Good Food


Food for thought


It’s all fancy at Frederics


Already renowned for its fine French cuisine, Frederic Café has taken things up a notch with its new French Patisserie. Operating alongside the regular menu at the Market Buildings premises, in Maidstone, cakes are made on site in a bespoke pastry suite – and it goes without saying that they are all made using classical French techniques. Available to eat in or take away, macarons, eclairs and millefeuille are just part of the lip-smackingly tasty offerings. Chef-Patron Ulric Allsebrook heads up the family business, with wife Sarah working alongside him when not looking aſter their four boys – the youngest of whom, Frederick, the café is named aſter. Ulric says: “I draw on my cultural upbringing in the Dordogne region of south west France where good food and good wine marry themselves to good company. “I am passionate about good quality ingredients and favour season produce and local suppliers whenever possible and whenever it does not compromise on quality. “As a scratch cook, I don’t believe that food should be rushed and as such it may feel a litle slower than your average café – but, believe me, for the intensity of quality to shine through it really is worth that extra five minutes.”


Light Bites


Back to the future at the Market House As Earl’s, it had a reputation as one of the best pubs for music in Maidstone town centre. And when it shut down for three months for a £900,000 refit, it was always the intention that the Market House – a return to its former identity – would retain that.


But while music is still a major atraction, the refurbished pub is offering so much more. Te new menu is not over-complicated in any way, but the food is of a high standard and manager Lou Davies is thrilled with how it’s all turned out.


“Tere’s so many restaurants down this road so there’s litle point us trying to compete with them,” she added. “Our menu has a lot of tapas-style dishes, with flavours from all over the world.


“We only have three main dishes, and they’re all £10 each and we also have a simple but tasty brunch menu. We also have plenty of healthy options too, so we’re all excited for the future.” “It’s great to be part of such a historic company and to see the investment they are puting into their pubs. Te refit here is great, and we’ve been able to work with our area manager to make this pub as good as can be.” Bands are still a regular feature, so the old clientele are back – but with the new look and new flavours on offer, you would wager they’ll be joined by many new faces.


The Herbalist


Elite Pubs have a reputation for offering fine food and drink at a number of locations doted around the Maidstone area.


But now they’ve made the step into the town-centre market with the opening of Te Herbalist in Pudding Lane. EastEnders and Extras star Shaun Williamson was there for the opening, but the star of the show was the owner’s mum, Monique Chaussy.


Te premises has had a chequered past, and was most recently all-you-can- eat restaurant Buddah Belly, but aſter extensive work in and out, it is now a hip venue, with the downstairs turned into Juniper’s, a late-night inclusive bar. Te food, as is standard with Elite Pubs, is top drawer, with pizzas also on offer as well as locally-sourced drinks. A spokesman for the company said: “It was a very special opening. Not only did we have Shaun and the mayor David Naghi here to help launch the venture, we also had the owner’s mum Monique, which made it very special.


“It’s in the high street, so there is a lot of competition out there and that is why aim to be something completely new and different.”


Mid Kent Living 35


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