A taste of the Mediterranean
Harvinder Khetal
Nestled in a cosy corner behind the Sector 10 market is a cluster of eateries. A blackboard standing against a pot of bamboo shoots with a handwritten note signed by the owner, Marta, proudly proclaims a certificate by a survey: “Best Western Restaurant 2017”. A salivating invitation, indeed, to the Casa Bella Vista. In Spanish, the moniker means a house with a beautiful view. Living up to its name, the rustic décor, the wood fired oven and the tables laid out in a warmly lit garden with pebbles for flooring gives one a dainty feel, away from the maddening crowd. The city’s old-timers cannot but marvel at the transformation of a coal depot of yore into this paradisiacal spot.
As Marta, the Spanish proprietor married to a Chandigarhian, recollects: “When we set it up three years ago on the lines of our Casa Bella Vista in the Manali retreat, dogs used to sleep here. All these verdant trees, shrubs and creepers have grown along with the café and its popularity.” The café menu too is a marriage of the West and East: there’s a variety of pizzas and pastas that are all vegetarian. This Mediterranean food joint is well-known for its farmhouse pizza and its atta variant absolves you of any guilt associated with maida. A fitness and yoga freak herself, Marta believes in serving food that is healthy for both the body and soul. Try the quinoa salad and spirulina juice, she recommends. However, eggs are not taboo in this vegetarian haven.
As I dig into the delicious salad — a mix of finely diced apples and carrots and a generous helping of cheese temptingly laid on a bed of farm-fresh lettuce and tempered with olive oil and seasonings – I am told that they source the fruits and veggies from organic farms. The perfectly creamy cold coffee complements my dish. I notice the person at the neighbouring table content with the yummy pink strawberry shake. That’s because every drink comes with a complimentary muffin. While soups are good for winters, the cool pomegranate and cucumber juice beckon in this weather. The delectable tapas (Spanish for snacks) and risotto (rice) of the main course are, of course, for all seasons. The musical notes from radio Spanish that further soothe your nerves already tingled by this visual treat of an ambience.
And yes, be prepared for a deep dent in the pocket to savour it all.
Digital order
Nothing like a dash of the modern in the lap of nature. You get to order your favourite pizza and drink by clicking on a digital menu card. No need to wait for a waiter! The free wifi is the add-on to the pretty picture. Though, rather than pouring into my tab, I prefer to soak in the beautiful ambience.
Gluten-free serving
Good news for the celiacs. But you have to order a day in advance in order to savour that pizza and pasta. And, Fridays are gluten-free special days.
