CLEETHORPES may be famous for fabulous fish and chips, but it also has a continental gem hidden among its seaside streets.
Local ingredients are given a French twist at the delightful brasserie, located in the very heart of the resort.
Petit Delight, owned by a Parisian chef and his English fiancée Louise, was opened in September 2011 to bring a splash of the drapeau tricolore to the seaside town.
Petit Delight's quaint wooden decor, coupled with fine flavours, make this brasserie a "must-visit" location.
Head chef Arnaud Bernard is proud that the team uses a variety of produce which cannot be found anywhere else within the UK.
He loves nothing more than experimenting with food and new techniques and products, such as the restaurant's hazelnut oils, truffle salts and other high-end ingredients.
His culinary wizardry even saw him enter into Master Chef Live at the Olympia, in London, in December 2010.
Arnaud said: "The whole idea of bringing a touch of France into such a small town was to allow people to embrace a new taste and culture.
"During the day, we are open as a brasserie, a relaxing place to enjoy a snack or a coffee with friends, family or simply on your own.
"Then by night our menu changes and we provide guests with traditional fine dining – good French cuisine."
Arnaud met Louise after she moved from North East Lincolnshire to France in search of a different lifestyle.
Louise, who had left her previous career as an accountant, always had an interest in cooking and in France, she found her calling.
Coincidentally, the pair ended up working as chefs at the same restaurant in Angers, western France, in 2008.
Romance blossomed in the heat of the kitchen, and they quickly kindled a relationship.
Soon enough, they decided to run their own business together, but it was not until Louise returned to Cleethorpes that they found the perfect venue.
Away from the bustling seafront, on the corner of Sea View Street, stood their very own brasserie. Despite its interior being completely empty at first, the couple could see elements within of their dream restaurant.
Louise said: "It just looked pretty and elegant inside and we could see immediately a brasserie in the making.
"We both really wanted to bring France to Cleethorpes, so all our tables and chairs are from an old bistro in Brittany.
"It's genuine items like this that we believe set us apart from anyone else."
With their restaurant found, it was time to bring a taste of France across the Channel, boasting a variety of the country's most popular dishes.
But the pair could not have predicted the success they have achieved in just one year.
Arnaud said: "People just seemed to love it and word spread rapidly.
"I stay in touch with a lot of my former French colleagues; it is nice to see what they are doing in the kitchen and whether I can do the same here in Cleethorpes.
"I still buy some ingredients from France, such as fish, paté, wine and some meats. However, I do like to shop locally for a lot of fresh produce, such as Lincolnshire meat and vegetables. We are very pleased with how well the public have taken to alternative cuisine."
In August, Louise and Arnaud opened the Petit Pantry Deli next to the restaurant. Selling products they use in their own food, they wanted to give diners the opportunity to have a taste of Petit Delight at home, from salad dressing and olives to various meats. However, not all of it is French.
Louise said: "We also offer customers a taste of Italy, Spain and their home comforts of English food. The response we have received throughout our first year has been beyond belief.
"We are in the process of renovating the upper floor of the restaurant. Our aim is to turn it into a dining and dance area, with jazz and blues playing, so once people have eaten they can go upstairs and relax.
"We host various events and offers throughout the year, and some are weekly treats for people to enjoy.
"We are very settled here and just hope our business continues to grow and we can say 'bon appetit' to many more customers."
