Ed Wilson and Josie Stead are re-opening Brawn as an e-commerce platform, bringing a reimagined neighbourhood restaurant to Columbia Road
So it’s opening, but not?
Exactly that. While the owners of Brawn want to get back to business, particularity with the easing of lockdown for restaurants, they don’t see a place for a physical restaurant just yet. So instead they are turning their beloved Brawn into a local shop as well as launching an online retail platform that they say “will continue to deliver an offering that remains at the heart and soul of what we do”.
That sounds very sensible? What can I buy?
The restaurant space will operate as a small shop front for the time being with the team serving All Press coffees alongside a daily-changing grab and go lunch offer. Takeaway lunch items will include hot and iced drinks; a selection of sandwiches you won’t see anywhere else – mortadella, roast veal and anchovy mayonnaise; super salads, such as one with marinated aubergine, ricotta salata and pangrattato, tonno e fagioli; chocolate, oat and hazelnuts cookies and an all day breakfast bap that will be served at the weekends. If that wasn’t enough to tempt you over to Columbia Road, the team will soon be serving a short takeaway evening menu at weekends.
And if I can’t get to east London?
Via its website Brawn will also have a Store section where you will be able to buy retail products split into four categories – Brawn Made, Brawn Sourced, Cellar and Selects. Brawn Made encapsulates a wide and changing selection of the restaurant’s favourite dishes from snacks and charcuterie, fresh pasta, braises and soups, pickles and preserves, sauces and condiments, pudding, including smoked cod’s roe with radishes; agnolotti in brodo; rabbit ragu with tagliatelle; braised lamb neck with summer vegetables; and tiramisu. All products will be listed with suggestions for pairing with other ingredients and wines to help create a killer feast. Brawn Sourced, meanwhile, will list of seasonal such as fruit and vegetables as well as smoked and preserved fish, cured meats and store cupboard essentials, condiments, preserves and pickles, dairy, cheese and eggs.
And drink too?
Yes. The Cellar part of the website showcases a changing 100-strong list of wines covering sparkling, white, rose, orange and red. There will be special bottles alongside everyday favourites and also tap wines available in bags. A decent selection of craft beers and ciders, selected spirits and prebatched cocktails will also be available.
When will it be ready?
The anticipated launch date is Tuesday 30 June with the physical shop open Tuesdays to Sundays.
