Former PizzaExpress execs to launch Brazilian street food restaurant
A new Brazilian street food restaurant is set to open in London's Soho next year operated by two former PizzaExpress executives.
Leo Alexander and Antonio Romani will open Galeto on Dean Street in March next year. The duo also run Mediterranean restaurant Hugo's in Egham, Surrey.
Galeto, which means "little chicken", will specialise in the street food of Rio, serving a selection of grilled meats next to salads and tapas style small dishes. The signature dish will be a marinated half chicken, grilled and served with two sides and sauces including tropical fruit barbeque, mango and lime, hot and spicy coriander, and garlic cream. The drinks list will offer South American beers and cocktails.
The 60-seat restaurant will feature an open kitchen with robata wood burning grills.
The kitchen is being overseen by head chef Romani, who previously owned and ran Italian restaurant Cornucopia in Soho in the 1990s and spent 15 years working as executive development chef at PizzaExpress.
Iran-born Alexander came to the UK aged 16 and by 17 owned his first pizzeria, Darios in Leeds, which he grew to a chain of 15. He later bought and ran the Cream nightclub in Leeds before joining PizzaExpress in 2000 as a business development manager. He joined Kettners in 2002, overseeing its refurbishment and relaunch, and also co-owns two restaurants in Spain and a nightclub in Prague.
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By Kerstin Kühn
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