New Kettering restaurant will showcase Italy's regional delights

A restaurant serving up wood-fired pizzas, Italian tapas and street food is set to open in Kettering.
Fiori will open in part of the unit which has been Mu Mu for several years.Fiori will open in part of the unit which has been Mu Mu for several years.
Fiori will open in part of the unit which has been Mu Mu for several years.

Fiori - which translates as flowers - is expected to open its doors in late February or early March in Rockingham Road. It will be in part of the unit which is currently occupied by Mu Mu, with the burger joint set to downsize and run as a smaller, separate restaurant next door.

Owner Gareth Di Fante said they are still in the process of finalising their menu but that it will focus on different regions from the food-mad country including Neapolitan, food from northern Italy and the Bologna region.

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He said: "My family are Italian and I go there three times a year. It's all about the food there.

Fiori is opening soon.Fiori is opening soon.
Fiori is opening soon.

"We have got three chefs who are coming over from Italy to work for us and we will be sourcing Italian ingredients.

"It won't be a huge menu but one changes regularly. There will be wood-fired sourdough pizza using a traditional oven, Italian tapas and Italian street food.

"I don't want to be that restaurant that serves spaghetti bolognese because that's been done by other people."

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The 56-seater restaurant, which will create 10 new jobs, will also include a lounge bar area for those wanting to pop in for a casual aperitivo.

Mr Di Fante said Fiori will also serve traditional Italian deserts with a relaxed atmosphere and add something new to the town which has a big Italian community.

Work is under way to transform the restaurant and, although its interior is being kept under wraps for now, Mr Di Fante promised it will look "really cool".

Mu Mu opened five years ago in 42 Rockingham Road and soon expanded by knocking through into 44 Rockingham Road.

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Under the transition Fiori will be in number 42 - which was previously an Italian restaurant - with Mu Mu separated off in number 44 which Mr Di Fante said he hopes will create a warmer atmosphere in the burger joint.

It remains business as usual at Mu Mu but the restaurant is being downsized because of the boom in their takeaway offering. They now employ 12 drivers as they make 300 deliveries a week.

Mr Di Fante said: "With the rise in deliveries the business has changed. A lot of our customers now order their food to be delivered rather than coming in.

"We're as busy as ever but it's going out in a bag rather than through bums on seats."

Any enquiries about Fiori should be sent to [email protected].

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