Frizzante

Ash Nauradi Bloomzy MsLeanneFraser Boozy Bunch Barbara Little Brown Book Fizz Of Life Blog Chris Osburn Carina Cherie City Gone Sun Where David Orlando Da Costa Emma Battagello ET Food Voyage

Hand-rolled East End sausages, homemade baked beans and freshly baked, homemade sourdough bread... I bring you, The Farmers Breakfast!

The Farmers Breakfast has been a staple on the menu here for many years and it's popularity grows at the same rate as Hackney in general ;) This hearty all day breakfast is packed full of local produce and homemade goodness...

The Farmers Breakfast: Grilled Bacon, Field Mushroom, Grilled Whole Tomato, Eggs, Herby Homemade Baked Beans, Locally sourced Ginger + Spring Onion Sausage and Homemade Organic Sourdough Bread. Delish. We also serve lovingly made, locally roasted coffee and homemade, freshly squeezed Orange Juice. It really is a treat, any day of the week!

Last week I mentioned The Slow Food concept and the idea of championing and supporting local growers and suppliers. This week I'd like to share with you one of our oldest and dearest local suppliers, The Butchers Shop, on Bethnal Green Road.

The Butchers Shop in East London has been a long established part of the community for around 34 years. Owner Peter Sargent is the last one left of seven other butchers, due to larger super market chains now occupying this stretch of the road. So how has he survived? Well, one cunning initiative was to put a sign up outside one of the said supermarkets inviting potential customers to “Have a look in the butcher’s opposite before you go in Tesco.” Cheeky mite. Apparently, Tesco threatened legal action which just goes to show that one lone ranger can put the wind up Goliath and the likes. Not long after, it was revealed that Tesco had been selling horse meat. What was Peter's response? To leave a hay bale outside the store. Hats off to this lovable local rogue! Since then business has picked up and although a lot of his original East End born and bred customers had moved on, the new, younger crowd are slowly realising that you can get better quality meat at a much better price at a local, independent store, such as The Butcher Shop.

Supplying locally sourced and farmed produce including Free Range Colchester Eggs at £1.50 for half a dozen. Also on offer are of course the previously mentioned ginger and spring onion sausages, handmade in house by Peter and his entertaining staff. Other flavors include traditional Cumberland, a spicy Scotch Bonnet, Old English and the good old classic pork. All for about £3.50 for a half a kilo, which works out to about 7 sausages. When you consider that they're using top quality, locally sourced meat and are handmade on the premises, its a bit of a bargain .

Also available to buy are free range French whole chickens, Kentish Rabbit and from time to time, even the odd pheasant...

It's clear that Peter and his staff are proud of their East End heritage, with old photographs and drawings decorating the inside of the shop, celebrating London life and local artists and photographers...

They've even been know to host the odd fashion shoot!

Here's Peter and the model in their matching outfits ;) stripe tastic!!!

I don't know about you, but I always get a real humbling feeling when I buy something from a local, independent shop like this, seeing my purchase being wrapped before my very eyes. I always hold the bag in a slightly different way, almost with a sense of pride. This may sound a bit over the top, but I think you know what I mean?! It feels like buying into something really special which I guess is quite rare these days. I have to admit that I myself get sucked in to the convenience and apparent affordability of the big chains. But, more and more I understand the importance of keeping these small businesses alive and not simply written off into the history books. And actually, the prices here at least are not expensive at all. Note to self: time to start making an effort with my weekly shop! You are certainly left with a real sense of community, life, heart and soul. It's a very human experience and something that only comes from supporting an independent shop like this. Thanks to Peter and his friendly staff for their long term service, keep up the good work!

This week will see the last BBQ of the summer. It's whizzed by! It's almost September... eeeeek! Come and celebrate the summer in style with us this week at Frizzante. You know the score by now... Cocktails at 5pm on the terrace served with homemade antipasti and the BBQ starts at 6pm. We hope to see you there!

And of course this Thursday evening we have live music and the tasty evening Agriturismo menu. This week we have the Daj Dook Duo, playing some mesmerizing gypsy jazz! To book a table please call 0207 739 2266.
For more information about the cafe, evening dining and private hire please go to http://www.frizzantecafe.com.

For any enquiries please email info@frizzanteltd.co.uk or telephone 0207 739 2266.
@

I (J) was keen to experience Emilian cuisine and hospitality, and was happy when I won an invite to this I Love Your Hat Supper Club; as we have been on holiday to Northern Italy but as yet not ventured into the Emilia Romagna region – said to be one of the best foodie places in the world! (Sadly, C was unwell so was unable to join in this dining experience.)

The supper club was held in the lovely surrounding of the Frizzante restaurant attached to Hackney City Farm, only a five minute stroll from Hoxton Station.

