Eric Poli is bringing a taste of his native France to Bradford.

Frogs legs, French black pudding with calvados and French apple tart tatin are among a selection of dishes from across the Channel appearing on the menu at his new cafe bar.

Traditional English food vies with Continental fare at The Terrace in Bingley Road, Saltaire, with other options including beef and ale suet pudding with mint puree and chargrilled Tuscan vegetables with goats' cheese and olive tapanade. Belgian chocolate mousse and Camembert fondue feature among the puddings.

Eric had been searching for premises in the Bradford district and was tipped off about the building in the village, a World Heritage Site.

"It was good luck. My next-door neighbour spotted it and told me that it was for sale, so I acted quickly."

The refurbished interior is distinctly French, with canvases depicting French chefs plying their trade, and checked table cloths.

"It was a cafe-bar previously, but we have changed it completely. It has a good feel about it, says Eric, who left his home in a small fishing village in the South of France to study English. "People seem to really like the atmosphere."

At present The Terrace - which opened on May 7 - is open during the day from Monday to Saturday and on Friday and Saturday evenings. "We are cooking a whole range of meals, from big breakfasts to smoked haddock, steak and mushroom pie and lamb moussaka," says Eric, adding that if the evenings are a success he will extend them throughout the week.

Ingredients are locally-sourced. "The lamb comes from Bolton Abbey estate, chicken from North Yorkshire, sausage from Masham, fish from the east coast and vegetables from local suppliers," he explains. "It is very important to me that I support local suppliers, and nowadays more and more people want to know where the food they are eating has come from."

Eric came to England aged 19, and found himself in Skipton, unable to speak the language. "I thought the best way to learn would be to find a job," he recalls, "so I signed on with an agency and they found me work as a cook in a pub."

Having trained as a chef in France, he knew the ropes, and soon picked up the lingo. "I grasped the language more quickly than I thought I would," he says.

After two years, Eric left the pub and worked his way up and down the country, with jobs in places including Watford and Aberdeen, where he cooked in a Michelin-starred restaurant.

In Bradford, he worked at the former Clark's restaurant in Heaton before setting up Poli Catering Services with his former partner, supplying food to a diverse range of clients including the National Health Service. He also catered for corporate events, dinner parties, barbecues and weddings.

It was a success, but extremely hard work. "I don't miss it, I feel more at home in what I am doing now," he says.

When he gets chance, Eric, who has two young daughters, relaxes at home with a glass of wine. He enjoys eating out. "I like to sample what the competition is producing," he says.

As for his own culinary preferences, he enjoys a broad range of food - but in particular French dishes. "I love traditional French fish soup. I used to live in Marseilles and their local fish soup is delicious."

Diners at The Terrace will be able to judge for themselves whether his opinion is justified. "We are going to make it at the café - I'm sure people will like it."

  • The Terrace, 83 Bingley Road, Saltaire. Tel: (01274) 533084.