This April, the much-celebrated chef Francesco Mazzei will open Radici, an authentic Italian trattoria in Islington, which is backed by restaurant group, D&D London.
The new venture will be taking over the site of the current Almeida restaurant.
Radici translates as ‘roots’, and will reflect the Calabrian cuisine of Francesco’s heritage, as well as incorporating dishes from the southern Italian areas of Campania, Basilicata, Puglia, Sicily, and Sardinia.
An ever-evolving menu will offer a carefully selected range of charcuterie and cheeses, as well as many of Francesco’s favourite dishes from his homeland, such as umido di baccala (salt cod with potatoes, tomato sauce, onions, capers and black olives); ferrazzuoli (eggless pasta with southern Italian lamb, pork and beef ragu); and involtino di fegato (calf liver stuffed with pancetta, garlic and sage, served with smoked potato mash).
Furthermore, fresh pizzas and bread will be baked in a traditional wood fired oven in the heart of the trattoria, and in true Italian style, families will be able to enjoy a feasting menu every Sunday.
The kitchen will be run on a day-to-day basis by Antonio Mazzone, who has been Francesco’s right-hand man for over decade.
Francesco Mazzei commented, “With Radici, I am so excited to bring the food of my childhood to my London home. I have lived in Islington for over 20 years, and I hope that this relaxed neighbourhood restaurant will soon become a part of the local community and a go-to venue for authentic southern Italian food in London”.