Tray Gourmet

Oh heavenly Tray Gourmet! French baguettes, breads, drinks, meats and savoury foods all served with friendly French accents in the middle of Chelsea.
Yes, pretentious it is, but it is hard to be too pretentious with the edifice that is the Chelsea and Westminster hospital directly opposite. This place has been here for a fairly long time and has been relentlessly taxing my finances for nearly a decade.
I enjoy the décor and vibe when I am in Tray Gourmet, and the French accents do give me a break from inarticulate London chitchat.
The baguettes are addictive (not quite to the levels of Gourmet Oriental Chinese (hey?!? What is it with me being addicted to foods that are made by companies that are called ‘Gourmet’ (and now look… I am now trapped in many different sets of brackets — typical behaviour of addicts apparently))) with my favourites being the Arc De Triomphe (Chicken with mayonnaise and Spring Onion) and the Quai D’orsay (Red Pesto with Roasted Vegetables).
I have always enjoyed eating from here and I hope that I am blessed to have the money in my jeans to continue eating here for many many years!

In the shadow of the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, lies a little tranche of France. From the moment you walk in and are greeted en français, to the shelves groaning with French store-​cupboard favourites, you feel as if you have crossed the Channel without the need for Eurostar.
All our French cousins’ bakery specialities are available here, together with creative baguette sandwiches (changing on a daily basis) cleverly named after Parisian areas of renown and infamous cartoon heroes.
I loved the children’s corner, near the till, where traditional bonbons and chocolats are tantalisingly displayed. An intriguing mix of real licorice sticks at 20p, petits Oursons sponge cakes at 70p, together with lollipops (sucettes) and chews (caramels). Nice touch to wrap them in the same paper bags you would get in a local boulangerie or epicerie across la Manche.
Worthy of a visit from dedicated Francophiles, homesick ex-​pats, and foodies.