AUTHENTIC ITALIAN CUISINE ARRIVES IN GREYTOWN AT LA PANCETTA

La Pancetta, a new ‘wine bar delicatessen restaurant’ will open in Greytown’s historic Wakelin House on Thursday, 15 October. Rachel Priestley of The Prodigal Daughter launches her new venture, supported by well-known hospitality personality Marcus Darley as front of house manager.

Rachel’s vision is to provide a touch of Italy in the heart of the Wairarapa offering cooking classes, a great selection of Italian and selected local wines, Prodigal Daughter cured meats platters, small plates, and a range of mains and desserts.

Living in Italy for 10 years, Rachel ran Italian restaurants, training chefs to cook authentic Italian cuisine. This is her first Italian restaurant in this country.

“La Pancetta will enable me to share my passion for Italian food and wine with our guests. Wakelin House provides the perfect venue for a venture I have long envisaged. The garden courtyard is perfect for al fresco dining and of course the Wairarapa produces some beautiful fresh produce which we’ll showcase on the menu,” Rachel Priestley said.

“While La Pancetta is essentially a deli restaurant with a great range of specialist products, you can also drop in for pan-fried sardines and a glass of prosecco or linger over a long lunch or dinner.”

Rachel is delighted to have Marcus Darley who will oversee the front of house, bringing his experience and passion for excellence to La Pancetta. Marcus is one of the pioneers of the Wellington hospitality industry. He set up and ran many fine establishments over the past 30 odd years. From The Romney Arms Tavern in Plimmer Lane; the first of Lion Breweries’ new boutique bars and restaurants, The Oaks Tavern & Brasserie; and The Barretts in Willis Street.

Marcus is probably best known for the stylish and award winning Brasserie Flipp where he, Dean Dunlop and Martin Bosley established a new style of dining in Wellington following the 1987 sharemarket crash. Heading over the hill for a quieter life in the Wairarapa, Marcus was involved in the creation of The White Swan Hotel, Greytown before buying the Tin Hut Hotel in Tauherenikau and rebuilding the dilapidated old pub into a popular, family friendly venue it is today.

Having leased The Tin Hut, Marcus was looking for a new challenge when the opportunity to become involved with La Panacetta presented itself.

La Pancetta will open from 11.00am to late Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and from 11.00am to late afternoon on Sundays.

ENDS

© Scoop Media