In a city saturated with brunch menus, Capilungo – a one-of-a-kind Italian café and bakery in the heart of Covent Garden and a homage to all things Puglia – is breaking away from the norm and bringing its own traditions to brunch with its newly launched menu available from this October. Putting an Italian twist on familiar favourites, the new menu has quality, provenance and a true Italian love for food at the heart of every dish.

Each dish has been crafted by the team and inspired by the vibrant culinary traditions of Lecce, a picturesque city in southern Italy, the new menu brings the rich flavours of Puglia to the heart of London.

The menu highlights traditional brunch favourites infused with the signature tastes of the region. Expect dishes such as Eggs Benedict with Capocollo di Martina Franca ham from Lecce and a unique Focaccia Royale with smoked salmon, paprika hollandaise served on freshly baked rosemary focaccia instead of the traditional English muffin, adding a fragrant Italian flourish that sets it apart from the ordinary.

Forget your standard ‘avo on toast’. Capilungo’s Avocado on Toast is served on potato sourdough, a nod to the Puglian tradition of using potato flour for a distinctive flavour and texture, with a base of whipped ricotta sourced directly from a neighbouring farm to Capilungo’s founder, Luca Capilungo.

“We’ve put a fresh spin on London’s typical brunch” says Luca Capilungo, founder of the family-owned café. “We’re bringing the true flavours of Lecce—using quality produce like fresh ricotta, stracciatella & cured meats sourced from local farmers —right to the heart of Covent Garden. London is ready for something more than the usual smashed avocado on toast, and we’re delivering that.”

Other highlights include:

· Lemony Ricotta Toast with Smoked Salmon – combining delicate flavours
· Basil Shakshuka – topped with Stracciatella Cheese, a local delicacy from Lecce
· French Toast – using Luca’s house baked Brioche decadently topped with pistachio mascarpone cream, barese almonds and seasonal berries

Of course, alongside Capilungo’s new brunch menu will be Capilungo’s signature bake: the Pasticciotto. A speciality to the Puglia region and what the Capilungo family are most famous for in Italy. A moreish treat; Pasticcittos are a shortcrust pastry filled with an indulgent flavoured cream available in classic custard cream, Amarena cherry, pistachio or chocolate. Best eaten fresh and at breakfast time and enjoyed with a fresh espresso.

Capilugno offers an authentic Italian café experience reminiscent of the quaint eateries along Lecce’s winding streets. The café is a family-owned business founded in 1991, dedicated to quality ingredients, local delicacies, and bringing a little piece of southern Italy to London.