Housed on the second floor of a former shoe factory, Merci Marie is one of Dalston’s best kept secrets, a simple, homely restaurant run by French chef Marie Gonfond. Originally from Provence, Marie conjures up delicious home cooked meals using fresh and local ingredients and the menus change weekly.
She says: ‘My family has been farmers for generations, producing olive oil, fruits and vegetables. My mother and grand mothers are amazing cooks and they have nurtured my love for what is on the plate. After working in various restaurants I knew I wanted to have my own place serving simple, fresh food, cooked and produced with love.’
Throughout the week Merci Marie is open for breakfast and lunches, while on Fridays she hosts ‘Sweet Fridays’ with a BYOB policy. When we visited last Friday the calm white space was candlelit and the French film Amelie was being projected onto one of the walls. The atmosphere, partly down to the long shared wooden benches, fold-up chairs and informal decor, was like that of a good friend’s dinner party (further heightened by the fact that it’s fairly tucked away and difficult to find- it’s at the back of a car park and you have to buzz up to be let in). The kitchen is small, with just enough room for Marie and a helper, and they often have to use a step ladder to get at hard to reach ingredients or utensils.
I tucked into fennel and maple cured salmon with shavings of fennel and pineapple to start, at first an odd combination– I would never have paired pineapple with salmon– but the sweetness of the fruit complimented the aniseed of the fennel. This was followed by monkfish with hearty lemongrass infused ratatouille and sweet strawberry and amaretto tiramisu. There was also tomato, strawberry and basil gaspacho on offer as well as pork fillet with the best buttery slow roast potatoes and wild garlic. The food was natural, uncomplicated and heart-warming – we went just the two of us, but it’s perfect for dinner with friends, without having to do the cooking yourself!
Find out more about Merci Marie at their Facebook or Twitter pages.
Images: 1,3,4,7,9: Rita Platts, courtesy of Merci Marie, the rest are my own images
Merci Marie
Fitzroy House
Abbot Street
London E8 3DP
Breakfast: Monday to Friday, 9am – 12pm (Take away only), Lunch: Monday to Friday 12pm – 3pm
Sweet Fridays: Every Friday, 7pm till late (by bookings only / BYOB)
