At the inaugural dinner hosted by Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, Nita Ambani and Isha Ambani brought together art, culture, and cuisine in an elegant celebration in Venice.
Held on Thursday at the
historic Scuola Grande della Misericordia, the dinner marked the opening of the India Pavilion at the 61st edition of La Biennale di Venezia. And if the art celebrated India’s creative spirit, the menu did the same—through food.
A Menu Inspired By India And Italy
The dinner card opened with a note calling the first dish “an ode to celebrate India and Italy”—a fitting theme for the evening.
The starter featured: Petit pois kachori with Puglian stracciatella and Jamnagar mango relish — a thoughtful East-meets-West combination pairing a classic Indian snack with creamy Italian cheese and a distinctly Gujarati mango touch.
A Grand Indian Thali Takes Centre Stage
The heart of the dinner was an Indian thali, described as “representing the diversity from North to South and showcasing the finesse of Indian home cooking.” The vegetarian spread included:
- Aloo petha sabzi with five spices
- Saag paneer with fresh churned white butter
- Kurkuri bhindi
- Yellow dal tadka
- A trio of chutneys: Lahsoon ki chutney, Dhaniya pudina chutney and Amrood ki chutney
- Morrel and saffron pulao
- Rajasthani dahi bada
The menu clearly leaned into comforting Indian classics, but elevated them with premium ingredients and refined presentation. Guests could also opt for signature additions, including:
- Railway Station Chicken Curry — a nostalgic nod to India’s railway food heritage
- Adraki Lamb Korma
- Baingan ka salan
The bread basket featured a regional mix of:
- Poori
- Nan kulcha
- Khapli ki roti
- Tikori
This ensured the thali experience stayed deeply rooted in Indian dining traditions.
Italian wines for the Venetian setting
Honouring the host city, the evening also included premium wines:
- Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Champagne Brut
- La Scolca Gavi di Gavi “Etichetta Nera”
- Marchesi Antinori Badia a Passignano 2019
At a global art event like La Biennale di Venezia, every detail matters. With this menu, Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre turned dinner into diplomacy—using food to tell a story of Indian heritage, regional diversity, and cultural confidence on an international stage.
