Food & Drink

French cuisine was declared a 'world intangible heritage' by UNESCO in 2010. Although this was probably pushed for by the French government of the time and some other cuisines are equally deserving of that classification… It just goes to show that we care!

London has many French restaurants from no-frills cafés to Michelin starred dining-rooms. Here are a few places I have tried and liked:

Café du Marché - London
Le Café du Marché is hidden in a little alley off Smithfield market. The setting is atmospheric, the food is delicious and they also have jazz evenings! Very cool.
Casse Croûte french restaurant - London
Casse Croute means 'snack' but the food at this cosy Bermondsey st bistro is much more than a simple 'jambon beurre'! Classical dishes at good prices in a gorgeous setting. They have taken all the symbols of a simple café and arranged them with style. It feels traditional yet trendy. I particularly like the fleur-de-lys golden wall-paper...
L'Eau à la Bouche - French deli and café - London
L'Eau à la Bouche is Hackney's best known french deli and café. On Saturdays, when Columbia Market is in action, you will probably have to queue before you can find a table or order a take-away sandwich. But the wait will be worth it...
Brasserie Zedel - London
Brasserie Zedel is modeled on legendary Parisian brasseries like Chartier. The dining room is sumptuous, the waiters are dressed in white aprons and black vests. But more importantly, it's the only place in London where you can start with 'oeufs mimosa', (that's boiled eggs and mayo. Who said French cuisine was necessarily 'refined'?..) for £3.75. That's the point: simple affordable food in a grand setting. Of course, if you want to spend more, you can also order some lobster from the 'luxe' menu. It caters to all budgets.
French cheese shop - London
Go and get your cheese from Une Normande à Londres. You will find them in Borough Market and Maltby st market.
We are lucky to have the lovely Winehouse just round the corner on Shacklewell lane. It's definitely a welcome addition to the neighbourhood! Aleksic and Mortimer are wine importers specialised in artisan wines. They source their bottles from small domains, located mainly in France, and provide a very interesting selection with friendly starting prices. Don't hesitate to ask for advice if, like me, you don't know much about wine. They are passionate about what they do and genuinely helpful!