CHAMPAGNE + FROMAGE
Wellington Street, Covent Garden
Covent Garden Pops The Question:
Champagne + Fromage Is a Happy Coupling on Wellington Street
If French be the language of love, then Champagne and fromage is almost certainly its food. Which is why there’s exciting news - the two are making the perfect pairing at Champagne + Fromage, a sexy shop-cum-bistro selling the best of both in Covent Garden.
The shop itself, secreted away on Wellington Street, is Gallic at its most gorgeous: displays of Champagne, cheese and charcuterie make for quite the chic centrepiece, whilst mismatched furniture and reclaimed materials — including bright red chairs sourced from Parisian bistros and old wine crates from drunken days gone by — add a stamp of authentic French flair. The focal point, however, is a fabulously oversized fromagerie that’ll have foodies tripping over themselves to fall inside.
Bubbles ‘n’ Bottles
Until now, those naughty French foodies have been keeping grower Champagne hush — a variety sourced from only the smallest, most independent producers — but Champagne + Fromage has its own secret cellar with a selection of artisanal grapes for the uncorking right here in London.
Unlike well-known Champagne power-houses, grower Champagne — nicknamed 'farmer fizz' — is made entirely by producers in their very own vineyards, as opposed to blending together grapes from different vineyards to create a generic house style. And because of its pure quality, grower Champagne reflects the subtleties of its terroirs — making a mighty fine tipple indeed.
And with 25 award-winning grower Champagnes on offer, as well as a range of half bottles, discerning drinkers certainly know where to come for a drop of something decent. Whether enjoyed in the bistro, chez moi, or bought as a gift for a fizz-fiend, Champagne + Fromage is a Francophile’s home-away-from-home.
Food 'n' Fizz
Plates of rustic French fare fill the menu, with everything available to eat in the bistro or to take-away come day or night. The star of the show is the tartine — a single slice of homemade bread draped in slivers of cheese and charcuterie or fruit, drizzled with rich olive oil. Other foodie faves include Auvergne — figs with melted Fourme d'Ambert; La Nordique — salmon gravlax with Langres cheese mousse and a special Champagne dressing; Champagne –sautéed pear with melted Langres cheese; and Montbélliarde sausage with Morbier and shallot confit. As you’d expect, frogs’ legs and snails also make an appearance with 'cuisses de grenouilles' – served the Champagne + Fromage way in tempura with Roquefort cheese and snail raclette forestiere.
Non-connoisseurs needn't fret: knowledgeable staff are on-hand to help pick and pair grower Champagnes with each and every dish. Whether the Waris Larmandier Cuvée Collection for seafood, or the Furdnya Carte Blanche for terrines and charcuterie, the cellar here proves that fizz and bubbles are as much about food pairing as they are celebratory toasts. Raise a glass — and indeed a fork — to that, London Town.
Shop 'n' Stock
It’s not all about drinking & dining in the bistro, either. The Fromagerie & Shop offers plenty of larder love with no less than 50 soft and hard cheeses, all sourced from Une Normandeà Londres – from brie and camembert to cantal and tome, as well as a range of blues – in addition to charcuterie, pâtés, jamons, rillons and saucisses.
Other decadent delights aren’t in short supply; think shelves piled high with jars of terrine, rillettes, cassoulets, confits, soups and jams — all sourced from tiny suppliers across the channel. Sneaky hosts may even want to pick up ready-made plates and pass them off as their own at a dinner party – Champagne + Fromage promises the utmost discretion.
Sip 'n' Learn
We can all learn a thing or two from the French, which is why a calendar of monthly Champagne and cheese masterclasses offers an insider peek into an often inaccessible world. Cutting through the industry jargon like a cheese knife through camembert, the events teach guests how to get to grips with grapes, how to pair cheese and Champagne, and the difference between regions, producers and production techniques. And the best bit? All masterclasses are practical, ensuring theory is supported with plenty of food and fizz. Interactive blind-tastings, meanwhile, are great for team-building and provide the perfect present for those who appreciate the finer things in France.
Champagne + Fromage: rustic French fare and fizz in London, served the French way.
Open on Tuesday to Saturday from 11am – 11pm and Sunday from 11am – 8pm. Closed on Mondays.
Champagne + Fromage
22 Wellington Street, London, WC2E 7DD
0207 240 1604, www.frenchbubbles.co.uk/Champagne-Fromage