser Salad’ or a famous Sicilian ‘Caponata’ and combine it with a glass of white wine Chardonnay from the north of Italy. The second courses are excellent; Stella is famous for its Vegetarian and Non Vegetarian Pastas. Our Chef recommends, ‘Penne Al Pizzico’ or the recommended hand made noodles, chicken supreme & forest Mushrooms tossed in Parmesan Cream – ‘Futtuccine Tetrazzini’. Our Chief Sommelier Silvano recommends a bottle of red wine “Brunello Di Montalcino’ from Tuscany (North Italy) to go with it.

You could follow this with some “Ossobuco Al Pinot Nero” and ‘Lombata Di Agnello’ – A delicious Lion of Lamb and try it with some great Red wine from Veneto North East of Italy - Amorone D Valpolicella Classsico. The desserts are the damnation of the dieter and so delicious you'll want more. The Millefoglie Di Cioccolato Uno Per Due is one that u should not miss from the list and Silvano, Our Chief Sommelier recommends a fantastic Sweet wine “Muffato” to go with it.

Talking about wines, our Stella Manager and Sommelier Silvano Charrier puts it, “The best way to know about wines is to drink it. So please be our guest and enjoy the truly Italian experience”.