The former head chef at popular Liverpool restaurant Maray is set to launch her own kitchen at Baltic Market.

La Bistroteca will join the likes of Hafla Hafla, Little Furnace and Spice Thai at the Stanhope Street venue from Thursday 4 May.

Created by Livia Alarcon, the new kitchen will specialise in European bistro-inspired cuisine whichs draws on her decade-long experience in the food industry.

Livia, 26, became head chef of Maray at just 21 years old and was featured and awarded for herself and her team’s cooking in the Good Food Guide 2017 and 2018. She later went on to be part of the BBC’s Chefs’ Brigade TV series, travelling across six countries with Michelin Star chef Jason Atherton.

Livia lasted for the whole series and was offered a job at Atherton’s Pollen Street Social in London, but she turned it down to return to Liverpool where she then became head chef at Queens wine bar and bistro.

Stand out starters at La Bistroteca will include fried beef ragu bites, truffle cacio pepe, mac & cheese bites and popcorn mussels with salt and vinegar and mayonnaise.

The kitchen will also offer larger plates such as steak frites – an 8oz steak with Cafe De Paris butter, crispy potato and watercress with either peppercorn or chimichurri sauce, fish and chips with minted peas, confit duck and peppercorn choux bun and a potato rosti topped with creamed spinach and chimichurri.

Livia says: “This concept is based on various bistros around Europe. As an avid traveller and keen food enthusiast and chef, I have been fortunate enough to spend most of my childhood experiencing different parts of the world and I believe this has really shaped my direction with food and my own cooking.

“European bistro food speaks to me because of its connection, familiarity and very nonchalant attitude towards eating; it’s almost a ritual in most European families to dine out and have the whole family around the table.

“This is what we envision for our guests at La Bistroteca – great familiar and comforting food that brings people together. Cooking is a labour of love for me and quality and flavour is paramount and to achieve this; you must work with the best products. This will allow us to create a special experience for our guests that will see them coming back for more.

“The Baltic Market is the perfect location for myself and La Bistroteca. I’ve always cooked for someone at the restaurants I’ve worked for and now it’s my time to expand and share my dishes with a completely different crowd.”

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