Champagne & Fromage, Brixton Village

champagne & fromage

I could claim that my love of champagne and cheese is something I have inherited from my French family… but I think it is an enthusiasm that most people would admit to.

On the hottest day of 2015 I headed to the sheltered Brixton Village to indulge in a bubbles and cheese fuelled evening at Champagne & Fromage. The little shop and bistro offers rustic fare and fizz to enjoy at a table at the venue or to take away and relish at home. We sat outside to watch the village activity around us while sipping the finest champagne and feasting on unusual cheeses and charcuterie.

After a few moments an ice bucket arrived with a cold bottle of Lacroix champagne peering out the top. There is nothing quite like the first taste of a cold glass of fizz, especially after a sweltering bus journey, and I savoured every sip of this delicious drink. Lacroix white wines have a mouth-filling, medium-weight, biscuity flavour profile and are produced from the classic 3-grape blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier. It was more complex and vibrant than champagnes I have tasted in the past.

When we started to get a bit peckish we ordered a range of the foodie treats. Melted garlic and herby camembert was a warm gooey mess, a wonderful dip for the chunks of toasted artisan bread. We had great fun tasting a selection of cheeses accompanied by fruit jelly, cherries, grapes and membrillo. On the board we had seven varieties including blue, goats, smoked, sheep. I loved the Comté Extra, a firm cheese matured for 24-26 months with a slightly sweet and nutty flavour. I also loved the Langres from the region of Champagne-Ardenne, it has a complex and punchy flavour with a decadently creamy centre. If you want something meaty I suggest ordering a selection board which gives you a range of the thinnest sliced salamis.

Both branches of Champagne & Fromage hold masterclasses and tasting evenings where visitors can learn about pairing food and drink, understanding grape varieties and the different cheese regions. I imagine this knowledge would be useful when holding a sophisticated dinner party!

You might want to wile the night away with cheese and champagne or just pop in for a decadent snack and sip, this little venue has the expertise and produce to excel for either occasion.

More information here: www.champagneplusfromage.co.uk

Coq D’Argent, Blossom City

Walking out from the lift in Coq D’Argent the feeling of summer rushed back to me. A hazy warm evening, friends and colleagues toasting merrily with G&Ts and foliage everywhere lightly scenting the air. This rooftop restaurant in the city is currently celebrating the season of Spring with their #BlossomCity menu. Coq D’Argent have collaborated with iconic florists McQueens to create a unique terrarium installations based on the Coq D’Argent rooftop garden designs of award-winning Chelsea Flower Show designer, Arabella Lennox-Boyd.

We joined the throng of suited drinkers out on the balcony, and enjoyed a glass of champagne whilst admiring the epic skyline of London in front of us. I was amazed to see how early this venue gets busy, by 7pm the place was full, both bar and restaurant were buzzing with enthusiastic guests enjoying the blissful weather and soaking up the special Coq D’Argent atmosphere.

The Blossom City set menu, though concise, has a range of fresh Spring dishes created by head chef Damien Rigollet and inspired by the flowers and flavours of this time of year. I adored the roasted Quail with sweet pea flowers, pancetta, celeriac, apple puree and black truffle jus. I thought the complicated list of ingredients might ruin the subtle poultry, but it worked brilliantly with the perfectly cooked meat and crispy, salty pancetta. For a lighter starter, opt for the Baked Poitou goat’s cheese with heritage beetroot, honey and hazelnuts. This soft cheese is encased in breadcrumbs giving a lovely crunchy edge and presented on a bed of sweet beetroot chunks, puree and micro herbs. I found the honey slightly overpowering with the rich cheese and sweet beetroot, though I’m sure most will enjoy this typical pairing.

We had already spotted the impressive lamb shank on a nearby table, and the dish was not a disappointment. A hearty hunk of tender meat with potato puree and spring onion, it was a huge portion but the caramelised soft meat was difficult to leave! I ordered the vegetarian main course, a Provencal tarte with courgette flower and goat’s cheese tempura. Courgette flowers are hard to find in London eateries, a delicacy I love in the South of France, so when I spotted them on the menu I couldn’t resist ordering the dish. The tarte needed a little extra seasoning but looked immaculate and the flower was a lovely touch, oozing melted goat’s cheese when cut.

Desserts were an utter delight. Pretty plates adorned with edible flowers and exotic fruits. We tried the vanilla poached pineapple with crystallised violet petals and coconut sorbet which was a light and refreshing dessert that reminded me of my holiday in Thailand by the beach. The coffee pudding was a hit with my friend who polished it off speedily with a big smile on her face. An arrangement of contrasting coffee textures of biscuit, mimosa balls, crumble, fudge and sorbet were delicately placed in a glass bowl and topped with coffee mousse. But if you try only one option from the dessert menu go for the Granny Smith apple parfait. A beautiful spherical imitation apple filled with a zingy and creamy parfait.

Even when the weather isn’t fine, the Coq D’Argent restaurant will transport you away to a world of elegant dining and delicious food.

The #BlossomCity menu is available for lunch and dinner, Monday-Friday. It costs £28 for two courses or £32 for three courses. Continues until 14 June, more information here.

Chakra, Holland Park

Type ‘chakra’ into Google and you are likely to find a collection of definitions and articles about the Seven Chakras – energy points that are thought to vitalise the human body. With this in mind Chef Andy Varma and team have created a relaxed but smart restaurant inspired by the ancient Vedic scriptures. They plan to invigorate the guests with positive energy from innovative Indian cooking.

My expert Holland Parkers had informed me that Chakra is one of the best restaurants in the area and well worth a visit. So on a Sunday night, keen not to travel far from home, we marched up the hill to experience our Indian feast. The team were delighted to see us, presenting flutes of champagne on arrival and regularly attending to table adjustments as and when they were needed.

The General Manager designed our meal to show all the scope and techniques of the kitchen. A wonderful arrangement of grilled treats arrived first, homemade masala flavoured lamb, delicately dressed chicken with crushed black pepper, garlic and coriander, huge seared tiger prawns with fresh ginger and garlic and a soft and spicy butternut squash galouti. All the components were delicious and particularly satisfying served together.

Thank goodness the waiter listened to my request for ‘mini mains’… at Indian restaurants it is easy to get carried away ordering six or seven huge dishes for two to share, after a weekend of heavy dining I didn’t want to over-indulge! Tasters arrived of ‘Chakra’s best’: we loved the creamy Black Daal (slow cooked lentil finished with dry fenugreek and cream) and the addictive Jalandhar Chicken (a variation of the Punjab classic with a tomato and cream masala sauce). The chicken was so tasty our waiter had to bring a second serving! The full flavoured garlic naan is unmissable and marries perfectly with the spicy sauces.

Mango Kulfi was a fruity finish to the meal, light and cooling, sweet but tangy. Leaving Chakra I’m not sure I felt vitalised but I was certainly satisfied, and I am proud to call it my local Indian.

More information here.

www.chakralondon.com