Long time coming: Mitshel Ibrahim is said to have been planning the opening for a while
(Picture: Rebecca Dickson)The chef behind long-standing Hackney favourite Ombra is set to open a new all-day deli, bakery and pasta shop close by his original restaurant.
Mitshel Ibrahim will open Forno early next year, in January; it will sit a few minutes walk across from the popular Italian Ombra, which itself has been canal-side for some eleven years.
Initially opening as an all day — but not nighttime — operation, Forno will offer filled pasta dishes, fresh sauces, cold cuts, Italian cheeses, freshly baked breads and a selection of wines, all available for takeaway. That said, both breakfast and lunch will be served across a small number of tables; there will be 10 seats inside and 20 al fresco.
Breakfasts will include cornetti, maritozzi and sfogliatelle — all small Italian breads and pastries — while lunch will mostly revolve around sandwiches made with foccaccia, and soups. Later in the year, Ibrahim plans to open now-and-then during the evening, serving pizza, pasta and pouring out Negronis and wine.
As part of the launch, Ibrahim is looking to raise up to £60,000 using Kickstarter. Those who contribute will get various rewards, including a limited edition white Bigoli T-shirt, or an invite to a bottomless pizza night. Others will be able to have a pizza named after them for a month.
While details are presently scarce, more is expected to follow later this year, while the deli’s Instagram account will share details of the evening events in particular.
