Case Study
King of the Roast
How one London hotspot is bucking the ‘what’s next’ trend to bring British culinary classics into the 21st century
As a veritable melting pot of world cuisine, London has never seen a shortage of experimental new kitchens popping up - all rushing to capitalise on the next big food trend. But one restaurant, situated in the iconic Floral Hall of London’s Borough Market, is bucking the trend. Swapping the pursuit of the next-big-thing for a celebration of traditional British cooking, the aptly named Roast is breathing new life into some of Britain’s best-loved cuisine. And all while working within tight budget constraints. We take a look at how Roast bring their creative ideas to life – and how they balance budget with vision.
Crafting the Vision
Bringing big ideas to the table
With views across the bustling market below, and the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral above, there’s no question how well Roast’s breath-taking location sets the atmosphere for an unforgettable dining experience.
But the real impact lies in its ever-changing menu, which blends seasonally-picked ingredients with creative food presentation. Here Roast excels – bringing together vibrantly coloured locally sourced food, creative crockery, sommelier-selected drink pairings and complementary glassware in a true symphony of a service.
Alongside traditional white china, Roast adds depth with bold accent pieces - striking earthen ceramic coupe plates, speckled turquoise servers and black iron skillets.
But while forward-thinking food presentation is at the core of Roast’s aesthetic, its creative vision is – as ever – tempered by budget. And balancing the two can be tricky.
Shop now >Finding the Right Match
It’s not all about cost
With tightening budgets changing the restaurant landscape, tableware is often one of the first areas to see cutbacks. As a result, getting the right look has called for ever increasing levels of creative thinking – as well as solid supplier relationships.
"We look for the correct availability of solutions, so we can guarantee the chef’s vision is not compromised."Mattia Barbiero, Roast
Group Operations Manager for Roast, Mattia Barbiero, agrees, emphasising why a supplier that understands your needs is essential.
"Our presentation is chef-driven. It’s the job of operations to turn that vision into a reality.
“To do this,” he goes on, “We will look to around four or five different suppliers.
“This can sometimes lead to a decision being based on delivery speed and cost,” he adds. “But mainly we look for the correct availability of solutions, so we can guarantee the chef’s vision is not compromised.”
Shop now >"The presentation of our menu is ultimately chef driven… we look for the correct availability of solutions, so we can guarantee the chef’s vision is not compromised."
Mattia Barbiero, Roast
Perfect Partners
Supportive suppliers are indispensable
But what is it that guarantees this availability of solutions?
Mattia claims close ties with suppliers as the key to Roast’s success: “It’s about being able to trust your representative. When you have a firm idea of the service you’re after, you want your supplier to understand and meet that need.”
"It’s about being able to trust your representative."Mattia Barbiero, Roast
And while price is always a factor, it’s not the be all and end all that’ll put one supplier above the rest: “It’s not necessarily the cheapest options available that we’re looking for, but the ones that are correct for us,” Mattia adds, “As well as the service we’re given.
“Roast has built such a trust with Nisbets that sometimes we don’t request a quote from any other supplier as we know they have our best interest at heart.”
Shop now >"Roast has built such a trust with Nisbets that sometimes we don’t request a quote from any other supplier as we know they have our best interest at heart."
Mattia Barbiero, Roast
Shake it Up & Save
Change the way you work to cut costs
That said, cost consideration is still a key priority throughout the industry. And it doesn’t just stop at the dinner table. With tight conditions demanding adaptability, price has even begun to influence basic operational habits.
A prime example can be found in Roast’s handling of knife sharpening – an essential service for a restaurant with a traditionally meat-driven menu. What used to be outsourced to an external knife-sharpening service is now done in-house to cut costs.
This, Mattia enthusiastically states, is just one of the many ways Roast has slipped the nooses of budget – while simultaneously adding a fresh role to the day-to-day life of the kitchen, adding something a little different to staff routine.
Shop now >Fresh Thinking
Open-mindedness is key to success
The real message behind Mattia’s words perhaps lies in Roast’s attitude to staying ahead with creative thinking – in relation to both food and function.
Where another operator may try to force a great diner experience through a never-ending supply of ambitiously stacked dishes, Roast has instead explored a path of bettering themselves by perfecting classic british cuisine, and by making food presentation a core principle of every dish. And, of course, by achieving that vision with the support of their suppliers.
Just as their menu mixes slick modernity with treasured British cuisine, reimagining classic service and function with an open-minded approach is what keeps Roast on London’s ever-expanding food map – and Nisbets as their most trusted supplier.
Dare to Flair
Add depth to your dishes with creative crockery
Thinking outside the box when it comes to food presentation is what has put Roast on the map. And it’s a great way to add another layer to the dining experience.
“We might serve up a skillet of cauliflower and saffron crumble, or a roast dinner on a wide rimmed porcelain plate,” Mattia offers. “Even our infamous Big Ben cocktail comes in a mini clocktower!”
While you don’t need to get this creative to elevate your dishes visually, adding a little flair into the mix can really raise your game. And with a wide selection of creative crockery on offer, there's everything you need to bring something a little different to the table with Nisbets.
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