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Celebrated North East
restaurateur Terry Laybourne is opening a new Italian restaurant in Newcastle.
The curtain rose at Caffé
Vivo when it opened at the city's Live Theatre on March 3 following a
major redevelopment at the vibrant venue.
The 78-seater restaurant,
complete with private dining area, is the latest venture in the
restaurateur's expanding 21 Hospitality Group and will serve a rich
variety of authentic Italian food.
In keeping with the group ethos,
Caffe Vivo's ingredients will be carefully sourced from artisans
across Italy to create a range of fantastic dishes such as homemade
rosemary foccacia, simple bowls of pasta or Tuna and white bean salad
- prepared by head chef Luca Mastromattei.
Luca, who worked as Terry's chef
de partie at Jesmond Dene House for 18 months, comes from an Italian
cooking family. He recently worked at his parents' highly regarded
restaurant in his home country and has also worked across the continent.
Terry said: "I love
Italian food and have spent a significant amount of time sourcing the
best products we can get from Italy. Caffe Vivo will follow the same
philosophy as our other restaurants using the best produce to create
simple, generous, flavoursome food.
"Our head chef, Luca
Mastromattei, has been a big influence in the creation of Caffé
Vivo. Cooking's in Luca's blood and he's an excellent chef.
"When Luca worked with us
at Jesmond Dene House he used to make these amazing bowls of pasta
for the other chefs to try. We wanted to create a stage for him to
perform on and this is it.
"It's different to the
other restaurants we have in the group. It has its own unique style
and is a chance for people to enjoy different tastes and cooking
styles but the same high standards of quality."
With intimate glass front and
exposed brickwork, Caffé Vivo offers an atmospheric dining
experience day and night and is ideal for lunches, suppers and
pre-theatre specials.
It will open Monday to Saturday
between 10am and 10pm. Food will be served all day with a fixed menu
at lunch
Head chef Luca explains: "The
atmosphere will be light and bright and we'll offer authentic
sunshine food characteristic of the best Italian cooking. I'm really
looking forward to seeing the place full.
"Just like the
performances at the theatre, our menus will include seasonal produce
sourced from Italy to reflect the entertainment." |
