Champagne + Fromage
Following a successful pop-up, specialist grower champagne supplier French Bubbles launches Champagne + Fromage on Covent Garden’s Wellington Street this month.
A unique concept, Champagne + Fromage combines a shop specialising in award-winning artisanal, limited production grower champagnes with an exclusively French fromagerie and a bistro.
Designed to capture a rustic Gallic aesthetic, the interior features an array of mismatched, reclaimed furniture, which work together to create a comfortable and inviting atmosphere. With just 30 covers, the intimate space includes tables made from reclaimed wooden flooring, bright red metal chairs sourced from French bistros and shelving fashioned from old wine crates which display an array of champagne bottles and products.
Available for lunch, pre-theatre and dinner, highlights on the authentically French menu include Champagne + Fromage’s signature tartines (also available to takeaway) such as Auvergne – fresh figs with melted Fourme d’Ambert; the La Nordique – salmon gravlax with a Langres cheese mousse and a special champagne dressing; Champagne – pear with melted Langres cheese; and Montbélliarde – Montbélliarde sausage with Morbier and a confit of shallots.
In addition, specialties such as frogs leg tempura with Roquefort cheese, snails Raclette Forestiere and chocolate fondant with Bleu des Basques cheese are available. The average price for a tartine and a glass of champagne is £20.
Champagne + Fromage aims to provide an alternative to the common British misconception that champagne should be selected according to price and brand prominence. Champagne + Fromage has a concise cellar of 25 award-winning champagnes, from Blancs de Blancs to Blancs de Noirs, it offers every style: Brut and Brut Rosé to Grand Cru, Premier Cru, Grand Cru Rosé, Extra Dry, non-vintage and vintages. Exclusive to the UK, they are available to take home, buy in gift boxes, or enjoy in the bistro, alongside a menu of specialty French dishes and cheeses.
Grower champagnes are made in small batches of a few thousand bottles, rather than a few million and come from their own estates enabling their unique soil and climate characteristics to be displayed
An in-house fromagerie displays artisanal cheeses from specialist French supplier, Une Normande à Londres, and have been carefully selected to complement the champagnes. The selection includes more than 30 from all over France, from the classic Camembert or Brie to the more obscure Tête de Moine or Sainte Maure, all of which can be purchased to take home.
A large selection of charcuterie is also on sale including cured meats from Corsica, Saucisson Fumé and salami. Jars of terrines, rillettes, cassoulets, confits, soups and jams adorn the shelves, allowing customers to enjoy authentic French cuisine at home. All products are sourced from tiny suppliers in France, using the very best ingredients, free from any additives or preservatives.
The Champagne + Fromage team are always on hand to lend their advice on food pairing and provide some interesting anecdotes about each champagne’s history. A calendar of monthly champagne and cheese masterclasses explore what makes grower champagne different to mainstream bubbly.
Business account holders can take advantage of a range of services that include free next day delivery and tastings. Blind tasting challenges for entertaining or team building and event catering are also available.
Champagne + Fromage, 22 Wellington Street, London, WC2E 7DD
0207 240 1604, www.frenchbubbles.co.uk
Open on Tuesday to Saturday from 11am – 11pm and Sunday from 11am – 8pm. Closed on Mondays.
