Alexandre Laforce Reynolds, who is the former owner and head chef at Eline restaurant in Shoreditch, will bring a fresh take to Bistro Freddie's signatures as well as a collection of new dishes in keeping with 'Freddie's 'classic bistro-style' and inspired by his kitchen experience and French heritage.
New dishes will include grilled Loch Duart salmon and shellfish hollandaise; beef tartare with beef-fat fried bread; and a classic French île flottante dessert. He has also switched up Bistro Freddie’s sharing pie - serving it with a rich pork cheek, leek and sweetcorn filling.
The 31 year-old chef spent his childhood in the Cévennes region in the south of France before moving to the UK with his parents when he was 11. He entered the industry aged 19 and has spent more than a decade cooking in fine dining restaurants in the capital including Hide, Fenchurch and Mayfair's Seven Park Place as well as time spent in the kitchen at east London bakery Popham's, where he met his now partner Maria Vivani.
In summer 2022, along with Vivani, Reynolds opened his first solo restaurant project Eline (named after his French grandmother) in Shoreditch. The restaurant closed in May this year.
Bistro Freddie launched in October 2023 on Luke Street, Shoreditch and is part of Dominic Hamdy's London-based restaurant group HAM Restaurants, which also comprises Crispin, Bar Crispin, and Crispin at Studio Voltaire.
"I'm thrilled to be joining HAM Restaurants," says Reynolds.
"There is a soul to this place that I can't wait to add to and grow with. There will be solid technique and a confidence in the simplicity of the dishes that I will bring to this perfect bistro.
Hamdy adds: "Alex has a wealth of experience and a burning passion for food, as well as a French/British background that is a perfect match for Bistro Freddie.
"Rooted in classic French cookery, his dishes also have a flare and contemporary quality that we're all excited to experience.
"As we move into the next phase of our humble corner bistro, we welcome Alexandre with open arms."