Taste of Manchester's final story of 2021 was about Italian telly chef Gino D’Acampo taking over the former Piccolino site in Alderley Edge.
Gino’s entire group of restaurant brands in Manchester and beyond are included within the portfolio of the Individual Restaurant Group (which also owns Piccolino) but we haven’t got to the bottom of all that yet…
In the meantime, Gino set to work transforming the Italian restaurant into his new brand, Luciano, Alderley Edge, which launched in January of this year. The restaurant is named after Gino D’Acampo’s eldest son, following the opening of the first Luciano at the five-star ME London hotel in the capital’s West End in 2021.
D’Acampo was back in Alderley last week for a special lunch to preview some of the dishes from his new spring/summer menu which is available from April 7th. Gino’s new dishes focus on simplicity and seasonal ingredients and are prepared fresh from scratch on site. Dishes highlight some of the best producers in the UK and Italy, including sustainably farmed salmon from Loch Duart in the Scottish Highlands, heirloom tomatoes from Croftbank Nurseries in Hesketh Bank, Palourde clams from Dorset Shellfish Company, and pasta from Pastificio Liguori, one of the oldest pasta producers in Italy.
Tables in grey and white marble, upholstery in duck egg blue, and a buzzing open kitchen make the restaurant a pleasant and elegant venue. A major draw is Luciano’s impressive all-weather terrace and soon to launch piazza creating an ideal way to spend a sunny afternoon or evening with friends.
Cicchetti and antipasti, include taleggio and pea arancini; rock oysters with lemon and shallot vinegar; asparagus, poached Burford Brown egg and pecorino cheese; and the signature seasonal dish, courgette flower fritti with ricotta and Sardinian wildflower honey which has a natural touch of salt to balance its sweet character.
A range of beautiful crisp salads include the Loch Duart salmon with broad bean, spinach and citrus dressing; spinach, tomato, avocado, chestnut mushrooms and crispy guanciale; and grilled broccoletti and asparagus with grapes, chickpeas and warm croutons.
The classic spaghetti vongole – a personal favourite of the Italian chef – has been given a spring touch with clams, cherry tomatoes, garlic, chilli and parsley. Risotto primavera sees fresh asparagus and peas, folded through with the creamy risotto rice and finished with dolcelatte cheese, pecorino and a touch of butter. We really enjoyed a portion of fresh rocket and ricotta tortelloni served with sage butter and toasted pine nuts.
Luciano’s heartier selection of classic Italian meat dishes include two new dishes - marinated, poached and roasted chicken alla Luciano with Charlotte potatoes, bay leaf, red onion, lemon and rosemary; and a medium rare rack of lamb with peas and smoked pancetta.
Seafood dishes include the show-stopping grilled lobster simply brushed with butter and baked before being topped with a fresh cherry tomato and red onion salsa and served with a fresh mixed leaf salad on the side.
New desserts include a sweet take on the popular Neapolitan street food snack pizza fritta – fried pizza doughfilled with mascarpone and topped with Nutella, caramelised banana and toasted hazelnuts. There’s also crema Catalana with raspberry sorbet, and panna cotta, Amaretto, strawberries and honeycomb.
The restaurant offers a comprehensive drinks list to complement the food, including an impressive selection of wines, fizz, beers, spirits and cocktails. New creations for spring and summer include Lamponi e Rosa, a blend of Bombay Sapphire gin, Hayman’s Sloe gin, Aperol, rose and raspberry syrup and grapefruit juice; and Sour Cherry, a vegan twist on a classic sour, without the egg white.
“As a chef, the spring and summer months are often the most exciting as there are so many vibrant ingredients to work with in the kitchen,” Gino D’Acampo, said speaking at the launch of the new seasonal menu at Luciano. “The simple and beautiful flavours of the season are at the very heart of the new Luciano menu and I’m looking forward to seeing guests enjoying the dishes I have created alongside my team of talented chefs.”
www.lucianobyginodacampo.com, London Rd, Alderley Edge SK9 7QD
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