Pair behind Outsider Tart bakery launch Blue Plate restaurant
The Blue Plate restaurant serves US-inspired comfort food and is open for all-day 'munch' dining during the week, for weekend brunch and for dinner on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
The pair moved to the UK in 2005 and set-up a small cake stall in Richmond before launching a permanent site on Chiswick High Road.
Although the cheesecakes and brownies which Outsider Tart specialises in have been popular, the team had begun to offer homemade chilli con carne to take away or eat in. The venture proved so successful they decided to open Blue Plate in a site next door to their bakery.
"For the past three years people have sat around our kitchen island at Outsider Tart eating cakes and pastries; now they can come into our living room, relax and enjoy the comforts of home away from home," said Muniz.
American soul
Dishes on the Blue Plate menu include a range of seasonally-changing chillis, Southwest brisket hash and Carolina 'slaw and pickled grapes.
David Lesniak said: "This has really been a labour of love for us. Just like when we set out with the baking, it was because we missed what was good about back home that we hadn’t been able to find here."
Fridays at Blue Plate are dedicated to meatloaf - the team serve up their version (three meat, chicken, turkey or vegetable) with buttermilk mashed potatoes, spicy mushroom gravy, peas and carrots. The dish can be eaten in the restaurant or taken away.
"Blue Plate is all about comfort foods from America, and we spent a long time researching – and sampling - dishes we think best represent the soul of the American kitchen that we want to share with our friends in the UK. It’s been a very personal journey, and we’re really excited about sharing the fruits of it with everyone," Lesniak added.
Each Saturday night of the year will showcase a different US state and the drinks menu will be an all-American offering with wines from various estates and craft beers from a range of breweries.
