Chez Elle’s Bistroquet Review

August 1, 2016 by Rich - Foodie Reviewer

Chez Elle’s Bistroquet

Before I crack on this week, I’m going to start with an apology. Why? As you all know, I write a food blog and regular restaurant reviews for Leigh-on-sea.com. So quite rightly you’d expect me to focus my efforts around Leigh and the surrounding areas? I couldn’t agree more. I’d like to think any visitors, or locals for that matter, who are after a bit of news or gossip about our little fishing town, could punch in to Google ‘Leigh’, find our site and see what’s going down in the area. So hence, its important I keep the foodies amongst us up to speed about what’s hot and what’s not in SS9; no where else. Yeah ok, I do every now and then like to tell the good old folk of Leigh what’s happening in the big smoke. I’m sure most of you, like me, spend a bit of time working and socialising in our wonderful capital. But, I can’t take my eye of the ball (Leigh that is). Only a couple of weeks ago I told you all about one of my favourite foodie haunts in Shoreditch. The Brick Lane institution, which is Beigel Bake! Oh boy, I was in there again only last Saturday! After enjoying a few too many craft beers, Lou and I made a b line to get our fix of the best salt beef on the planet! So, back to that apology I began with, I’m actually going to tell you about another one of Brick Lanes hidden secrets. I’ll be back in Leigh soon I promise, but I just had to share this one with you; this is one for the real foodies amongst us.

Last week Lou was attending a conference in London, and I too was working up town. This is quite a novelty, as Lou works Monday to Friday in Southend, so whenever this rare occurrence happens, we make the most of it. We always meet up at the end of the day for some well earnt refreshment and maybe a bite to eat. So after work last Thursday we met at the Ten Bells Pub in Shoreditch. This is a proper old east end boozer, bought bang up to date with the introduction of craft beers and bearded hipster bar staff! It’s also rumoured this was Jack the Ripper’s local.

Anyway, the chat soon turned to food; where are we going to eat? I’d heard some good things about a restaurant on Brick Lane. Not another curry house, but a French bistro of all things? One popular London food blogger had written previously, they only go to Brick Lane for salt beef bagels (couldn’t agree more) and to eat in Chez Elle’s. I was intrigued, a French bistro on Brick Lane? I had to see this for my self. So, I got on the phone, to see if they had a table? They answered the phone with ‘Bonjour Chez Elle’s’! Immediately panic set in, do I have to speak French? I think like most of us I did try and learn French at school, but I was pretty crap at it. The sum total of my French vocabulary comprises of ‘Je m’apelle Richard’ ‘Je vousdrais deux bieres s’il vous plait’! All we seemed to learn at school was the difference between masculine and feminine nouns! I didn’t understand it then, and I don’t understand it now. None of this is going to help me book a table for two at 8pm. So, quite embarrassingly I replied ‘Bonjour, do you have a table for two’ I felt like a right plonker! Thankfully, they had a table! So we downed our beers and headed off to this little French oasis slap bang in the middle of Banglatown.

What a cute restaurant this is. As soon as you walk through the door, the staff greet you warmly, again speaking French! Seriously you could be in the middle of Paris, sitting in a quant and traditional bistro not on Brick Lane! The whole vibe of this busy bistro was delightful. Have I finally found what I’d been looking for since previous foodie adventures in rural France? The menu is classic, and all written in French. Of course there is an English translation below for those not fully versed in the French language.

So, to begin, I ordered the homemade Duck Rillettes. What a starter! French Rillettes are prepared similar to pate. The duck is slowly cooked in fat with various herbs and spices, allowed to cool, then shredded and pressed in a terrine and topped with a little of the cooking fat. This was amazing, the plate was heaving with tasty rillettes, pickles and crusty bread. They’d also added some crispy duck skin, like a ‘duck scratching’. A French bistro classic, I’ve rarely found prepared this well outside of France. Clearly, Chez Elle’s certainly know their stuff! Lou ordered from the specials board. I’m going by memory here, so forgive me if I get this a little wrong; the dish was called ‘Boudin Noir Pate Filo’. A very simple dish of French black pudding (Boudin Noir) wrapped in filo pastry and deep fried. Some people are a little squeamish when it comes to black pudding, I’ve seen it being made, and to be honest I do find the preparation a little off putting. But, put that to the back of your mind, as the flavour of black pudding is lovely, its up there with some of my favourite foods! This starter didn’t disappoint, generous to the max, Chez Elle’s hadn’t skimped on the Boudin Noir at all; it was a delicious.

I think I got a bit carried away ordering duck! I do like a bit of canard, and the French cook it so well, so I couldn’t resist the ‘Confit De Canard Pommes De Terre Au Lard Et Haricots Sautés A L’Ail’. Translated as duck leg confit, served with potatoes cooked with bacon lardons and sautéed French beans. Oh boy! This was amazing! The duck leg had super crispy skin, where underneath the tenderest duck just fell apart beautifully. Maybe my whole evening was turning into a duck overdose, but who cares; both my starter and main course were French classics at their best!

Now, Lou’s main is one you either love or hate, but a French classic none the less; Tartare de Boeuf et Frites Maison. Even with my limited knowledge of the French language I new this dish straight away. Steak Tartare and French fries. Raw steak is not everyone's cup of tea, but if it’s prepared with good quality meat what's the issue? I loved this dish. Roughly chopped steak, with capers, cornichons and other herbs, with an egg yolk nestled in the middle; absolutely delicious! The French fries were spot on, simple crispy homemade fries, a wonderful accompaniment to the steak.

Pudding? We couldn't pass this by, so continuing with the classics, fromage for moi, and crème brûlée for the femme! The bar had been raised high; the previous courses were top drawer. I needn't had worried. A small cheese board with some ripe French cheeses, and a silky, creamy brûlée for Lou with a topping that cracked beautifully; both were excellent. What a wonderful meal! How much did we pay? Three courses with a bottle of house red (which I hasten to add was very good) just a little over £70. Not bad, considering this is the middle of London.

You would not expect to find a restaurant like Chez Elle's in the middle of brick lane, its almost like this charming bistro has been teleported from Paris to the East End. A few weeks ago I encouraged you to bypass the curry houses on Brick Lane, and head to Beigel Bake. Well, I’d add Chez Elle’s to that list, I kid you not, this has got to be one of my favourite gastronomic experiences this year. There is far more to Brick Lane than curry, curry and ahem, curry? Head to Chez Elle’s when you’re next in town, for a taste of true French cooking.