Picture this: Sun is setting. Your hair is flying with the mild breeze from the sea. You’re sipping a glass of Pinot Grigio and nibbling cheese from a wooden board decorated with fresh grapes, caramelized walnuts, dried figs and cranberries. The tiny Parisian cheese and wine bar Androuet is the place where this dream may come true – you may forget about the sea breeze nonsense though. For the real picture just replace it with freezing cold from Siberia. Luckily, Androuet can host up to approximately fifteen people in its cosy (cosy, as in really small) wine bar. For al fresco dining and wining you can sit at the tables outside, directly facing the Spitalfields Market (should be a tough battle to find a place on a warm day!)
This little wine bar stole my heart when I saw the coat rack in the corner! If there’s one thing I don’t like about eating out it is having to hang my coat at the back of my chair to sweep the floors or laying it on my lap and pretend that it’s just a big and warm napkin! So two thumbs up for the coat rack!
When it was time to order, we chose two different types of cheese one of which was goat cheese from France and to our surprise it wasn’t available because it was out of season. “How is cheese seasonal?” was the first question that popped up in my mind but I couldn’t face my own ignorance about one of my favourite foods so just pretended that the seasonality of cheese has slipped my mind and of course it wasn’t the season for that particular cheese, dah! Then I did my research and found out that fresh goat and sheep milk cheese cannot be made for a few months, usually during winter due to the shorter lactation period of goats and sheep. Now you’re a real know-how in cheese! You’re welcome. Anyway, the cheese board we ordered to accompany a carafe of Australian Pinot Noir (£18.90) came with a basket of artisan bread and three different kinds of homemade crackers: cheese, plain and dark rye – crumbly and delicious, nothing like the ones that come in a box (sorry Ritz). The platter was only £7 and definitely made up for the relatively expensive wine. With wine prices ranging from £15 to £42 for a bottle it isn’t the best place to get drunk but who wants to get drunk anyway? They also have sweet and sparkling options to add a little excitement to your night. Food-wise they have quite a rich menu consisting of cheese and charcuterie platters as well as raclette and fondue, which is £12.50 per person. Sharing a cheese fondue with a group of friends with good wine on the side sounds like an ideal way to spend a cold Friday night!
Attached to the wine and cheese bar there is the cheese shop, where you can find products of small farms from all over the world. It says “Seasonal Cheese since 1909” and now you know what it means! You can experiment by selecting from various regions and among cheese made of various kinds of milk including ewe and buffalo! It is pricier compared to average supermarket prices but I am no expert to judge the quality in comparison to retail cheese producers. I’d say it’s worth a try at least for the experience if for nothing else!
It’s strongly advisable to book especially if you’re planning to go in the evening. And don’t forget they are closed on Mondays!
Check this out: http://www.androuet.co.uk/
Address:
107b Commercial Street
Old Spitalfields Market, E1 6BG
T: 020 737 53168
