Vercelli offers taste of Italian invention
Last updated at 17:16, Thursday, 26 June 2008
A NEW Italian restaurant opened in Hexham this week – with two very familiar business figures at the helm.
Vercelli threw open its doors on Priestpopple yesterday to reveal the results of an extensive refurbishment.
Formerly La Stalla restaurant, the transformation followed weeks of hard work put in by new owners, Bridgette Ritchie and Louise Brison.
Bridgette is better known as the former owner of the Watling Street Cafe in Corbridge, which she ran for over 20 years.
Meanwhile, Louise was a hairdresser – a stalwart of her father’s hairdressing salon, Antonio Da Roma’s, at the bottom of Priestpopple.
Ready for a change in direction, the women first pooled their resources two years ago to open Pfizz children’s boutique, just yards away from Antonio Da Roma’s.
But when the opportunity came up to buy the restaurant opposite, they jumped at the chance.
“It’s a bigger venture and we could see the potential,” said Louise.
“We like to work hard – we get a buzz out of doing good business!”
They aim to make the most of Vercelli’s location, situated as it is on one of Hexham’s main thoroughfares.
It will open each morning at 8.30am, Monday to Saturday, and operate as a coffee bar throughout the morning – take-outs will also be available.
But it will come into its own as a fully-fledged restaurant each lunchtime and evening.
The singularly-named Stefano, who has been in restaurants all his working life, will be firmly in charge of the kitchen.
A chef who has worked all over the country, including Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and Newcastle, he intends to add his own twist of invention to what will be traditional Italian food.
Besides the pizza and pasta staples, his signature dishes will include the likes of monkfish wrapped in Parma ham with fresh basil, served with a fresh tomato, roasted garlic and basil sauce.
“I aim to keep the menu simple, but outstanding – combining traditional methods and the freshest ingredients with a modern twist,” he said.
“I’m not interested in powders or ready-made stocks and sauces – I cook from scratch to produce the finest flavours possible.”
Besides the main menu and a specials board, which Stefano will use to “show off a few, more elaborate dishes”, there will be a lunchtime menu, too.
That will be tailored to the time impoverished customer restricted to a lunch-hour.
“The ingredients will be fresh and cooked to order as usual, but we will be catering for people who are in a hurry,” he said.
Vercelli restaurant will be open for lunch from noon till 2pm and from 5.30pm onwards, Monday to Saturday.
Last orders will be taken at 9pm from Monday to Thursday, and at 9.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
First published at 13:27, Thursday, 26 June 2008
Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk
