Andrea Rasca, founder of Mercato Metropolitano, talk us through the thinking behind the new venue and how this will help in the regeneration of the Elephant & Castle district of London.
Andrea Rasca, founder of Mercato MetropolitanoHow do you see on-trade drinks operating in the site?We will have multiple choices of on-trade drinks. From the juice bar to the cocktail bar, from the good honest Italian wine to the biodynamic selection of small producers, from the craft beer to a small selection of Champagne producers. It is going to be a paradise of choices.
You promise two sommeliers on site – what they will be doing at the venue?
The sommeliers have a long experience in the local scene, they will help the clients select the best wine for their needs. We will also hold wine tasting courses in the enoteca.
What do you see as the drink trends over the next 18 months?
It is going to change even more towards a preference for small, artisanal, healthy and possibly organic/biodynamic selection.
What is the philosophy behind Mercato Metropolitano as a venue?The venue itself is a small community within the bigger Elephant & Castle community and the London one. It is a place where: honest, good and healthy food from small producers can be found; where traceability and origin are two important concepts; where eating around a table brings people together; where tradition meet innovation; where one of the oldest maker of Italian gelato meet the new food tech innovators; where after a good old boxing or swing class one can enjoy a movie; and then have a wonderful dinner. It is a place where values and social inclusion are part of the experience
Where has the inspiration come from?
The inspiration was to go back to how things should be. Back to good quality, honest ingredients. The world has for too long been mass producing food for cheap prices and it’s extremely damaging to our bodies and to our environments. Mercato Metropolitano is the opposite of this. Mercato Metropolitano is built to put good back into our tummies and our world.
Mercato Metropolitano promises to breathe new life to a previously ignored area of south London
What is the target market – demographic-wise?
Everybody! Mercato Metropolitano welcomes all people through its doors as this is a new food retail concept that is built out of a love of food and people. You’ll see families and friends alike, sitting around and eating and chatting.Why London and why this part of London?London is my second home and I love it because it is a very open and a very global thinking city. You can get the best of culture and the best cuisines here and I wanted to bring the concept of ‘small is beautiful’ to an area that up until now, hasn’t had much to offer in terms of food and culture. Elephant & Castle has a strong sense of community as a location, and as the philosophy of Mercato Metropolitano is very much situated within family and friends, we hoped that the residents would welcome us into their area. So far, so good!
What part does drinks play at Mercato Metropolitano – both on-trade and off-trade?
Food is at the heart of what we do, but what is food without drink! On site you’ll find a whole range of drinks providers who all fit the Mercato Metropolitano ethos. You won’t find big brands here. From a spectacular enoteca that serves hand picked natural wines from small wineries in Italy, to craft beers brought to you by The Italian Job. There’ll be a wide choice from the finest small producers.
