The Italian cuisine market in Amman is pretty
saturated, so I was initially skeptical when I heard about the new Italian
Cuisine Buffet at Olea at the
Four Seasons Amman. However, knowing the hotel's
reputation for attention to detail, I decided to give it a try.
اضافة اعلان
Buffet services are commonly associated with
weddings, birthdays, or Ramadan iftars. The tedious lines, the awkward
conversations, and the empty serving plates are all reasons why many
restaurants began pushing for a family-style sharing concept. However, the Four
Seasons strayed far from these fears.
Italy is a country with a diverse topography
and climate, and traditional Italian cuisine is as varied as the land. The
Mediterranean diet serves as the foundation of Italian cuisine, which
emphasizes the consumption of cereals, vegetables, fruits, legumes, oils, milk,
fish, and meat in moderation. These foods are often prepared for special occasions,
making them the main specialty in many parts of Italy.
The recipes for these dishes have been passed
down through the generations, ensuring that the culinary traditions of Italy
endure.
Despite the breadth of Italian cuisine, pasta
is often the first dish that comes to mind when most people discuss Italian
food. However, many fail to realize that every shape, sauce, and protein
originates from a different region in the country, each with its unique flavor
profile and history.
Back to the buffet: with just a brief look, I
was impressed. From the live homemade pasta station and the Caprese salad
stations to a variety of other visually appealing food items, I was ready to
get lost in the sauce.
Cold itemsThe buffet has a wide variety of salads, some
pre-portioned in individual bowls while others were build-your-own. It also had
the first antipasti station that I personally did not find boring.
The antipasti station featured appetizing
presentations of rolled roasted bell peppers, portobello mushrooms, and cold
cuts.
Even though I am usually not a fan of
antipasti, I thoroughly enjoyed these items as they tasted fresh. The lightly
seared tuna with the other components made this a great appetizer to start the
journey with.
Hot itemsThe hot items were equally impressive. I was
excited to try the chicken Milanese, the arancini, the pasta, and the pizza.
The chicken Milanese was perfectly cooked and
well-seasoned, and the portion was reasonable — not too much or too little. The
arancini, which had an interesting shape, had a great flavor, and held together
well. Often restaurants forget about the seasoning aspect of arancini and
depend more on its frying aspect, but that was not the case here.
The pizza was a Neapolitan style, with an
earthy flavor, airy crust, and a perfect thickness. (I tried not to eat the
crust alone to save on calorie intake, but that plan failed.)
The pasta station had a friendly chef making
dishes on demand. Serving three types of pasta, which we learned rotate every
week, I went for the cacio e pepe.
Cacio e pepe is a parmesan and black pepper
sauce. Some say it was the original alfredo before the Americans added cream
and made it what it is today.
One thing I truly appreciated about the pasta
station was that it was made in-house, which takes much time and kneading to
produce enough pasta to serve all guests on a buffet station.
Best for lastBut it was the dessert station that really
blew me away. The tiramisu, made a la minute (can you believe it?), was light, flavorful,
and impossible to resist. The coffee is poured on top of the sponge layer
between the two cream layers in front of you, bringing out the coffee's
presence instead of having it hidden in the sauce.
The homemade cannolis were also filled on the
spot and dipped in your favorite toppings: both memorable and mouth-watering.
The cannoli shells were also made in-house, again proving the Four Seasons'
level of quality.
One thing that impressed me about the buffet
was how the hotel's staff thought of every step of the guest's journey. The
buffet was arranged to make it easy for guests to serve themselves without any
hassle. Lid placement, smaller individual plates, and separate serving stations
for different dishes made the entire experience enjoyable and stress-free.
If you are looking for a great Italian cuisine
experience in Amman, the Four Seasons Amman's Italian nights are an excellent
option. The price is JD35, and the food is of exceptional quality. I highly
recommend giving it a try.
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