Everybody loves a comeback, and Jamie Oliver is making his in the form of a shiny new restaurant in the heart of Covent Garden. That’s right: four years after his chain of UK restaurants, Jamie’s Italian, went into administration, he’s back at it with his new venture, Jamie Oliver Catherine Street.
The celeb chef’s new spot is set to open in November on (you guessed it) Catherine Street, and will be a love letter to Britain’s rich and diverse food culture – not a Turkey Twizzler in sight.
Steering the kitchens ship as head chef, is Chris Shail, who previously worked alongside Jamie for eight years. Also joining the team will be pastry chef, Emma Jackson, who has worked at the acclaimed Soho Farmhouse and Petersham Nurseries. The dynamic duo will be creating the menu for the new restaurant alongside Oliver, and diners can expect old favourite Jamie dishes as well as bespoke, new recipes, created specifically for for the Catherine Street eatery.
The product-focused restaurant will be championing independent producers and suppliers, and will be using ingredients from the trusted likes of Flourish Produce, Westcombe Dairy, Cobble Lane Cured, and Hill Street Chocolate. There will also be a collaboration with Walthamstow favourite, Wild Card Brewery. It all sounds pretty pukka to me.
We can expect 130 internal covers alongside a 30-cover terrace, with the front of house team being headed up by Caezer Cruz (who has worked with Jamie for sixteen years).
Jamie says: “I’m extraordinarily excited to be opening Jamie Oliver Catherine Street in the heart of Covent Garden, and stepping back into the UK restaurant industry that I love so dearly”. He added: “It feels like an opportunity to celebrate where I’ve come from, and I’ll be sharing dishes inspired by the food that’s shaped me, dishes that I grew up cooking on the line. My hope is that Jamie Oliver Catherine Street will be a wonderfully welcoming, happy place to dine, with great service, and delicious food at its heart”.