New restaurant and wine bar Rotorino to open in east London
A new Italian-style restaurant and wine bar is to open this week on east London's Kingsland Road.
Set to open on 10 April, Rotorino has been created by chef, writer and TV cook Stevie Parle and Ruth Spivey.
Parle has worked at Moro, Petersham Nurseries, River Café and Dock Kitchen; while Spivey has worked at Michelin-starred restaurant Arbutus and Dalston-based pop-up project Street Vin, and is the founder of mobile wine tasting service Wine Car Boot.
The 60-cover site (including a 24-cover communal table, plus a semi-private room for 12 to 16) will focus on southern Italian cooking, offering dinner during the week, and brunch, lunch and dinner options at the weekend.
It plans to emphasise wood-grilled meats and fish, using British produce such as locally-cured meat and day boat fish from the south coast.
Head chef Alex Jackson (also formerly of Dock Kitchen) and co-founder Parle have worked together to create dishes inspired by Parle's travels round Palermo, Sardinia and Puglia. Categorised by cured, wood grill, stove and sweet, the dishes aim to focus on simple flavours and classic combinations.
Choices will include turbot with rosemary and vinegar oil; Sasso chicken with ricotta; spleen sandwich with ricotta and salsa verde; sea bream carpaccio with squashed datterini tomato; a selection of antipasti; fresh homemade pasta; pastiera Napolitana and ice cream-filled Amalfi lemons.
The wine bar will offer over 40 varieties, of which 20 will come from Italy, and include many by-the-glass options, as part of Spivey's aim to make the list accessible and drinkable. There will also be a selection of Proseccos, and Italian craft beers.
The venture has been backed by Rushmore Group founder Jonathan Downey, and has been designed by Jonathan Mangham of Mango London Architecture, who also oversaw the interiors of London bar Milk & Honey, and successful restaurant The Clove Club.
Book review - Stevie Parle's Dock Kitchen Cookbook: Real Home Cooking from Around the World >>
