[category]
[title]
When life gives you lemons, pray they’re at least the Amalfi variety. At CinCin’s Gurgaon outpost, you don’t have to travel to the Italian coast to get your fix. The Italian restaurant has brought its Lemon Festa to Golf Course Road and Bandra West, a nearly two-month-long menu dedicated to the large, fragrant citrus fruits of Italy’s Amalfi Coast.
Much has been written and eulogised in the annals of history about these spindle shaped citrus fruits from the southwestern coasts of Italy, sunshine yellow in colour and large enough to fit the entirety of the palm of your hand, fabled for their sweetness and their aroma. At CinCin, which has been a Mumbai fixture for nearly a decade and recently opened on Golf Course Road in Gurugram, you get to try them yourself.
Inside CinCin's Lemon Festa in Gurugram & Mumbai
And they’ve committed to the bit: step inside and you’re greeted by lemon decorations, a themed menu and even a bright yellow Morris Minor. All that’s missing, really, is a view of the azure Mediterranean from the windows.
One of my biggest pet peeves with modern dining is the disappearance of feel good factors like the bread basket, and CinCin doesn’t disappoint in this regard. You kick things off with a basket of toasty focaccia, ciabatta and breadsticks that magically appears on your table as soon as you’re seated. Order the Crostini Limone, where toasted slices of sourdough are topped with creamy ricotta, preserved amalfi lemon and drizzled with honey chilli, and follow it up with the Gamberi Alla Catalana, a symphony of poached prawns and confit onion in a lemon butter sauce with celery oil (I would highly recommend saving a piece or three from your bread basket to mop up the oil from this dish, that’s how good it was).
For mains, there’s the Pizza Al Carciofi, with stracciatella, artichokes, sundried tomatoes, preserved lemon and mint, one of those rare pizzas that stand out for being fresh and not greasy. But the highlight of the evening was the Taglierini Al Limone, with angel hair pasta and preserved zucchini doused in that lemon butter sauce and topped with some fresh chilli. Simple, yet divine, and something I’d willingly make the trek back to Gurugram for.
They also have a cocktail pairing based around the Amalfi lemons, and naturally, you’ve got to order the in-house limoncello, which is probably the best I’ve had in the country. The Monte Fico was my pick of the lot, with vodka, lemon, fig, greek tea, cacao and balanced with a herbal liqueur, while the Nero & Limone was perfect as a night cap, with Jameson whiskey and cream liqueur coming together with their in-house CinCin Limoncello and vanilla.
Do not, under any circumstances, skip dessert. Aptly titled Limone and presented like a Jackson Pollock masterpiece, it combines mascarpone cheese with lemon curd and is served on lemon soil. I still have no clue what lemon soil is, but I do know that I licked that plate clean. You probably will too.
When is the Lemon Festa at CinCin on till?
The festival and special menu's on at both the CinCin Bandra West (Mumbai) and Golf Course Road (Delhi NCR) outlets for two months, beginning August 8.
More details
Address
Unit 11, Godrej GCR, Golf Course Road, Sector 42, Gurugram, Haryana - 122002
Timings
Daily. Noon to 1am.
Price
About ₹2,800 for two without alcohol.