Champagne & Fromage opening in Brixton soon

[spanglechick]

Champagne and Frommage. I honestly don't even really know what frommage is. Is it something between yoghurt and cheese? Oh well, nevermind, the whole place is such in insult now it'll probably burn when Brixton Splash loses it on Sunday night.

Fromage is just French for "cheese". Champagne is French. The name isn't the worst in the world.

 

[silverfish]

A shameless, cynical, novelty act.

It's like Rick Astley in a glittering gold jacket, clutching a kazoo, turning up to a jazz club and expecting to be taken seriously.

Just a bit of fun though right? Why so serious? Lighten up man, it's entertainment, it's only cheese, dude.

Aye, fuck off.

You need to reach astonishing levels of boredom and vacuity to feel the 'need' for champagne and cheese, or to feel comfortable sitting in a cafe selling fizz and churned milk for the bare LOLZ.

I guess it's a 'quirky and vibrant' leisure activity for unfulfilled people desperately seeking a status update or for first time buyers to take their Brixton-fearing parents to to thank them for the eye-watering deposit.

As for the business owners, chasing the money and chasing 'cool', why don't you fuck off to West London where you'll be appreciated by empty-headed full-walleted pricks who would take your arrival as a compliment rather than an insult to the intelligence?

I raise a glass of cheap vintage to you in the hope you lose money, close down and fuck off within six months. This is one strand of 'choice', 'variety' and 'diversity' we can live without.

Cheers, yeah?

I fear you have little you enjoy in your life

 

[Red Cat]

it's french for 'cheese'.

just like 'Champagne' is french for 'Fizzy Wine'

yeesh.

And wanker is English for wanker.

 

[pissflaps]

Monsieur Le Wanker. I think you'll find.

 

[spanglechick]

A shameless, cynical, novelty act.

It's like Rick Astley in a glittering gold jacket, clutching a kazoo, turning up to a jazz club and expecting to be taken seriously.

Just a bit of fun though right? Why so serious? Lighten up man, it's entertainment, it's only cheese, dude.

Aye, fuck off.

You need to reach astonishing levels of boredom and vacuity to feel the 'need' for champagne and cheese, or to feel comfortable sitting in a cafe selling fizz and churned milk for the bare LOLZ.

I guess it's a 'quirky and vibrant' leisure activity for unfulfilled people desperately seeking a status update or for first time buyers to take their Brixton-fearing parents to to thank them for the eye-watering deposit.

As for the business owners, chasing the money and chasing 'cool', why don't you fuck off to West London where you'll be appreciated by empty-headed full-walleted pricks who would take your arrival as a compliment rather than an insult to the intelligence?

I raise a glass of cheap vintage to you in the hope you lose money, close down and fuck off within six months. This is one strand of 'choice', 'variety' and 'diversity' we can live without.

Cheers, yeah?

I think there's a lot to be angry about, and apart from some Chinese dumplings I've never felt the need to eat in the village, but there's fuck all wrong with fizzy wine and cheese, and wanting to eat them doesn't show some moral fucking failing. Nor does being able to afford them, as it goes. I've lived all my life in south London - I'm not a gentrifier (and in fact have moved out to Sydenham myself because I couldn't afford to stay further in), but I don't have kids and I have a teacher's salary and if I want to blow my disposable income on champagne and cheese that makes me no more of a cunt than if I spend it on a big night in the Albert (which I have also been known to do).

Be angry, of course - what's happening to the market, and to Brixton is shit - but this kind of bollocks dilutes your justification. People spend their own money on what they like. We can all make judgements on that... But it's hardly edifying.

 

[Ms T]

Champagne and cheese - not natural bedfellows I wouldn't have thought.

 

[Badgers]

Champagne and cheese - not natural bedfellows I wouldn't have thought.

Yeah

Red wine and cheese.

Champagne and oysters?
Champagne and summer fruits?
Champagne with Salmon and scrambled eggs?
Champagne with toast and pate?

 

[pissflaps]

try it - it's a taste sensation.

 

[spanglechick]

Champagne and cheese - not natural bedfellows I wouldn't have thought.

I disagree, but then I'm not fond of red wine.

 

[Ms T]

I dunno, it means that people with some disposable income are spending it in local businesses in Brixton rather than going up West or whatever. Some of the original businesses in VB are run by long-term residents (Circus, Cornercopia, French & Grace). Before BV and Market Row were developed, there were actually remarkably few places to eat in Brixton. And I don't think any of the old-timers (Phoenix, Khans, Asmara) have actually closed down.

 

[Ms T]

I disagree, but then I'm not fond of red wine.

It depends on the cheese, but a lot of them (especially stinky washed rind cheeses and blue cheese) will kill the taste of the champagne or sparking wine. Parmesan-type cheeses are good.

 

[pissflaps]

you know what can get to fuck? Wine and chocolate. Not sure what it's more a waste of.

 

[fredfelt]

Champagne and cheese - not natural bedfellows I wouldn't have thought.

