Italian Eats: Tradition With a Twist
In a contemporary world that is becoming more infused with fusion food, we seem to constantly arrive at the same question: How and when do a cuisine’s most celebrated dishes, seasoned with heritage, depart from its roots? Do we stick to what we know, or can we thoughtfully play while still honoring our ancestors’ food inventions that provide sustenance to the body and soul?
At Ambra, an authentic Italian restaurant in the West Village, one might say that a balance is struck – actively developed and brewing, both inside and outside of the kitchen. It’s an intentional touch of innovation that compliments a culturally rich Italian restaurant menu.
Though it might sound like a time-worn expression: it starts with a passion for Italian cuisine, an unmistakable ingredient of Ambra’s identity. Carried by refined comfort, Ambra is a vestige of a bountiful past that – much like dough – stretches an entirety. Still, also a home that embraces La Cucina Italiana’s potential to influence an evolving New York food scene in a culturally distinct way.
Timeless Italian Tastes
Mangiamo! (let’s eat) The vino is flowing, the generous simplicity brushes past everything in reach, and the table is being carried away to what will become an indelible West Village Italian dining affair. You’ll undoubtedly reminisce about the ambiance – or how the place made you feel – in order to relive each taste.
Luckily, Manhattan has been moving closer and closer to Italy, where, on a Hudson Street corner, Ambra serves its very essence. With southern Italian roots, Executive Chef John DeLucie is fluent in the cuisine’s signature depths, fully rounded flavors, paired delights, and delicate innovation that speaks of a certain familiarity and mastery of Italian cuisine. It showcases just how Ambra’s menu is making its own contribution to Italian food while still celebrating its traditions.
The Art of Dough – More Than Just Pasta & Pizza
Ambra’s Executive Chef, John DeLucie, sparks a sort of poetic passion whenever he speaks about the craftsmanship that’s present when delicately preparing dough in all of its different forms. Beloved by those who’ve tasted his food, it’s more than just pasta and pizza at Ambra.
Each plate moves beyond expectation as it flaunts its skill, its visual appeal, its heritage, and most importantly, its fusion of flavors that simply prompts: Eccellente! Just consider the sumptuous Lobster Pasta; the inclusion of Lobster in combination with Mafaldine pasta, chili, tomato, garlic, olive oil, and herb breadcrumbs offers a blend of luxury and bold flavors that introduces a special twist – the lobster – on traditional pasta dishes.
You can never go wrong with the mouthwatering flavors that a Margherita Pizza so freely gives, but there are even more undiscovered Italian taste profiles to discover at Ambra. The Robiola Pizza is but one such example. The use of white truffle oil sets this pizza apart. Known for its distinctive and aromatic flavor, it compliments the deep flavors of the Robiola cheese.
A Sweet Italian Deal
Patiently waiting to be the ideal closing act, an authentic Italian restaurant will almost always offer a selection of light, refreshing conclusions – from a delicious Digestivo to a delightful Dolce. Typically an alcoholic beverage, often served after a meal, a Digestivo is believed to aid digestion. The Espresso Martini Menta attests to this with a lovely combination of coffee and mint flavors.
Seasonality reigns at Ambra, with exciting desserts exploring the comfort that pastries, tiramisu, and other Dolces bring, but always tempted by a slight variation on Italy’s most iconic sweet treats. Be sure to ask what the kitchen has dreamt up that day during your Italian feast.