Check out new glasshouse in the hills of Lonavala

On a slightly cloudy June morning we drove 90 minutes outside Mumbai to reach the heart of Lonavala on the old MumbaiPune highway where the townrsquos firstever glasshouse restaurant launched this weekend Fiori is a brainchild and a labour of love of secondgeneration siblingduo entrepreneurs Sanskriti and Suraj Gupta who envisioned bringing international cuisine in a heartwarming ambience to a town where they spent several family vacations as children ldquoThe idea is to have comforting flavours in a nonintimidating spacerdquo says Suraj an Economics graduate who infuses his travel experiences and profound understanding ofhospitality into FioriCookie tartNamed after the Italian word for flowers Fiorirsquos decor is a blend of Mediterranean charm and European class integrating natural elements such as wooden panels crafted by local artisans and carefully curated ambient lamps and flower vases placed throughout the space to enhance the cosy atmosphere adding layers of intricacy to the dining experience The delicate fragrance of the flowers engage the senses creating a multisensory experience and we are particularly impressed by the wellmanicured lawns The green spread is a cool respite for the weary eyes often glued to a screen An escape from the everyday hustle even if it is shortlived Sanskriti an architecture graduate from Sheffield University in the UK and the creative genius behind Fiori demonstrates how on a winter afternoon when the weather behaves the glasshouse can open up into alfresco seating The appeal would be even more resounding during the monsoon when the rain cascades over the glass walls On hot summer afternoons rooftop sprinklers attempt to give that pseudorain feeling making the ambience more dreamyThe culinary team is helmed by Chef Gracian de Souza who has curated an effortless vegetarian menu using locally sourced organic ingredients deriving from the legacies of Europe and the Mediterranean regionWe started with the black bean chilli con carne taco with cheddar cheese and caramelised onion Rs 499 Served with sour cream and tomato salsa the filling was a burst of flavours with complementary sides The beetroot and goat cheese salad with orange segments apple toasted almond flakes and honey mustard dressing Rs 549 had a sound bite but we felt a dash of balsamic vinegar would have elevated the dish For the main course we savoured the mushroom risotto Rs 799 We felt the flavours coming together in a hearty comfortable bowl topped with luxurious truffle butter You might need an afternoon siesta right afterFiori sunset and Mushroom risottoWe are told the Fiori Sunset Rs 799 a refreshing mix of Aperol grapefruit juice vodka tequila and tonic water has been a favourite among tasters We had a cookie tart Rs 499 for dessert paired with rich creamy salted caramel ice cream While we wanted to skip the tiramisu cake Rs 499 the chef insisted we try it The rich coffee flavour and creamy texture were a delightful way to end the meal A couple of rounds of conversation later we had a Miel latte Rs 349 blending the robust flavour of cinnamon with the sweetness of honeyWhether you are staying here driving through or coming down for a peaceful dinner under the stars Fiorirsquos vision is to keep it simple but remarkable The dishes are classic and De Souzarsquos style reflects on the menu ldquoItrsquos tricky to innovate for the Lonavala marketmdashyou must be mindful of the varied requirementsrdquo he says ldquoThink salads sandwiches soups pasta mains good coffee and a decent beverage programme So while pizzas are preferred we are making Neapolitanstyle pizzas where the dough is fermented for 24 hours and features assorted toppings to balance the crispy crust perfectly Irsquove got my signature mushrooms on toast but with a twist Our burrata has a red pepper puree olive oil and balsamic My style is very bistrolike I believe a plate should not have more than four elements Here we have kept the mains mostly one pot comfortmdashpasta and risottos or a paneer steak with quinoa as the base topped with chermoula The Neapolitan pizza features assorted mushrooms and goat cheese while the garlic pizza is served with rosemary herb oil t balance the flavoursrdquo There is also cheese fondue that you can share with friends and family over hearty conversationsSo will the space offer competition to legendary brands such as Coopers and Oven Fresh which have been in the area for some time now Suraj dismisses the thought ldquoIn Lonavala everyone knows everyone so the idea is to build a powerful food community and cater to the everdemanding palates of food connoisseurs of locals and tourists alike In the coming months we plan on holding flea markets on our lawns where local artisans would be given a platform to showcase their talent and even hold crossrestaurant popups to promote each otherrsquos businessesrdquoAddress Regenta SGrsquos Greenotel Old MumbaiPune Highway Gawliwada Rao Colony Lonavala