CHIC Eats

The Costolette Di Agnello arrives in a blaze of glory. Delicate lamb chops are presented in a glass bell jar, hidden within a swirl of charcoal-scented smoke. When the lid is lifted, it’s pure theatre. (It smells pretty good too.) You’d be forgiven for thinking that a Michelin-starred chef might serve tiny stacks of food on enormous plates. Not a bit of it. The portions at Veritas are perfectly sized. The Parmigiana di Melanzane – baked eggplant with tomato sauce, mozzarella, Parmigiano and burrata sauce – alone is proof that diners are not going to go home hungry. (They’d also be wise to avoid lunch.)

When he visits our table to see if we’re enjoying the meal – we absolutely are – Executive Chef Pino Lavarra explains that at Veritas, he wants to showcase the beauty of Italian food. But that’s not all. He also wants to give food a twist. As he put it, Chef Pino wants to ‘shake the tradition’. He tells us that he knows many diners go to Italian restaurants because the food is comforting. But he can’t resist putting a new spin on old favourites, creating meals that are familiar, delicious and surprising. His Lasagna Alla Bolognese is a perfect example. Instead of the meal diners might expect, Chef Pino’s lasagna is layers of fresh pasta, thyme cream and Bolognese sauce, fashioned into a crispy, rose-shaped masterpiece. ‘It’s fantastic Italian food, lightly twisted,’ says the chef. Finally, there are the spectacular desserts. The Vanilla Panna Cotta with Wild Berries Sauce has a tantalising wobble and tastes utterly splendid. The Millefoglie is crispy puff pastry sandwiched together with just-ahint-of-lemon custard. Perfect.

Veritas might have the aah factor. But it has plenty of wow too.

For more information or to make a reservation, please call Veritas at Al Messila, a Luxury Collection Resort and Spa, Doha, on 4445 0000.