Avert your eyes, Italians – this one may hurt. A new British-Italian cafe has opened its door in Peckham, and it’s serving up ‘authentically Britalian’ fare. Named Café Britaly, the peculiar concept courtesy of the twisted minds of Chef Alex Purdie and Richard Crampton-Platt.
The duo met when Purdie was working as a sous-chef at Soho’s Bocca di Lupo. Campton-Platt was working as ops director of the restaurant and the beloved gelateria across the road, Gelupo. They put their minds together and came up with the concept. And you know we had to give it a try – with an Italian in tow, no less!
Despite some of the controversial dishes Café Britaly will be serving, the all-day cafe intends to celebrate “Britain’s love affair with Italian cuisine”. Serving up nostalgic renditions of beloved Italian dishes viewed from the perspective of the British Isles, Britalian cuisine takes British classics and updates them with Italian ingredients and vice versa, bringing together the best of both worlds.
On the menu at Café Britaly
Probably the most shocking and contentious dish on the menu is the spaghetti carbonara. Their take on the classic dish is made (very non-traditionally) with cream and comes topped with a greasy spoon-style fried egg. The menu also includes a ‘Full Italian’ breakfast on the menu which comes with fennel sausages, fried pizza dough, and beans inspired by the Tuscan dish fagioli all’uccelletto.
Before any Italian cuisine traditionalists get up in arms, Café Britaly’s intention isn’t to start any arguments. Instead, they’re hoping to spawn conversation. Richard explains the concept behind the cafe:
“From the 1950s onwards, Italian-run cafés gave many Britons their first taste of Italian food, served alongside more familiar native dishes, and adapted to their tastes. Café Britaly wishes to rediscover that legacy and revitalise it in a way that’s resolutely modern with a tinge of nostalgia.”