A conceptual conglomeration of the best of South American cuisine, Nueva is the brainchild of Chef Micheal Swamy. He has borne the title of a historian Chef for a long time now and after being renowned as a exceptional chef and an entrepreneur in NYC, Dubai and London; he is ready to make a mark in the capital. His passion to recreate history, travel and nature on your plate is something exceptional. Nueva is also the first South American restaurant in the country having been inspired from not just Peru but a lot of other South American countries. It’s interesting to know that the list of ingredients varies from fresh fruits to meats to veggies to foods from the mountains, which vary from that of the plains. All these elements come together to make for a strange yet heartwarming cuisine.
The service is impeccable and the staff is very well versed with the ingredients and the flavors. Nueva is conveniently located on the ground floor of the Sangam Courtyard Mall and the decor of the place is as classy as it can get. It is a fine dining experience, which is far from boring. The spacious and lively décor will definitely make your experience memorable. The glass partition between the dining space and the kitchen gives you a peek-a-boo into their main area of operation. The Chef wants to make an open kitchen and eventually bring in the concept of a silent kitchen into his restaurant.
Chef Micheal Swamy holds fascination for the historical importance behind an ingredient, a technique and a concept. Chef has come up with an interesting concept of bringing together all of nature’s five elements in the form of an intriguing artwork on your plate. Once you know the history behind the cooking technique, you will be able to appreciate the food even more. There were invasions, which led to many cultural and culinary exchanges due to which many now-common ingredients reached the world like corn, amaranth, potatoes, tomatoes, garlic, onions and even chocolate. These elements are common in both cuisines, Indian and South American. You will notice that the menu is also inspired and broken up as sea, gardens, land, mountains hence giving it a very earthy feel.
Starting with the mains, Chilli Lime Shrimp is a good choice to start with. The tender shrimp with tangy flavors is a must have dish. The presentation is beautiful indeed with the corn bed laid under the shrimp. The Scallop & Cherry Tomato Ceviche is another recommended dish. Seafood lovers will appreciate the freshness and tenderness of the meat. What I liked the most about this one is the use of apt flavors making it delectable as well as tasteful. Also, if you are a chicken lover, you cannot go wrong with the Chicken Shashlik Piri Piri. Served on a skewer, this dish is spicy yet flavorsome.
Chef Micheal Swamy believes in creating an exceptional dining experience both for vegetarians as well as non-vegetarians. The Black Rice with Fava Bean Stew & Roasted Vegetables should be on your list. The beans are meddled beautifully with the veggies making it look like a healthy meal overall.
One of my personal favorites is the Butter-poached Black Cod. Truly melt in the mouth kind of an experience, the black cod is cooked at medium and makes every bite as worthy. Save your appetite for the best part of the meal. Take a dig into the Andean mountain range, like literally!
Three layers of sweet haven presented in the form of a mountain, the Andean Mountain Dreams is a combination of white chocolate mousse, dark chocolate pudding and sweetened fresh fruits at the very bottom. There is something for every kind of dessert lover.
The restaurant awaits a liquor license but nonetheless the mocktails are crafted beautifully. Try the Pure Verde or the Que Melon, which are super refreshing and thirst quenching.
Nueva might be new to your taste buds, but probably the finest South American food you can have in the capital. A personalized touch to the service makes this restaurant worthy of being the latest addition to your weekend calendar.
