ERIC Poli has been cooking French cuisine in the district for more than 15 years.
Born in France, the chef is inspired by the food he grew up with, as well as dishes he learned to cook as an apprentice at a Michelin starred restaurant.
Eric ran popular Saltaire bistro The Terrace for 14 years then opened a mobile eatery, Saltaire Belle, serving freshly cooked burgers and sandwiches at festivals and other events. Its success led to a Saltaire Belle dining space in Saltaire, with cosy sheds and outdoor seating.
Now Eric has opened La Cachette Cafe and Bistrot in Shipley. “We serve typical French food,” says Eric. “Dishes include Classic Cassoulet de Castelnaudary; Moules mariniere; Soups de poisson; Boudin noire; Mousse au chocolat and crème brullee.
“We also have a specials board, with dishes such as Tartiflette (traditional baked reblochon with King Edward potatoes, pancetta, onion cream and garlic); Gratin Lyonnaise (classic French onion soup with Gruyere cheese croutons); Moules frites; Rustique Camembert and duck and Toulouse sausage and bean cassoulet.”
Eric - who also owns Tallulah’s wine bar in Saltaire, serving cocktails and afternoon tea - says La Cachette gives him the opportunity to “exercise my culinary style better than before”.
He adds: “The Terrace had a great reputation around Yorkshire and beyond, winning all sorts of accolades including Best Bistro for three years running for the UK in the French good food guide Les Routiers. But I decided to let The Terrace go after the pandemic. The place was too much for me. I opened Saltaire Belle to do something fun and a bit different, and we still use her for special events.
“La Cachette is ideal for me because it’s smaller, with 20 covers. There are just two of us in the kitchen.”
Born in France, Eric left school aged 13 and started an apprenticeship in a two star Michelin restaurant in Bezier.
Three years later he left to do National Service, in the French parachute regiment, then, aged 19, he came to the UK. That was more than 30 years ago. Eric arrived in Skipton speaking hardly any English and decided that the best way to learn would be to find a job. “I signed on with an agency and they found me work as a cook in a pub,” he says.
Having trained as a chef in France, he knew his way around a kitchen, and soon picked up the language as he worked. Eric went on to work as a chef in five-star restaurants and hotels across the UK including Aberdeen in a Michelin-starred restaurant. Returning to Yorkshire, he worked at Clark’s restaurant in Heaton before setting up Poli Catering Services, cooking for weddings, parties, corporate events and other occasions, then The Terrace.
Overlooking Salts Mill, La Cachette ofers brunch, à la carte and special menus and a popular steak night on Mondays. On November 21 there’s a Beaujolais Nouveau night with three-course meal and entertainment from singer Lucienne deVille.
The Christmas menu has starters including Cranberry Infused Wild Salmon Gravlax and Pork and Duck Rillettes, mains such as Turkey Wellington, Slow Cooked Beef Ragout and Christmas spiced Lamb Pithivier and desserts including Orange Liqueur Cake with whisky cream.
* La Cachette Cafe and Bistrot, 93 Kirkgate, Shipley. Tel. (01274) 596114. Facebook.com/lacachettebistrot
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