The Back Door Kitchen extravaganza

Amidst the excitement of the Road Show down Exhibition Road last week, behind a big black door at the lustrous venue of the Goethe Institute, diners eagerly anticipated the culinary wonders of the Italian two-man team, Back Door Kitchen.  The evening was part of the Supperclub Summit, a number of evenings hosted by popular supperclubs and collaborations at the Goethe Institute in Kensington.

The talented Roberto and Fabio joined forces to start their hugely popular, Italian-themed supperclub from their flat south of the river just under a year ago, and since have reintroduced Italian home cooking on an exciting level in the underground cookery scene.

Roberto, a chef by day, and Fabio – a multimedia journalist – have combined creativity, home cooking and art into their food.  This can be seen by their penultimate dish inspired by American artist Jackson Pollack: a platter of chargrilled squid, prawns, octopus are adorned with coloured mayo – an artist’s palette, if you like.

Their dishes make use of sustainable and locally-sourced produce from London markets, ensuring freshness is continuous in their courses, and the ingredients speak for themselves. The Burrata, a fresh Italian cheese, was delivered that day by an Italian supplier, outstanding in creaminess and taste, accompanied with a Sicilian salad, and made up of more than 15 ingredients.

Flavours of Spain’s “spicy chorizo, bejewelled freshly stuffed squid” from Furness in Borough Market, and the “smoky chorizo infused with herbs” made a wonderful dish.  The perfect Scallops Saltimbocca, wrapped in 24 months cured San Daniele ham with toasted Fregola, was a medley of textures and flavours bursting in your mouth.

The exhilarating dish of Ravioli in Bianco e Nero, freshly skilled homemade ravioli, topped with squid ink, baby octopus, stuffed with potatoes and anchovies finished off with fresh pecorino, was all the flavours of Italy in a mouthful. 

And let’s not forget the tiramisu, probably one of the best I have tasted: the chef worked wonders, with soft layers of sponge, rich coffee flavour, and the whole thing generously covered in cocoa powder, making a substantial and blissful finish to the meal.

This was a night of generous tastings of authentic Italian home cooking, charmed hosting – well worth a visit to their raved regular supperclub nights, a recommended alternative to heading to a restaurant. Viva Italia!

Selina Periampillai

For more information on regular Supperclub nights visit its website here, or email backdoorkitchen47@gmail.com to enquire or book.