Clara’s in Bethnal Green Road is serving up coffee, sandwiches and artisanal goods by day – before turning into a wine bar and dining room in the evening.
It’s the latest venture from George Hartshorn, who’s also behind The Farrier in Camden Market, and has a focus on warm hospitality and seasonally-led cooking.
Artist’s impression of Clara’s Deli which opens this week.(Image: Clara’s)
The deli side opened at 8am today (October 13) serving coffee from Extract Coffee Roasters, pastries and breads from Hackney favourite The Dusty Knuckle, and house made cakes.
The lunch offer sees freshly baked buns and focaccia filled with the likes of pistachio and mortadella – alongside a daily changing salad box.
Until 7pm deli customers can buy sliced charcuterie and cheeses, butchery cuts, tinned fish, and Mediterranean staples from olives to pickles.
Suppliers include Flourish, Provisions, HG Walter butchers, and Neal’s Yard Dairy.
On Saturday mornings they plan to showcase their freshly made mozzarella, emerging, Puglian style, still warm from the stretching bath.
Then from Wednesday through to Sunday Clara’s will dim the lights and become a 45 seat wine bar and dining room with a lunch service at weekends.
Clara’s GM Rochelle Hutchinson, is ex River Café, with a beady eye for fresh produce and incredible pastry, while Head Chef Elie Fourcroy – formerly of Artusi in Peckham which was awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand this year on her watch – has a produce-first cooking philosophy and a Mediterranean-inspired menu of sharing plates.
Expect oysters, rillettes, bruschetta con tomate, and seasonal salad Niçoise with variations such as confit duck, pickled beetroot and broad beans.
Signature dishes also include: Conejo en Salmorejo – rabbit braised with pimentón and herbs, with Tenerife red wine vinegar, and Manchego Fritti – Clara’s ‘continental hero dish’, a fusion of Spanish manchego and French panisse batter, fried until golden and topped with Italian parmesan.
The wine list focuses on low-intervention bottles and small producers across the UK and Europe, supplied by Les Caves de Pyrene, Tutto Wines, Ancestral Wines and newcomer Nabeeth Wines who work with producers from Palestine.
Bottles are chosen to complement Clara’s produce-led cooking or are “wines with a purpose,” from producers who want to create social, economical or ecological change.
Once up and running Clara’s will host wine tastings and workshops, including a charcuterie workshop where you learn to make your own salami.
The first Wine Bar and Bistro sitting will take place on October 17.
Clara’s Deli is now open at 17 Bethnal Green Rd, Shoreditch E1.
