Soon-to-open Italian restaurant Frescobaldi appoints head chef

Soon-to-open Italian restaurant and wine bar Frescobaldi, in London's Soho, has appointed Roberto Reatini as head chef.

Previously sous chef at the Belgravia-based restaurant Zafferano, Reatini has also worked as senior sous chef at Shoreditch House alongside its head chef Michele Nargi.

He has created a new menu for Frescobaldi, including Tuscan influences on dishes such as red prawn carpaccio with green apple; veal cheek pappardelle with rosemary bread; vegetables and olives ossobucco; and millefeuille with caramelised apricots.

There will also be a set of wines paired with the new dishes, from the Marchesi de' Frescobaldi estate, whose vineyards are located on nine main estates around Florence and Siena, Italy.

The restaurant is expecting to open in early November, and is the first joint venture between the Frescobaldi family and hospitality business the Good Food Society, which was set up by international restaurant group Istanbul Doors.

There are already restaurants and wine bars operating under the Dei Frescobaldi brand in Italy, including in Florence and Rome.

Founded by Levent Büyükuğur, the Istanbul Doors group now has 40 sites across Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan and the UK, including Zuma, Kitchenette and Angelique. One of its more high-profile investments was with Tom Aikens at his eponymous restaurant in Chelsea.

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