This July, a new neighbourhood restaurant, Minnow, will throw open its doors to the locals of London SW4.
The new eatery will be offering seasonal, modern European dishes from breakfast through to dinner, with a healthy dose of weekend brunch and cocktails thrown in for good measure.
Founded by Chris Frichot and Saba Tsegaye, and joined in the kitchen by Jake Boyce (former Head Chef of Jason Atherton’s Social Wine and Tapas), Minnow will embrace the pavement culture of Clapham Common, overlooking the park situated at the heart of the Old Town.
Growing up at the Michelin-starred Knockinaam Lodge Hotel in Scotland, owned by his parents, restaurants are very much in Frichot’s blood, spending much of his childhood in and around the kitchen.
Having also spent time gaining hands on experience in the industry, working at Caravan, Hawksmoor and Hoi Polloi, Frichot will run this new venture with support from Tsegaye, his fiancée.
Tsegaye said, 'We’ve decided to call ourselves Minnow because we know that we’re going to be a small, but fiercely independent, fish in a big pond – but it’s something we’re proud of. We have been working very hard alongside Jake to make sure we’ll be bringing something different and delicious to the neighborhood, which is what we’re most excited about, living just around the corner ourselves.'
Bringing a wealth of experience to the stoves, Jake Boyce will be cooking a twist on modern European fare at Minnow, influenced by the British seasons, whilst giving a nod to the flavours of the Indian Ocean, where Frichot’s family hail from.
Dishes will include; Squid with lemongrass, lime and ginger, Baby octopus with curry leaf paste and charred green mango, Whole roast poussin from Minnow’s Robata grill, and Caramelised watermelon with a blood orange and Campari sorbet. The breakfast and brunch menu will feature dishes from Chilli cornbread with fried egg, avocado, yoghurt and lime to Paw paw with cayenne pepper. A Minnow style full English, with a house-cured chop, will be washed down with breakfast cocktails, freshly blended juices and locally roasted coffee.
Just around the corner from Clapham Common tube station, the ground floor will feature indoor trees, greenery and a long marble bar looking out over the Common where Granitas (soft and hard) will churn out all day throughout the summer months. A quiet walled garden will provide space for guests to dine outside.
Downstairs, an open kitchen will make for an intimate dinner setting, where a vaulted booth, illuminated by a stained glass light box, will sit inside a repurposed wine cellar, and outside, tables will spill onto the pavement for sun soaked days, with Minnow’s honesty box stocked with juices as a pick-me-up for Clapham residents.
Cocktails will take inspiration from local heroes and landmarks including, The Clapham Sect and The Temperance Fountain, which the restaurant overlooks, and a concise wine offering, served in ‘pay as you drink’ bottles will be accompanied with local beer on tap.