“The trouble with eating Italian food is that five or six days later you’re hungry again.”
George Miller




I can tell you that man knew what he was talking about.




Last Saturday the CAL Blogger’s table met up for some Italian food at Pomodoro, in Hilton, Janakpuri. We were expecting some good food – we just weren’t expecting so much of it.




The courses came to us in a never-ending chain, one after another, until we had to loosen our pants.




It all started rather innocently with this lovely bread, accompanied by a tomato dip and some Parmesan-y pesto.







While the rest of us were waiting for Ruchira, we gobbled up the bread, which was magically replenished every few minutes, just before the last piece vanished. It was lovely with this fresh, summery Riesling we drank through the afternoon.







The food officially started with Bruschetta – two types. First, this almost sweet, tomato and Parmesan one. So cute it was.







And this equally adorable artichoke and olive one.







After OD’ing on bread, it was time for some seafood: Insalata di gamberi e calamari con burro fuso or Warm squid and prawn cooked in brown butter. I loved the “fishiness” of this dish that came from the crushed anchovies. Also, that prawn deserves a moment of our respect. Such plump awesomeness.







Rekha’s fav dish – Minestrone di legume con pasta arrived next. I enjoyed the crispy garlic bread that accompanied it even more than the soup. Everything is made better with some Parmesan grated over – don’t you agree?







Pizza Pomodoro followed – a colourful riot of veggies over a thin, cheesy crust. We could spy onions, peppers, mushrooms, and zucchini among others.







You need to see what Ruchira did to her pizza – Atkins would be so proud.







My favourite dish of the afternoon came next – Rigatoni alla pastora or Slow braised lamb ragout with pecorino cheese and red wine. A non-fussy dish of chunky (not minced) bits of lamb in a rich sauce coating each piece of rigatoni – this dish made me think of cozy winter dinners at home.







The carbs were no match for Ruchira this time either.







There were several choices for the main course – we all ordered different things so we could taste almost everything.




I got the Trancio di salmon or Pan seared Salmon which was probably the most beautifully presented dish of the afternoon. The skin was crisp and the flesh beneath – flaky and tender. It came with Parmesan mash, a Parmesan crisp, and a creamy caper-parsley sauce.







Sid got the Costolette di agnello or Grilled lamb chops. The meat was was pink inside, slightly rarer than we usually have it, but still melt-in-the-mouth tender.







Ruchira tried the Verdure alla griglia e polenta or Grilled vegetables on creamy polenta. Veggies have never looked better.







We rounded things off with Tiramisu, which we had great hope for, but unfortunately it was much too creamy and lacked that distinctive strong coffee flavour we all love in the dessert.







It was a fun afternoon punctuated with many laughs, as our times together always are.




I leave you with some smiling faces and a mustache.







And some more.







All in all, Pomodoro at Hilton, Janakpuri is a great choice for Italian food if you’re in the area. There are several options for both vegetarians and meat-eaters, and enough fresh, crusty, wonderful bread to drive you into carb-induced coma for days.




The other happy folk at the table were:




Sid from Chef at Large
Mukta from Bake-a-Mania
Aishwarya from Aishwarya Eats
Rekha from My Tasty Curry
Ruchira from The Great Cookaroo