Lockdown success story Ombra reopens as a shop for Christmas

Ombra will again become an artisan shop for Christmas, having seen much success in 2020 operating as a place to buy fresh pasta and fine Italian produce.

Like so many pubs and restaurants, chef-owner Mitshel Ibrahim spent much of last year navigating the tedious, costly and panic-inducing pandemic. Ibrahim did so by turning his 60-cover Hackney restaurant into a shop, specialising in pasta – in store and for delivery – as well as olives, wines, mortadella sandwiches and tiramisu. It was a success story in a challenging, no, dark time.

Operating in this way allowed Ibrahim to keep money coming in, allowed him to keep his employees working, and supported the local community, many of whom undoubtedly craved the comfort of proper Italian cooking. 

After another difficult year (an improvement on 2020, at least), Ombra will again become a shop, “just in time for Christmas”. An announcement said that “having thrived during lockdown… the online shop offers some of the restaurant’s most-loved dishes, wine and a selection of artisanal products.”

Available for click and collect and nationwide delivery will be Ombra’s family sized tiramisu, the much-loved burnt ricotta cheesecake, and the traditional torta della nonna, a pastry baked with custard and pine nuts. 

For Londoners, Ombra’s tortellini, filled with the classic combination of pork, 24 month aged Parmigiano Reggiano and mortadella with pistachio, will be ready for New Year’s Eve collection. A dish fit for any party, preceding, we suppose, plenty of wine and cheese. 

There are many more products besides.

Everyone will have hoped by now that the pandemic would have relented. Compared to last year, it has. Either way, it is good to see positives beyond anything else, and independent businesses such as Ombra bringing back something good is welcome. More power to them.

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