Da Pino is taking over from Bianca's in Stoke Newington, adding a new Puglian touch

We've seen a lot of restaurants pivoting into something new recently, and a subset of that is the team change. That's when the restaurant changes, but some of the original team stay on to run its new incarnation. A recent example of that was Sesta, which saw the head chef of Pidgin launch a restaurant in the same place (which is now Sally Abés Teal). 

Now there's another one to look out for. Last weekend, Bianca's in Stoke Newington, from the same team as Michelin-starred Casa Fofo, announced it was closing. However, it wasn't quite the end as two members of the team are relaunching it as new restaurant. Chef Giuseppe Pino and front-of-house manager Federico, who met when Giuseppe was head chef of Casa Fofo, are relaunching it as Da Pino. We caught up with Giuseppe to find out what they have planned. 

What can you tell us about yourselves?

We’re both from Puglia and have a similar attitude towards hospitality, so we worked well together from the get-go.

My origins are humble. I started off as a pizza chef in my hometown, Altamura. Since moving to London at 19, I’ve had the opportunity to work in many independent restaurants, including Pidgin and The Marksman, and developed a love for the East London scene.

Federico is from Salento and also started working in restaurants at a young age. His London career began at Flat Three in Holland Park, then he was able to develop a more relaxed, personal approach at Casa Fofò. Most recently, he has been managing Bianca’s in Stoke Newington, whose beautiful space we’ll be taking over to launch Da Pino, so he has a close connection with the space, its guests and the neighbourhood.

What made you decide to launch your own restaurant?

Federico and I wanted to bring the experience of Southern Italian warmth and hospitality to the London dining scene. When we go and visit family in Puglia, food is always central: we reconnect with each other over shared apertivi, delicious primi and secondi, and always a little amaro to finish. We wanted to recreate that generosity of spirit but in a modern context, infusing some of the more creative flavours and techniques we’ve developed while working in London.

Opening a restaurant has always been the dream, so when we had the opportunity to take over such a local gem in the heart of Stoke Newington, it was a no-brainer. The restaurant also has a top-notch sound system, so we feel we can create something fun, with great tunes, a lively atmosphere and quality food and wine.

So what can we expect from the menu?

The menu will be seasonal and changing frequently. The idea is that you’ll be able to come back multiple times and try new dishes, but also revisit some favourites.

One dish we’d love to open with is riso, patate e cozze, which is very traditional to Puglia. Our version will be made with grilled rice, confit potatoes and lots of fresh mussels.

Despite the strong Italian influence, Da Pino is not a trattoria. My style of cooking takes quite an Asian approach to flavour, so the dishes will pack a punch! We also work with local suppliers – we want to champion British organic farms and sustainable fisheries and their great produce.

It all sounds like this part of Stoke Newington could be getting something really special, so it's definitely one to keep an eye on when it opens in its new guise in October.