Sunday Lunch at Frenchie – Covent Garden, London

As soon as I received my menu, the lady at the table next to me enthused that I *had* to order the bacon & maple scones, ever so convincingly. For some reason, that’s exactly what I did. The scrumptious, crumbly little morsels were the perfect balance between sweet and savoury and little did I know, was just the start to a very enjoyable afternoon at Frenchie.

Now, you might be thinking – bacon scones at somewhere called Frenchie? ‘Frenchie’ is actually the nickname that was given to owner Gregory Marchand whilst he worked for Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen. Following the original Frenchie that was opened off a small, cobblestoned street in Paris, several outposts soon followed, including a wine bar and more casual ‘Frenchie to go’.

Now, returning to London, Frenchie Covent Garden reflects Gregory Marchand’s travels around the world, including New York, Spain and London. The chic interiors, awash with muted colours and a gorgeous marble bar set against matching heather grey stools, serves as the centrepiece of the restaurant, and is the perfect palette for the exciting, global cuisine that changes seasonally.

Highlights from the afternoon include the Jellied Smoked Eel, which, set in a gelatin broth, was a delightful interpretation of a winter English garden with its combination of colourful root vegetables. The classic Maine lobster roll also followed a French interpretation with the succulent lobster lathered in a creamy beurre blanc sauce and wedged inside a piece of pillowy brioche toast – incredibly decadent. And a personal favourite? The Pappardelle – an sublime combination of confit lemon, kalamata olive enhanced with a sprinkling of espelette peppers.