Tomorrow, Ampéli in London's Fitzrovia, which opened in January, will launch a new collection and delivery service through Deliveroo and Crave, with a menu inspired by island cuisines of Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean.
The restaurant will reopen to the public on Wednesday 8 July - reservations can be made via the website.
The takeaway menu is centred around a series of seasonal picnic boxes designed for guests to pick up and enjoy in nearby parks and green spaces or delivered to doorsteps across the capital. Available for groups of two or more, these boxes are accompanied by wines from Ampéli’s extensive list.
Showcasing light and summery selections from across Greece and the Eastern Med, each box features a selection of dishes by founder Jenny Pagoni, who has drawn inspiration from the cuisines of her favourite islands across the region. Each picnic box includes house baked breads, social plates and side dishes.
Channelling the spirit of seaside dining, Ampéli’s Pescatarian picnic box reflects maritime menus centred around seafood. Diners can feast on breads, a cod’s roe dip with pickled jalapenos; whipped feta dip with pistachio; salt cod croquettes; Prawn Saganaki with broccoli & feta; and a whole pan-fried sea bream with capers and lemon oil vinaigrette.
Showcasing the Mediterranean focus on fresh, seasonal vegetables – the Ampéli vegan picnic box features a smoked aubergine dip, tahini and walnuts; Hortopita – a vegan filo pastry parcel with spinach, parsley, dill and coconut yoghurt; Red Trahanas, a traditional greek style risotto with spiced semolina, peppers, courgettes and their Summer salad with freekeh, heritage tomatoes and baby spinach.
Also available is The Ampéli Picnic Box – a three course feast featuring dishes from the Pescatarian and Vegan boxes and includes their signature Souvlaki – smoky chicken thighs, Politiki salad and garlic yogurt and dessert of Loukoumades doughnuts or a Greek cheese plate.
Pagoni has also brought together a summer edit of the Ampéli wine list, an abbreviated showcase featuring dynamic producers from emerging regions who are bearing the torch for modern Greek wines. This list is made up of 21 wines perfectly matched to dishes from the picnic boxes.
Ampéli’s summer selection features a thrilling Rosé de Xinomavro’ from star winemaker Apostolos Thymiopoulos, a delicate and crisp Assyrtiko from Santorni producer Argyros Estate, a fine Champagne-style sparkling blend from Macedonia and a refined Agiorgitiko made in the hills of the Peloponnese.
Pagoni said, “I’ve been dearly missing home these past few months and am delighted to be able to offer our menu which I hope will allow our fans and regulars a moment of escape (in spirit) to the Greek islands.
'We’re also looking forward to re-opening the restaurant this summer – but in the meantime are pleased that Ampéli can continue to be a place where people visit to eat and drink something new they might never have tasted, through our dishes that reflect the diversity of the Eastern Mediterranean.”
