Sophie Farrah meets the boys behind Balham’s brand new brunch hotspot, Brother Marcus
Brother Marcus Balham brunch
From the minute I step off the train in Balham I am immediately spoilt for choice – a slice of sourdough pizza from Franco Manca perhaps or a burger from hipsters, Haché? Even Soho House has made its mark with its trendy Chicken Shop.
I am here however to check out the new kid on the Balham block, Brother Marcus. This café-cum-cocktail spot is the brainchild of three 20-something Surrey schoolfriends, Arthur, Alex and Tasos. The boys met aged just 16 and bonded over a love of a food and motorbikes; 10 years on and their first café is the epitome of a labour of love.
“We built everything ourselves in my garden,” laughs Tasos: “We made the tables from 1920s floorboards as well as the shelves, the signs, everything.”
And their talents do not end there – Arthur looks after the business side of things whilst Tasos is a photographer by trade, but can also be found in the kitchen. Alex is front of house by day and an actor by night (he is currently treading the boards at Orange Tree theatre):
“I was so nervous the night before we opened, more than I’ve even been before a show. I kept thinking – is anyone actually going to come?”
Thankfully, they did and Brother Marcus (named after Alex’s brother, Marcus) opened to rave reviews.
Food is their passion: “After graduating we all spent time working in the street food industry, and even when we had days off we would cycle around London going from one food market to the next,” explains Arthur.
“We eat out together a lot,” adds Tasos, “so we got lots of inspiration for our own menu – what tastes good, what works together. We took lots of different ideas and then Brother Marc-ified them!”
I try ‘The Step Sister’ (which I am told took a month to perfect), a courgette, beetroot and feta fritter served with avocado, spinach and poached egg. Other temptations include ‘Bob’s Your Uncle’, a bavette steak sandwich, complete with red wine caramelized onions, mustard, cheddar and rocket, and the ‘Sugar Daddy’, cinnamon French toast, covered in berries, maple syrup and mascarpone.
“We use the very best seasonal, organic produce. Our eggs are from Cornwall and when you see the colour of the yolk you just go ‘wow!’”
The cold brew coffee also had the wow factor – high quality Caravan beans, brewed for 16 hours, twice filtered and served over ice with a slice of lemon. There is also an array of very enticing brunch cocktails.
“Our aim is great coffee, great food and great service - it sounds really simple, but to get all three elements together in London is quite rare,” says Alex.
Take it from me, it ticks all three boxes.
For more information visit brothermarcus.co.uk
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