Behind I Love Your Hat are the lovely couple Carmen and Marco. Carmen trained as a pastry chef; Marco is of Emilian heritage and he has worked in various Michelin-Starred restaurants both as a chef and sommelier (including the three Michelin-starred Osteria Francescana) before dedicating himself to the cause of Slow Food, a global movement that promotes good, clean and fair food. He was also the founder of the Osteria London Supper Club, serving contemporary seasonal local food and wine products. Knowing the history behind the couple, I knew my tastebuds were in for a treat.

Carmen kindly sat me with Roberto, one of Marco’s close friends from his village and also a fellow sommelier, who talked me and my fellow table guests Lucas and Amy through what each menu item was and the wine pairings.

During the evening, we were served carefully selected Emilian wines from one of their favourite suppliers, Passione Vino, that has been promoting natural, artisan wines in the last fifteen years in Shoreditch. (£6 glass – £22 bottle) I particularly loved the white wine which had fresh citrusy notes that went perfectly with our starter of warm fluffy Emilian bread discs which you then filled with the great combinations of home-made lardo and parmesan (made from cow’s milk), and mortadella and pecorino (made from sheep’s milk).

We then moved onto wonderful ravioli with lamb’s leg. Next arrived an unctuous risotto served with a crisp walnut salad – an amazing flavour combination! I was in seventh heaven when we ended on a traditional dessert of mascapone foam and chocolate Barozzi cake – a light but moreish chocolate version of a traditional Modena almond tart. A perfect end to the meal!

Skillfully created and beautiful cuisine created by Marco during the evening was like a fun rollercoaster of foodie exploration through new flavours and textures, and wonderful hospitality from Carmen as if you were in their home. We will be back again soon!

If you find yourself in the East End at a loose end, visit Hackney City Farm .   There are your typical farmyard characters to visit (great to amuse small children), fresh produce to buy and if you’re more my way inclined, then you’ll be most enticed by the option of a homespun breakfast. Frizzante , the cafes that lies within the farm also has residency at the other 2 city farms (that I know of) – Surrey Docks Farm in Rotherhithe and Mudchute Farm on the Isle of Dogs. The menu is sumptuous, offering brunches catering to all tastes with a separate blackboard of scrummy pasta dishes thrown in for good measure.   Our group are all nursing this season’s colds and opt each for a Hot Toddy mix of Ginger, Lemon, Cinnamon and Honey to ease our throats. The interior is fairly basic- standard cafe issue tables and chairs, notices of upcoming events on the walls and plenty of high chairs designed for the young’ uns.

If you find yourself in the East End at a loose end, visit Hackney City Farm. There are your typical farmyard characters to visit (great to amuse small children), fresh produce to buy and if you're more my way inclined, then you'll be most enticed by the option of a homespun breakfast.

Frizzante, the cafes that lies within the farm also has residency at the other 2 city farms (that I know of) - Surrey Docks Farm in Rotherhithe and Mudchute Farm on the Isle of Dogs.

The menu is sumptuous, offering brunches catering to all tastes with a separate blackboard of scrummy pasta dishes thrown in for good measure. Our group are all nursing this season's colds and opt each for a Hot Toddy mix of Ginger, Lemon, Cinnamon and Honey to ease our throats.

The interior is fairly basic- standard cafe issue tables and chairs, notices of upcoming events on the walls and plenty of high chairs designed for the young' uns.

Two in our party opt for the Vegan Brunch - Tomatoes & Oyster Mushrooms on Sourdough toast. The tomatoes are still on the vine and sweet and sharp and simply grilled along with the Mushrooms, is one of the best options on the menu.

Husband opts for the Farmer Breakfast with a full complement of Sausage, Bacon, Mushrooms and Tomato and Scrambled Eggs.

But I think I'm the one that's really lucked out - I've opted for the Canadian Brunch, where I have Grilled Homemade Banana bread to mop up my creamy scrambled eggs and bacon. Not at all sure why Banana bread makes my breakfast Canadian, but it's not really something I'm going to question. One to replicate at home perhaps.

Prices are somewhat typical of central London, but the food is fresh, the atmosphere homespun and there is the option of farmyard amusement before and after.

Nice please where to go, good pasta plate after a nice walk on the farm. Super lovely people. 👍

Great food and fantastic atmosphere. I had the Farmer’s breakfast and everything was prepared perfectly. Would definitely recommend!

I hired a space outside for my partners 40th birthday, was a perfect spot in the garden to have a large group of friends together. The cafe arranged an amazing buffet for around 30 people with excellent vegan and non vegan options, set a beautiful table in the garden and were so accommodating throughout. Really appreciate the ease at which it was arranged and how warmly we were welcomed to use the space. We live nearby and have eaten lunch here also, would highly recommend!

We went a couple of times to this lovely rustic gem, the food was delicious and the portions were generous and accompanied by a lovely wine recommended by our waiter. Would definitely recommend!

Absolutely loved this rustic cafe restaurant. Went for a colleagues leaving do and with nearly 15 of us we have a nice table set up with lots of food. Super fresh and yummy.