Livia Alarcon was head chef at popular Liverpool restaurant Maray at just 21, and a TV star, and now is launching her own venture at Baltic Market. Tony McDonough reports

A new trader will bring European bistro dishes to the Baltic Market in Liverpool this week.

Livia Alarcon has already established herself as one of Liverpool’s most talented young chefs. She was head chef at Maray aged just 21 and featured and was awarded for herself and her team’s cooking in the Good Food Guide 2017 and 2018.

She went on to be part of the BBC’s Chefs’ Brigade, travelling across six countries with Michelin Star chef Jason Atherton.

On Thursday, May 4, Livia will open La Bistroteca at Baltic Market in the city’s Baltic Triangle. She joins other popular outlets at the market including Hafla Hafla, Little Furnace, Spice Thai, Christakis, Richie’s, Noso, Pattersons and Midnight Delivery.

Following her stint with the BBC, Livia was offered a job at Atherton’s Pollen Street Social in London. However, she turned it down to return to Liverpool where she then became head chef at Queens.

Since then, Livia has cooked all the food served on TV show Boiling Point. And now she will start serving her European bistro-inspired dishes at Baltic Market. They include fried beef ragu bites, truffle cacio pepe mac & cheese bites and popcorn mussels.

La Bistroteca will also offer larger plates such as steak frites, fish and chips with minted peas, confit duck and peppercorn choux bun and a potato rosti topped with creamed spinach and chimichurri.

“This concept is based on various bistros around Europe,” said Livia. “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.

“I believe this has really shaped my direction with food and my own cooking. 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 Bistrotheque.”

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Oliver Press, co-founder of Baltic Market, added: “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.”