Beer and crisps is where its at.

 

[Manter]

you know what can get to fuck? Wine and chocolate. Not sure what it's more a waste of.

I found a red wine that went with chocolate. It was.... Novel.

 

[simonSW2]

I think there's a lot to be angry about, and apart from some Chinese dumplings I've never felt the need to eat in the village, but there's fuck all wrong with fizzy wine and cheese, and wanting to eat them doesn't show some moral fucking failing. Nor does being able to afford them, as it goes. I've lived all my life in south London - I'm not a gentrifier (and in fact have moved out to Sydenham myself because I couldn't afford to stay further in), but I don't have kids and I have a teacher's salary and if I want to blow my disposable income on champagne and cheese that makes me no more of a cunt than if I spend it on a big night in the Albert (which I have also been known to do).

Be angry, of course - what's happening to the market, and to Brixton is shit - but this kind of bollocks dilutes your justification. People spend their own money on what they like. We can all make judgements on that... But it's hardly edifying.

Fair point, I spend my spare change on all kinds of nonsense, I don't have a problem with that, or with cheese and fizz either together or separately - I do have a problem with this venue, in this context, presenting this selection, in this way, though. Capitalist shenanigans beyond irony.

 

[DRINK?]

will you be able to get branston pickle?

 

[pissflaps]

branston pickle?

Cornichon Anglaise.

 

[editor]

I dunno, it means that people with some disposable income are spending it in local businesses in Brixton rather than going up West or whatever.

I suspect a sizeable chunk of their customers will be people coming in to Brixton to enjoy the heady mix of champers and cheese.

 

[Dexter Deadwood]

Austerity isn't working.

 

[spanglechick]

I suspect a sizeable chunk of their customers will be people coming in to Brixton to enjoy the heady mix of champers and cheese.

Because they can't afford to live in Brixton!

 

[editor]

Because they can't afford to live in Brixton!

Pretty sure some of their expected clientèle could, you know. I don't expect there's much of a demand for upmarket champagne and cheese bars in poorer areas.

 

[Ms T]

I suspect a sizeable chunk of their customers will be people coming in to Brixton to enjoy the heady mix of champers and cheese.

A sizeable chunk of customers for the Dogstar/Albert etc don't live in Brixton either. People are pouring out of the tube these days on Friday/Sat nights, when they used to pour into it.

 

[editor]

A sizeable chunk of customers for the Dogstar/Albert etc don't live in Brixton either. People are pouring out of the tube these days on Friday/Sat nights, when they used to pour into it.

And don't the local residents and their piss stained walls know it.

 

[Winot]

Fair point, I spend my spare change on all kinds of nonsense, I don't have a problem with that, or with cheese and fizz either together or separately - I do have a problem with this venue, in this context, presenting this selection, in this way, though. Capitalist shenanigans beyond irony.

Have you looked at their website? It looks to me like these people are wine and food geeks - no Cristal (or even Moet) here. If anything, this venture is going to fail because it's not capitalist enough.

 

[fredfelt]

Have you looked at their website? It looks to me like these people are wine and food geeks - no Cristal (or even Moet) here. If anything, this venture is going to fail because it's not capitalist enough.

I took a look at their site. At least it seems that they are independent and passionate about what they do.

I don't live anywhere near Brixton but I'd much prefer this independent over, say a Costa or other identikit store.

It's sad, but I assume the rents are too high for anything else but a chain or a high end place. Good luck to them.

I can't get angry with place for giving it a go. If anything I feel a general malaise about the seemingly inevitable march of gentrification. Any anger I have is with policies put in place years ago which result in 'progress' of this kind.

 

[TruXta]

Have you looked at their website? It looks to me like these people are wine and food geeks - no Cristal (or even Moet) here. If anything, this venture is going to fail because it's not capitalist enough.

That can't be true - they've got another shop just up by Covent Garden, how the hell can you afford to set up there if you're not pretty well off?

 

[Winot]

That can't be true - they've got another shop just up by Covent Garden, how the hell can you afford to set up there if you're not pretty well off?

I didn't claim they didn't have funds - although my guess is they are leveraged to the hilt - it was more a comment about the style of the place. Perhaps 'not capitalist' was the wrong form of words - not trendy/blingy would be better.

 

[Winot]

I can't get angry with place for giving it a go. If anything I feel a general malaise about the seemingly inevitable march of gentrification. Any anger I have is with policies put in place years ago which result in 'progress' of this kind.

That's a very reasonable position to take.

What the hell are you doing on Urban75?

 

[TruXta]

I didn't claim they didn't have funds - although my guess is they are leveraged to the hilt - it was more a comment about the style of the place. Perhaps 'not capitalist' was the wrong form of words - not trendy/blingy would be better.

If it's in Covent Garden it's bloody well trendy.

 

[pissflaps]

Good luck to 'em.

Restaurants should be judged on the quality of their food & service, not by who you think it will appeal to.