On 30 September, Soho’s neighbourhood trattoria, Mele e Pere will open The Deli Upstairs, serving classic Italian sandwiches and salads, made to order, every weekday lunchtime.
The menu is inspired by founders Peter and Chris Hughes’ childhood in Milan, where picnics and city lunches were made simply with the finest local produce. To mark their first day of service, the brothers are giving away a gratis sandwich or salad to the first 50 customers.
Located above Mele e Pere’s dining room and vermouth bar, the deli takes inspiration from its big sister downstairs, with the best of Italian cheese, salumi and vegetables.
The menu, in the style of a traditional paninoteca, is made up of sandwiches such as the Toscano, with salty, fennel-seasoned finocchiona salami from Tuscany, as well as truffle, artichoke heart and Taleggio; the Bologna, with Mortadella from the region, spiced with rose harissa, and loaded with heritage tomatoes and gorgonzola; and the Caprese, with creamy mozzarella fiordilatte, heritage tomatoes, roast aubergine and artichoke heart. Each is made with ciabatta from artisan bakery Bread Ahead, brought in fresh from Borough Market each morning.
The Deli Upstairs’ steel countertop is lined with a selection of seasonally updated sides, including cavolo rosso and shredded carrot slaw, which fill the salad boxes packed with either mozzarella fiordilatte and homemade basil pesto, or smoky grilled aubergine, pomegranate and a rich sundried tomato pesto.
Peter Hughes said, “My brother and I have always been inspired by the street food and casual eateries from where we grew up, in Milan, and we wanted to bring some of the recipes of the paninoteca and panificio to London, just as they were intended, to break up the day with a delicious detour.”
In the evenings, the deli converts into a spritz bar, serving Mele e Pere’s signature aperitivo menu of effervescent cocktails and chicchetti.