Mercato Metropolitano is bringing the culinary tradition of Italy’s north-eastern Friuli Venezia Giulia region to London for the very first time with the launch of Frico Very Good – a limited-edition pop-up in Elephant & Castle.
At the heart of the pop-up is frico, an authentic Friulian dish. While regional Italian food – from pasta to cicchetti – has long shaped London’s dining scene, Friulian cuisine is yet to make its mark, paving the way for frico to become the capital’s next comfort food obsession.
Frico combines crispy potato, Montasio cheese and onion, fried until golden, and comes in two variations: The Frico Pancake and Frico Fritto, frico wedges. It is then topped with the classic produce of the Italian north-east – such as Prosciutto di San Daniele DOP, cured salami, or simply extra Montasio DOP cheese for an even cheesier, veggie plate – and finished with two signature regional sauces: Salsa di Kren (horseradish and herbs), a staple condiment on the Friulian table, and Ajvar Friulano (roasted aubergine and pepper), a sauce of Slavic origin long adopted by Friulians.
Frico is a symbol of the Friulian culinary tradition, with its recipe dating back to the 15th century. It was born out of necessity, with farmers and woodsmen turning simple pantry staples into something hearty enough to fuel a full day of work up in the mountains.
The pop-up also sells a wider selection of regional products, including traditional Friulian spirits and wines.