Ifiori

Fiori means flowers in Italian and this elegant restaurant has blossomed into one of Tuban’s most popular eateries. Occupying a central site opposite the Discovery Mall, Ifiori boasts a modern design, and a profusion of glass creating an atrium like ambience. The décor is predominantly white, but splashes of colour are provided by violet feature walls, floral paintings and tall vases filled with pink and purple blooms. The building is split level with a range of seating options; the ground floor has a  fan cooled terrace and an air conditioned main dining room; the first floor has a funky lounge area with cosy couches and leopard print cushions. While the top floor features a verandah with alfresco dining.

Ifiori is lucky to have a talented Italian chef at its helm, Luigi Andrea Calcagno, from Rome. His passion for preparing fine Italian food is immediately apparent and he tells me that he cooks with “A little salt, a little pepper and a lot of love.” Many of his dishes are adorned, signature like with a small heart carved from yellow pepper, a nice touch! He adds that he likes to cook in a traditional style and that, “Simple things are the base for good things.” As we enjoy our meal we see that these are not idle words.

Our first course is Tuna Tartar, fresh chopped raw tuna mixed with strawberry, avocado and mango. The combination is pleasantly light with a delicate mix of sweet and savory flavors. Moving on to pasta we try a selection; there is a sublime Ravioli Burro Salvia, homemade spinach  ravioli with butter and fresh sage; Pesto Paprika in which fresh chopped yellow peppers make an interesting base for the pesto; and a ‘Luigi’ specialty, an excellent Ravioli al Ragu di agnello, ravioli served with a rich and hearty ragu of lamb, ricotta and vegetables.

For me, the piece de resistance is the Filetto di Pesce con Mandorle Grana e Spicanchi, a truly exceptional dish. The softest and flakiest of snapper fillets is grilled to  pale golden perfection,  served  on a bed of fresh wilted spinach and adorned with slivers of toasted almonds and shaved grana. Finely chopped lemon rind, creates wonderful bursts of citrus and the side dish of zesty ratatouille offers a tasty contrast.

As a dessert  we have Millefoglie  di Meringue e  Fragole, chewy sticky layers of meringue filled   with chantilly cream and strawberries, drizzled with chocolate sauce. In an act of sheer decadence I  follow  this with a Toblerone a heavenly chocolate cocktail. Other cocktails include a slightly less indulgent, but equally tasty Strawberry Mojito with a heady fragrance of crushed mint and the freshest strawberries. The Lady in Red makes an excellent mocktail, a pretty pink  concoction of  cherries, strawberries and cream. A good selection of wines also act as a center piece and are attractively displayed on tiers behind a sheath of glass that stretches all the way to the ceiling.
I finish with a good strong espresso and watch a group of workmen attaching a swathe of cloth to the high ceiling, ready for the flyer dance later in the evening. You can also catch fire dancing, live bands, dj sets and screenings of vintage Italian movies.

As I flick through the menu I notice a number of quotations on the first page. One   seems particularly appropriate and sums up Ifiori well. “To eat is a need, to eat well is an art.”  AB