La Bistroteca will be the former Maray head chef’s first solo project and will serve a menu of European bistro-inspired dishes.
Dishes will include starters of fried beef ragu bites; truffle cacio pepe mac and cheese bites; and popcorn mussels with salt and vinegar and mayonnaise alongside larger plates such as steak frites served with cafe de Paris butter, crispy potato and watercress with either peppercorn or chimichurri sauce; fish and chips with minted peas; confit duck and peppercorn choux bun and a potato rosti topped with creamed spinach and chimichurri.
The 26-year-old chef became head chef at Maray at just 21 and was part of the BBC programme Chefs’ Brigade, travelling across six countries with Jason Atherton. She was later offered a job at Atherton’s Pollen Street Social in London, but turned it down to return to Liverpool where she became head chef at Queens.
She also cooked all food served on TV show Boiling Point.
“This concept is based on various bistros around Europe. As an avid traveller and keen food enthusiast and chef, I have been fortunate enough to spend most of my childhood experiencing different parts of the world and I believe this has really shaped my direction with food and my own cooking,” says Alacron.
“European bistro food speaks to me because of its connection, familiarity and very nonchalant attitude towards eating; it’s almost a ritual in most European families to dine out and have the whole family around the table. This is what we envision for our guests at La Bistroteca - great familiar and comforting food that brings people together.
“The Baltic Market is the perfect location for myself and La Bistroteca. I’ve always cooked for someone at the restaurants I’ve worked for and now it’s my time to expand and share my dishes with a completely different crowd.”
A coming of age for Baltic Market
Since opening in June 2017, Baltic Market has been host to more than 50 restaurants and100 market traders. Its current kitchen partners include Hafla Hafla, Little Furnace, Spice Thai, Christakis, Richie’s, Noso, Pattersons, Midnight Delivery and Press Bros.
“When we started Baltic Market almost six years ago, our intention was for it to be a space and incubator for start-ups, new concepts and up and coming chefs. La Bistroteca by Liv is all of those things. Not only that, but Liv is also one of the best chefs in the city and beyond, so it’s very exciting that she’ll be cooking and sharing her dishes at Baltic Market,” says Baltic Market co-founder Oliver Press.
“La Bistroteca will definitely help raise the bar for the food being served at the market. Focusing on our approach to sustainability, we’ve also recently moved over to plates and glassware and so this combined with having more upmarket bistro style dishes, it feels like Baltic Market is growing up a little.”
This article has been updated to reflect the change of name for the restaurant.