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Set atop a 14,000 Sq ft four-storey Victorian warehouse, Maene will be a new restaurant and bar opening within Mission - the modern yoga & movement space - from 3rd April 2023 on Fashion St, Spitalfields.
Evocative of European bistro culture Maene is relaxed, modern cooking using British produce.
This will mark the second opening from Nick Gilkinson, who opened Townsend, located in the Whitechapel Gallery, in 2020. The team will be headed up by chef Amber Francis who has come from Zebra Riding Club & Bermondsey Larder and GM Christina Santelli from 12:51 by James Cochran.
Commenting on the new opening, Nick said: "We have slowly but surely been bringing Maene to life, working alongside Mission to transform the third floor of this old clothing warehouse into a restaurant and cafe. From the beginning, both I and the founders of Mission, wanted Maene to be a place for people to come together, be it for dinner with friends, breakfast with work colleagues or a drink on the terrace after a yoga class. Much like Townsend, the menu is seasonal and champions British produce, whilst the cocktail list will make use of waste from the restaurant and cafe."
Maene will take over the top floor of the historic Victorian clothing factory.
During the summer, Maene will welcome a large sun-trap terrace for dining, with views over the East End and allotment style wooden planters where Amber will grow herbs and other produce.
The private lift entrance will lead guests to a versatile open plan 54-cover restaurant with counter seating looking onto the open kitchen, a large 18-seat family table and intimate banquette seating.
The 25-cover cocktail bar will utilise by-products from the restaurant and ground-floor cafe to create a menu of savoury cocktails, including an almond croissant daiquiri and sourdough old fashioned, which will sit alongside eight signature serves.
Amber began as a classically trained chef, working at The Ritz and Royal Academy of Culinary Arts. Stages at world-class restaurants such as The French Laundry and Benu further instilled her technique and finesse.
Amber then began focusing on a produce-driven philosophy at restaurants including, Bermondsey Larder and The Zebra Riding Club.
Throughout her career, Amber has been extensively involved in community programs such as the Hackney School of Food and The Felix Project.
Community is a large part of Amber's passion for food and Maene's philosophy mirrors that passion. She was recently seen on Great British Menu and celebrated in CODE's 30 Under 30 as well as the British Restaurant Awards Young Chef of the Year.
Open breakfast till dinner, the menu will take guidance from what the season has to offer: Mersea oysters with pickled cucumber and sorrel (£4.50); whipped cods roe, allotment vegetables (£10), burnt leek tart, Berkswell, pickled onion (£12) and Paddock Farm lamb, spring greens and hazelnut pesto (£18) served alongside Keats farm salad with confit garlic and miso dressing (£4). For pudding; Pine panacotta, English apple and wood sorrel, and almond ice cream, poached rhubarb and black pepper sable (£9).
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Great British Menu chef Amber Francis appointed head chef of Nick Gilkinson's new Maene bistro
Joshua Cutress is the new Head Chef at Michelin-starred pub The Harwood Arms
Mark Poynton launches his new Caistor Hall restaurant in Norfolk
Guy Ivesha and Tom Cenci launch their new Soho bistro, Nessa
Great British Menu 2023 chefs: Amber Francis, South West Heat
Amber Francis named head chef at Robin Gill restaurant, The Zebra Riding Club at Birch
