James Ramsden and Sam Herlihy, the brains behind Michelin-starred Pidgin are to open Enfant Terrible, Hackney’s smallest wine bar, on December 1st at 51 Greenwood Road. A barbershop by day, and bar by night, the new opening will offer a daily changing wine list, cocktails and bar snacks.
In a nod to the new generation of Parisian wine bars, Enfant Terrible ‘will be a gonzo take on the tiny wine bars of Paris, irreverent, exuberant and unpretentious’ says James. ‘Enfant Terrible is a simple place; eat a tartare, a tin of smoked oysters and some epoisses while drinking a bunch of wine and that’s at the very least, a pretty solid foundation for a damn good night,’ adds Sam.
The bar, just two minutes walk from Pidgin, will echo the design of the neighbourhood restaurant. The diminutive, stripped-back space will comprise 12 metal counter stools tucked beneath a wood-topped bar and shelves stocked with the day’s bottles. A hangover from the barbershop, a large mirror will provide a backdrop for standing drinkers while copper pendant lights will illuminate the floor to ceiling window.
Bar snacks from James and Sam will include; Tin of smoked oysters, chilli crisp and lime, Mutton tartare, roasted rice, brown butter, fish sauce, Truffled tunworth, brioche, caramelized shallot, endive and orange and Cognac and kampot pepper caramel brownie. There will be a frequently changing croque, beginning with sausage, epoisses, pickled onion, sauce vin rouge “pho”, a riff on the French Dip.
For the new opening James and Sam have enlisted the expertise of Bar Manager, Ajax Kentish who will be managing the bar day to day after having spent the last four years behind the world’s best bars including The Franklin, New Orleans, Tiny’s & the Bar Upstairs and Keith McNally’s Schiller’s Liquor Bar in New York along with launching London’s Spuntino with Russell Norman. An approachable wine list, changing daily at the hands of the trio focusing on lesser known regions and grapes, including a perfect-for-Christmas Lambrusco, a Sicilian Grillo and Mexican Petite Sirah. In addition, Ajax has created a concise cocktail list including the Smoke off the Mountain comprising Green Chartreuse, Ron Zacapa, Lagavulin 16 yo and vermouth which will sit alongside Pidgin signatures including Pidgin G & T and their Barrel-Aged Negroni.
“I have known James from being behind the stick in Soho for many years. After a brief hiatus away in New York and New Orleans for the last 4 years, I can’t think of a better team to be with arriving back in London. I can’t wait to see the bar filled with regulars and new faces” Says Ajax Kentish.