The chef is a diva

Now that her Milan restaurant is a hit, it’s time to acknowledge how much Ritu Dalmia has contributed to India’s food scene

Last month, I sat down with Ritu Dalmia and tried to work out when I had first eaten her food. The answer surprised us both. It was way back in 1996 (when the original Hauz Khas village was still hot) at a now forgotten restaurant called MezzaLuna.

Ritu Dalmia had never been to Catering College, she had taught herself to cook(Raj K Raj)

Enjoy pulled pork biryani in Italy

A dish of beetroot seekh makes for a great starter

Ritu’s restaurant Cittamani is heaving with stylish Italians

At a time when wine was yet to take off in India, Ritu built an enoteca and served Italian wines at pretty much her cost price

Kachori-pumpkin is worth a try in Cittamani

The chef with her team in Cittamani, Milan