Fans of Gino D’Acampo are likely familiar with his previous hospitality venture, My Restaurant. But Luciano takes that vibe and brings it to a whole new level. Contrasting his family-friendly ‘My Restaurant’ which is packed full of crowd-pleasing classics, Luciano enters into a more luxurious era for the chef’s brand – with beautifully crafted dishes that focus on flavour and quality above all else.
Launching at the new Alderley Edge venue on April 7th, the brand new menu sees a focus on the season’s key ingredients, each hand-picked from some of the best producers in the UK and Italy – resulting in ample flavour and seriously great quality.
Fresh, light, luscious and completely reflective of what’s in season right now, guests can enjoy an array of new dishes inspired by Gino’s travels, with plenty of antipasti, filling mains and fresh desserts to try out this spring-summer. His personal favourite? The delicate courgette flower fritti stuffed with ricotta and glazed with wildflower honey – a refreshing new starter that has an almost dessert-like flavour and texture. The signature dish is joined by the highly-recommended classic taleggio and pea arancini, alongside more special plates such as rock oysters with lemon and shallot vinegar.
For the main event, Luciano brings a carefully curated selection of flavour-packed dishes that are weather appropriate for the impending Cheshire sunshine – including Gino’s favourite; spaghetti with clams, cherry tomato, garlic, chilli and parsley; a risotto primavera; grilled lobster in Catalana sauce; Chicken alla Luciano; ricotta tortelloni; and a particularly show-stopping half rack of lamb, which is brushed with a honey and mint glaze, cooked sous-vide before roasting and served over a side of peas and pancetta. Finished with a lamb jus – we have to say, this might just be the stand out dish of the season (tried and tested by team Secret Manchester, of course).
While most would consider the main course the cornerstone of any good dinner, for me, it’s all about the dessert. And the brand new Nutella pizza fritta really hits the spot. While the pud consists of fried pizza dough, the dessert is light enough to enjoy after a big bowl of pasta, filled with mascarpone and topped with Nutella, caramelised banana and toasted hazelnuts. Neapolitan style, of course.
The tasty treat is joined this season by a refreshing crema Catalana with raspberry sorbet; and a classic panna cotta with Amaretto, strawberries and honeycomb – making the decision between desserts a pretty tough one indeed.
Speaking on the launch of the new seasonal menu at Luciano, Gino D’Acampo, said: “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. 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.”
The bright, airy and beautiful restaurant offers a luxurious vibe throughout, with an open kitchen where guests can watch the chefs at work, alongside both a covered and outdoor terrace where diners can enjoy fresh, summery cocktails in the sun. The restaurant also offers a menu for Bambinos, too, so kids don’t have to miss out on the culinary magic.
Luciano can be found at London Rd, Alderley Edge, SK9 7QD.