A young Liverpool chef has launched a new venue at Baltic Market.
La Bistroteca, the newest addition to the venue, has been created by Liverpool chef Livia Alarcon. Set to open on May 4, it will specialise in European bistro food, inspired by Livia's decade-long career so far.
Livia, 26, has firmly established herself in the restaurant industry. She's led some of the most beloved kitchens in the city and beyond, and even became head chef of Maray at just 21-years-old.
While at Maray, she was featured and awarded for her and her team's cooking in the Good Food Guide 2017 and 2018, and went on to be part of the BBC's Chefs' Brigade, travelling across six countries with Michelin Star chef, Jason Atherton.
READ MORE: Water Street businesses on Hooters as owner says 'we're not going anywhere'
Her experience on the show saw her bag a job offer at Atherton's Pollen Street Social in London, but she turned it down to return to Liverpool. Upon returning to her home city, she became head chef at Queens, where she cooked for famed food critic Jay Rayner.
Now, Livia is launching her first solo project at Baltic Market, with a varied menu of European bistro-inspired dishes. Starters include fried beef ragu bites, truffle cacio pepe mac and cheese bites, and popcorn mussels with salt and vinegar and mayonnaise. La Bistroteca will also offer larger plates like steaks, confit duck, and more.
Oliver Press, co-founder of Baltic Market, said: "When we started Baltic Market almost six years ago, our intention was for it to be a space and incubator for start-ups, new concepts and up-and-coming chefs. La Bistroteca by Liv is all of those things. Not only that, but Liv is also one of the best chefs in the city and beyond, so it's very exciting that she’ll be cooking and sharing her dishes at Baltic Market.
"La Bistroteca will definitely help raise the bar for the food being served at the market. Focusing on our approach to sustainability, we've also recently moved over to plates and glassware and so this combined with having more upmarket bistro style dishes, it feels like Baltic Market is growing up a little."
Livia Alarcon, creator of La Bistroteca, added: "This concept is based on various bistros around Europe. As an avid traveller and keen food enthusiast and chef, I have been fortunate enough to spend most of my childhood experiencing different parts of the world and I believe this has really shaped my direction with food and my own cooking.
"European bistro food speaks to me because of its connection, familiarity and very nonchalant attitude towards eating; it's almost a ritual in most European families to dine out and have the whole family around the table. This is what we envision for our guests at La Bistroteca - great familiar and comforting food that brings people together.
"Cooking is a labour of love for me and quality and flavour is paramount and to achieve this; you must work with the best products. This will allow us to create a special experience for our guests that will see them coming back for more."
Of the location of the new venture, Livia added: "The Baltic Market is the perfect location for myself and La Bistroteca. I've always cooked for someone at the restaurants I've worked for and now it's my time to expand and share my dishes with a completely different crowd. The Baltic Market attracts a new wave of guests of all ages, from the city, as well as further afield, and I'm really excited to get in the kitchen."
The Baltic Market can be found at Cains Brewery, Stanhope Street, L8 5XJ.
Receive our daily What's On newsletter, Friday Food and Drink and breaking news email alerts by signing up here
READ NEXT:
- Eurovision Song Contest 2023: Insider's guide to things to do in Liverpool
Man who quit job at JD Wetherspoon now serving 1,000 litres of Scouse at Eurovision
- I stayed at the dog friendly INNSiDE by Melia Hotel and didn't want to check out - review
- The Coral join Jamie Webster and Miles Kane for Eurovision tour
