I had one thing in mind when I visited Belfast’s Lyric Theatre: on-site cafe operator Craig Nash’s friand. In France a friand is like a sausage roll, but in the English-speaking world it’s a version of the French financier pastry, a dense, almondy bun with fruit on top.
“Oh yes,” the waitress said with a dreamy look when I ordered one. “They’re very good.” The cafe is open for breakfast, brunch and lunch seven days a week. Brunch includes a Clandeboye yoghurt, with granola, raspberries, blueberries and peach, for £4.95 (€6.20), or a children’s French toast for £2.75 (€3.43). The friands are a pretty lovely £1.75 (€2.19) each.
Lyric Cafe at the Lyric Theatre, 55 Ridgeway Street, Belfast, tel: 048-9038-5685
