Ludlow Cicchetti

If you don't understand why Ludlow is one of may favourite places in the world, I can only guess that you've never been!  Another of my favourite places is Venice where, when you need a rest from the amazing architecture etc., you can relax in a bàcari and have something to eat and drink. Cicchetti is like the Spanish tapas, but better (in my humble opinion).  You can have a little plate as a snack, or lots of different plates to make a meal.

So when I heard that chef Martyn Emsen, and his wife Jayne, had opened Ludlow Cicchetti at the top of Broad Street, I couldn't get there fast enough!  

Martyn has already had a mention in this blog, as he owns Ludlow Traditional Smokehouse.  Amongst other things, he makes the most amazing hot smoked trout pâté and smoked salmon pâté. 

Inside the shop: 

you'll find all manner of Italian food and drink.  There's extra virgin olive oil and superior balsamic vinegars, and mostarda di frutta (candied fruit in a mustard flavoured syrup). 

There's great attention to detail here, Martyn (pictured at the top of this post) is passionate about where he sources his food.  Meat is cut with a hand turned slicer, so that he can control the speed the blade turns, so it doesn't melt the fat.

You can sit down and have something to eat:

like Bruschetta - with their own goat's cheese ricotta, white truffle honey, Mozzarella Bocconcini, chilli, basil, mint, mixed mushrooms, 24 month Parmesan (served warm), smoked salmon or prosciutto, scrambled egg, fruit toast, honey berries and ricotta salata.  

To drink you can have a ristretto, a Bellini (Prosecco and peach purée), and I'm struggling to think of anywhere else where I can get a glass of Italian wine for just £2.30!  If you prefer to keep it local, you could have marmalade or rhubarb vodka form Chase Distillery.

I love the way this place has been decorated - a sign on the wall says "small plates, large conversations". It's a great place to chill out this Christmas and enjoy the crazy mixture of very local and very Italian food.

Ludlow Cicchetti
10 Broad Street
Ludlow
Shropshire
SY8 1NG

Tel: 07890 412873