A trendy new foodie destination opened in Elephant and Castle last week with scenes of dancing, jazz, and an array of hard-to-find, healthy ingredients from across the Mediterranean.
The Mercato Metropolitano in Newington Causeway, had a soft opening on Thursday, overseen by food-obsessed entrepreneur, Andrea Rasca.
Andrea, who curated all of the stalls and independent food merchants ranged around the food hall, said: “Look at this. We’re only 50 per cent open, this is only the audition, but it’s already go, go, go.
“The full opening is going to be on September 15 with a new gym and a cinema. This is just us giving the people a little sample, and they are loving it.
“I invited the band and all the dancers here because this isn’t just a place where people should come and buy food. Markets are about social cohesion and people socialising.”
Andrea, 49, is a significant shareholder in the Eataly chain of food halls, which can be found dotted around the globe in Sao Paulo, Turin, New York, Rome and Tokyo.
The market includes a bakery, fishmonger, pasta maker, wine merchant and butcher, as well as stalls with delicacies from India and English classics.