Each month we feature a business operating within the SW1 area. Please click on the links below to see past features and please contact us should you wish your business to be featured in the future.
Contact Rozanne Shipman, Stakeholder Engagement Officer by email: Rozanne Shipman
July 2011
: La Bottega
Since opening the first La Bottega in Chelsea in 2005, Roberta Augustin and her husband Bepi have gone from strength to strength and now run four authentic Italian delicatessens. One located just minutes from the bustle of Victoria Station at 25 Eccleston Street is a firm favourite with locals. Zoe Collins found out more about proper Italian cappuccino and why Roberta and Bepi enjoy being based in SW1.
Zoe Collins:
You and your husband run four delis in west London, how did La Bottega begin?
Roberta Augustin:
We originally started in business together in 1988 together running a small restaurant in Jesolo Lido, north of Venice in Italy. We decided to move to England in 1994, and after three years opened an Italian Restaurant in Battersea. We were looking for a new challenge and in 2005 we created a new brand, La Bottega.
ZC: How long has La Bottega been based in SW1? What has changed since you have been here?
RA: We have been in Belgravia since 2007. We have our back office based here too and manage all our stores from here. I would say things haven’t changed much at all, although the area around Victoria Station has changed immensely. We like this part of London, it is an international community, who enjoy the English way of life, we are very happy here.
I love the al fresco area you have created, what inspired you to do this?
I’m glad you like it, this is a new addition. Many people have asked whether it’s for Wimbledon, we just thought it would be something a bit different for summer.
Do you have any famous faces visiting you?
Yes, we have quite a few but I’m not naming names. We also make some very special home deliveries to chefs working for famous families in the area, I can say no more!
Fresh regional artisan produce can be difficult to get hold of in London, how do you source all your ingredients and produce?
We have a network of suppliers in Italy to source our produce and we try to go back at least once a month to see how things are going. We pride ourselves on being specialist suppliers, we stock fresh Sopressa (salami) from the Veneto and Taleggio and we are one of the only places in London where you can buy freshly made Burrata (a fresh creamy cheese made from mozzarella and cream) every week.
La Bottega in known for stocking the highest quality speciality produce ranging from coffee to olive oil and wild boar ham, what is the current speciality you are most excited about?
Completely, everything all our stock is the best regional delicacies and speciality foods that Italy has to offer, it is hard to know where to start. We just launched our own Prosecco which is an Italian sparkling wine that comes from the Valdobbiadene Hills in the province of Treviso (where Roberta is from) and is definitely more popular than Champagne here in London nowadays. We are very excited about that!
Victoria BID is championing the green agenda in the area, I understand that you use an electric car for all your deliveries, is this important aspect to your business?
Absolutely, our electric car is ideal for our lunchtime delivery service and running between all of our stores, being environmentally aware is really important to us. I like not having to pay the congestion charge too!
Could you tell me more about the local catering service La Bottega provide?
At La Bottega we provide a wide range of lunchtime food, from delicious hot dishes to sandwiches made only from Foccacia and Ciabatta bread, as well as sweets such as our handmade biscuits from Tuscany and scrumptious fruit platters. We deliver to a number of businesses in the area and mornings are a busy time for our team preparing our platters and baskets.
For someone who may not have visited your store before, what would you recommend?
Lots, there is so much variety! We serve the proper Italian cappuccinos, we don’t use skimmed milk or soya which some of our customers took a little time to get used to but our cappuccinos are smooth, creamy and the Italian size – surely the perfect starting point!
Having enjoyed La Botegga’s cappuccino whilst chatting to Roberta and Bepi I can vouch that, they’re wonderful! What do your customers get when they visit La Bottega?
Good question! Our customers get a lot from us when they visit obviously good food, good coffee but also a friendly atmosphere. We know many of our customers by name and enjoy getting to know the people that come here.
Do you have any plans for expansion?
Yes, we do, but it is top secret at the moment. All being well our fifth store should be opening in the not too distant future, so keep an eye out for us!
La Bottega, 25 Eccleston Street SW1W 9NP
FOR MORE ABOUT LA BOTTEGA
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