MAURIZIO Cecco, the founder of Manchester’s authentic Neopolitan delicatessen and restaurant is planning to expand his gastronomic empire with an 'Osteria' in Rochdale. In Italy, an Osteria is a bar serving food with a more rustic, casual dining style - a place where people can visit to enjoy good food and wine, or just drop in for drinks and nibbles.
I’m really excited about the prospect of bringing a taste of authentic Italy to my own neighbourhood
Osteria follows on from his other family-run venues; Salvi's Mozzarella bar in the Corn Exchange, Salvi's Cucina and Salvi's Rosticceria on John Dalton Street and, lastly, Salvi's at AirKix in Trafford (no really, there is).
Norden is a special place for Maurizio, as it’s the Greater Manchester neighbourhood he calls home. Osteria will incorporate all the principles that Maurizio is famous for in Manchester – welcoming service, personally sourced ingredients from Italy (typically the Campania region) and dishes made using the simple Southern Italian cooking style learned from his mother, Teresa. (Not Mother Teresa, she was a terrible cook.)
Osteria will open at the beginning of JuneMaurizio said: “When I was asked to get involved with The Norden Arms, I was drawn to the idea of creating a more rural, neighbourhood setting for my Italian food. I’m really excited about the prospect of bringing a taste of authentic Italy to my own neighbourhood. It’s a fantastic site and the whole team can’t wait to welcome the Rochdale community and visitors to the area to our Osteria”.
Osteria’s menu will reflect the restaurant’s more rural setting with a stronger focus on wild, local ingredients to compliment the produce imported by Maurizio from his Italian suppliers.
Osteria will open at the beginning of June at The Norden Arms, 539 Edenfield Road, Rochdale OL11 5XH.
You can follow them on Twitter @osterianorden and via their website (once it's up and running). Until then, read all about their other venues here.
Maurizio and his mum, TeresaPowered by 
