Despite the best intentions of a handful of politicians over the past few months, London remains an incredibly multi-cultural society.
More than 300 languages are spoken on the city’s streets and the flags of more than 200 countries are represented.
Most importantly, for the lifestyle pages of South West Londoner at least, the hundreds of people arriving in the capital every week also bring with them foreign recipes and culinary traditions.
With this in mind, there is surely no better place to celebrate the German festival of Oktoberfest than in a French restaurant in England’s biggest city.
L’Affaire is a Wandsworth’s newest eatery, located on the high street just a five-minute walk from the station.
Its sharp interior suits a meal out with friends as well as a first date, but the restaurant’s real asset is its spacious outdoor seating area.
Tucked away at the back of the site, which previously housed the Wandle Trail restaurant and the Rose and Crown pub, is an intimate beer garden-come-lounge area.
With electric heaters and blanket-laden sofas on offer, it will provide a priceless outdoor escape during the indoor-only winter months.
From October 7-8, the outdoor space will be the place to be in SW18, with a two-day Oktoberfest event promising German beer, fancy dress and a oompah band.
When I visited L’Affaire, however, Oktoberfest was still some weeks away and the focus was squarely on French cuisine.
Never one to shy away from stereotype, I ordered snails for my starter, along with some charcuterie to share with my companion.
For our mains we chose sea bass and cod, which was followed by a desert of sorbet .
The food was delicious, the staff were friendly and the traffic of the high street was muted by the tall walls and foliage.
With candles flickering on the tables and the waiters murmuring to each in French, L’Affaire possesses the ability to transport you many miles from SW18.
With a brief attempt to put my A-Level French lessons into use, we bid our hosts à bientôt and re-emerged back into England.
When we got home, Theresa May was on the radio saying Britain’s decision to turn its back on Europe was a good thing.
To stage your own culinary protest, get down to L’Affaire this week to enjoy the best of the continent.
L’Affaire’s Oktoberfest festivities run from 7pm to midnight, on Friday October 7 and from 4pm to midnight the following day. Bon appetit! Or, for one weekend only, gutten appetit.
