From fine dining to fast casual… the team behind a Michelin-recommended restaurant in St Aubin have expanded their Italian food empire into town.
Entrepreneurial husband-and-wife team Kate Haslam and Marcello Montanari have opened Cultura on Beresford Street in St Helier – a new venture that aims to translate the philosophy of the acclaimed Enoteca into a more accessible, all-day format.
Offering everything from coffee and pastries to pizza, pasta, panini and artisan gelato, the couple say their new space brings the same emphasis on quality ingredients, design and authentic hospitality to a central, high-footfall location – a natural next step in the evolution of their growing brand.
Express caught up with them to learn more…
What was the idea behind Cultura and what did you want to create with the new space?
“The idea behind Cultura is to bring our view of Italian food culture to Jersey – the classics everyone loves: sourdough pizza, fresh pasta, gourmet panini, quality coffee and artisan gelato.
“The interiors are inspired by Piet Mondrian’s artwork and Bauhaus style. We wanted to bring out the character of the venue while projecting our vision for the space.
“We’ve created a cool and casual environment where people can pop in for a morning coffee and pastry, enjoy a long lunch, grab a quick panino, or pick up a takeaway pizza and gelato for dinner.”
What can visitors expect – and are there any menu highlights you’d like to share?
“As in Enoteca, we prioritise ingredient sourcing and traceability – from San Marzano peeled tomatoes and organic wind-milled spelt flour from Norfolk, to extra virgin olive oil from Mount Vulture, and Sicilian and Piedmontese nuts for our gelato.
“We’ll be serving classic and regional Italian pizza flavours, traditional pasta dishes, Italian natural wines, classic coffees and homemade gelato from the counter.
“There will also be limited-edition items such as our current Wagyu Pancetta pizza and Wagyu Mortadella salume from Ca Negra Farm in Italy.
“Our gelato counter features flavours like Bronte Pistachio, Piedmont Hazelnut, Sicilian Almond, Fior di Latte and Ugandan Chocolate, alongside seasonal sorbets. We want to encourage Jersey to embrace Italian gelato culture and choose quality over quantity.”
Can you tell us about the team behind Cultura and Enoteca?
“We’re husband and wife Marcello and Kate – and our newest arrival, one-week-old Mila!
“Marcello is from Modena, a city in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region, where he trained as a chef before working in London and later moving to Jersey as a private chef. With many years’ experience in kitchens, and a strong belief in quality, he wants to showcase his heritage with typical Italian recipes and knowledge.
“Kate comes from a design background, having worked as a kitchen and interior designer.
“Together, we opened Enoteca three years ago, and we’re lucky to have a fantastic team ready to welcome guests and make them feel at home.”
How will Cultura differ from Enoteca?
“Our aim was to expand the Enoteca concept into St Helier – keeping the same menu quality but adding more takeaway and grab-and-go options like our our pizza al taglio slice.
“The difference lies in the vibe of the place, which reflects the character of the environment – Enoteca more elegant, and Cultura more vibrant.”
Anything else you’d like readers to know?
“At both Enoteca and Cultura, we’re proud to be Jersey’s first artisan gelateria. We want to introduce the island to culture of gelato – which is very different from ice cream.
“Come and try it for yourself – our motto is simple: Cultura – join the culture.“
GALLERY…
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