Piazza Carlo Mirabello, 5, 20121 MILAN
Tel: 39 02 382 409 35
CHEF RITU DALMIA
There is nothing in her background that explains why Ritu Dalmia is the brilliant chef and restaurateur that she is. Yet here she is, one of India’s most celebrated chefs, co-owner of six restaurants in India, three in Milan, Italy, and a catering company operating worldwide.
History could have taken a different turn. Born in what was then Calcutta to a family of entrepreneurs, Ritu joined the family stone business when she was only 16 years old.
Her work often took her to Italy, where she developed a passion for the local cuisine and mastered the art of cooking it. In 1993, at the age of 21, she opened Mezza Luna, an Italian restaurant in Delhi. The food was excellent, but Mezza Luna’s fortunes were not. Undeterred, Dalmia moved to London, where she opened Vama, a fine-dining Indian restaurant. The restaurant was a great success and garnered rave reviews.
But Delhi was calling, and in 2000 she returned home to open her first DIVA. Founded and led by chef Ritu Dalmia, DIVA believes in celebrating authentic food, combining genuine, simple, and fresh ingredients to create rich and unique dishes.
With Cittamani, her restaurant in Milan, Dalmia has come full circle. She began her career as a restaurateur trying to introduce India to true Italian food; now she is introducing Italians to the flavors of the Indian subcontinent.
Chef Ritu’s entrepreneurial spirit and contribution to the hospitality industry have been recognized by numerous institutions, including Conde Nast Top 50 Restaurants of India, Peak life Gourmet Awards 2019, the DelWine Excellence Award 2019 as Women of Wonder (WOW), Forbes, which included her in its W Power Trailblazers List in March 2017, and the Indian Federation for Culinary Association, which recognized her as one of the 25 greatest Indian chefs in 2016.
In September 2017, she was awarded the Order of the Star of Italy, the highest Italian civilian honor. Ritu has also hosted the programs Italian Khana and Travelling DIVA on NDTV Good Times and has written three cookbooks: Italian Khaana, Travelling DIVA, and DIVA Green: A Vegetarian Cookbook.
OUR CUISINE
Our gastronomic offering combines modern techniques and the highest quality ingredients, while respecting the roots of Indian tradition. As an establishment serving regional Indian cuisine with a contemporary touch, we pay homage to the authentic ingredients and cooking methods used in Indian kitchens for generations.
Guests can enjoy a curated menu that includes both famous and lesser-known recipes from across India.
Cittamani is our tribute to the vibrancy, uniqueness, and vast range of Indian traditions, which change within the span of just a few kilometers.
