Tonight, Celini at Grand Hyatt Mumbai throws open its doors to something truly special — a six-course Italian wine dinner curated by Chef Mirko Febbrile of Somma, Singapore, alongside Chef Neeraj Tyagi and Chef Alessio Banchero. The evening, presented by All Things Nice and Grand Hyatt Mumbai, celebrates the relaunch of Celini in a way that feels like a joyful homecoming to Italy, with wine pairings handpicked by sommelier and host Nikhil Agarwal.
But before we sink into forkfuls of handmade pasta and glasses of Nero d’Avola, I — Fabian Rodrigues — sat down with the man of the hour, Chef Mirko himself, for a lively conversation that quickly turned from food philosophy to guilty pleasures and everything in between.
“BUTTER IS MY SPIRIT ANIMAL.”
When asked which ingredient captures the essence of Somma, Mirko didn’t miss a beat: “I’m not French, but… butter. Butter makes everything better.”
That sets the tone for the rest of the evening: sincere, soulful, and slightly cheeky. At Somma, his modern Italian space in Singapore’s New Bahru, the philosophy is all about tradition meeting bold innovation — something Mirko effortlessly mirrors in his personal style too.
“PUGLIA IS MY MUSE.”
Born in the sun-drenched south of Italy, Mirko grew up cooking for his younger brother, often with ingredients harvested straight from the family farm. His 94-year-old grandmother still makes her own olive oil. “She’s never bought oil in her life. That’s the soul of Somma right there,” he says, proudly. At tonight’s dinner, that oil, flown in from Puglia, will kiss plates with memory, not just flavor.
And when mistakes happen? He welcomes them. “One of Somma’s best dishes — pasta in a carrot reduction — came from a botched juice experiment. We didn't have the tools, so we improvised. It became magic.”
RAPID FIRE WITH MIRKO — YES, IT GOT WEIRD.
One food he loves to eat but hates to cook?
“Fish. I love it. But I just don’t want to cook it.”
Weirdest pairing he’s ever liked?
“Alligator sashimi. With passionfruit. Don’t ask.”
Somma’s mascot?
“Oh, it has to be something slightly odd but lovable. Maybe a cheeky olive who’s been through things.”
What if he doesn’t like the date?
“Premade sauce. A spoon of butter. Serve with confidence.”
AND WHAT ABOUT THE WINE?
Nikhil Agarwal, the ever-curious mind behind All Things Nice, is the reason Chef Mirko is here tonight. Nikhil says, “It is a pleasure to bring Chef Mirko and his team to India for a culinary series. Somma in Singapore is a wonderful experience showcasing fine and inventive modern Italian cuisine, and we are so glad to be able to create this experience in India for our guests at the newly revamped Celini."
FINAL COURSE
We ended our chat with a simple fill-in-the-blank: “A table without ___ is just incomplete.”
His answer? “Flowers.” He paused. Then grinned: “...And maybe a bottle of Barolo.”
So if you’re dining at Celini tonight, know that you’re stepping into a slice of Mirko’s story — one that began in Puglia, blossomed in Singapore, and now dances across plates right here in Mumbai, thanks to a few passionate minds who believe the best meals always begin with a great story.
Mangia bene. Bevi meglio. Laugh often. Tonight, we do all three.
Details:
Date: 23rd April 2025
Time: 8:00 pm sharp
Price: INR 8,500
Venue: Celini, Grand Hyatt, Mumbai
PS: Catch the mad video interview post-event only on ZeeZest.com and our social media handles!