Chris Leach and David Carter to launch nose-to-tail concept Manteca in London’s Soho

Sager + Wilde’s Chris Leach and David Carter of Smokestak will launch a permanent home for nose-to-tail concept Manteca in London’s Soho on Friday.

The permanent site, which will showcase handmade pasta and fire-cooked meat, follows the pair’s residency in rotating London pop-up 10 Heddon Street, which received a rave 9/10 review from The Guardian's restaurant critic Grace Dent.

Leach (pictured) said: “David and I were really happy with the response to our 10 Heddon Street residency, and I’m looking forward to bringing that same spirit to Soho. Manteca is really an accumulation of what I’ve learned in various kitchens over the years, from the live fire cooking of Pitt Cue Co to the seasonality of Petersham Nurseries. It’s all about a love of sharing really good food with friends.”

Inspired by his travels through Rome and Naples, Leach, whose CV also includes Kitty Fisher’s, aims to capture the conviviality of Italian dining as well as taking cues from the food scenes of LA and New York.

The chef will buy whole animals from small independent farms, using everything from the skin to fat. Small plates will include duck sausage, prunes and Armagnac as well as pig head fritti with pilacca – a fried chili pepper sauce. Pasta dishes may feature tonnarelli, brown crab cacio e pepe; or agnolotti dal plin, pork and hazelnuts; while larger dishes from the wood grill will include grilled lamb neck and charred cauliflower, Sicilian pomegranate and flatbread; or pork chop, apple rosemary mostarda and mustard greens.

Manteca’s wine list will be curated by Emily Acha Derrington and features bottles from Italy, Europe and North America. The cocktail list will focus on amaro, the Italian herbal liqueurs.