Eating Out - Rozelle
Reporter: James Tobin
James Tobin is gorging himself with a gourmet feast on Darling Street in Rozelle.
La Grande Bouffe
Sydney has enjoyed a real love affair with French food for the past five years or so.
Before its incarnation as a restaurant, La Grande Bouffe started life as a French/Italian film released in 1973. The black comedy centres on a group of four middle-aged men who hire a villa in the countryside and resolve to gorge themselves to death on gourmet food.
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While eating oneself to death is not de rigueur at this Rozelle restaurant, the film’s sentiments reflect owner David Poirier’s passion for food. This is David’s first restaurant and has already proved to be a smashing success – no surprise considering his and chef Robert Hodgson’s pedigree.
The restaurant itself is gorgeous, decked out in an unmistakable Parisian bistro style, with dark wood tables and chairs, wooden floors, white-washed walls and ambient lighting. A sumptuous feature wall contains a deep red patterned wallpaper designed by Publisher Textiles who design fabrics for designers such as Sally Smith. The bistro also has plenty of outdoor pavement seating – very conducive to weekend breakfasts.
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Despite this, it’s hard to decide, as everything sounds (and tastes!) very good. While traditional French techniques and recipes are used, Robert readily adapts them to the season and local tastes. For example, instead of a wintry duck cassoulette, Robert is currently serving one with fish, to suit the Sydney summer.
This dish is a good example of a modern take on traditional techniques. And while many people still associate French food with richness and heavy sauces, it’s not the case at La Grande Bouffe.
If you’ve never tried snails, now is your chance. They are served here as an amuse bouche at dinner. (free appetizer, to you and me) and are served in a delicious garlic butter. For the uninitiated, the texture is not unlike cooked mushrooms.
Everything that is possible to make in-house is done so: bread, jams, ice cream, croissants and so forth. Magnifique! And oui, the waiters all speak French.
Some of the dishes you may find on the menu:
Breakfast
- Traditional French Toast with Pear, Walnuts and Maple Syrup
- Fresh Crepes with Raspberry Coulis and Fromage Frais
Lunch
- Toulouse Duck Cassoulet
- Belgian Endive Salad, Poached Egg, Lardons
Dinner
- Poisson Du Jour (fish of the day)
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More Information La Grande Bouffe 758 Darling Street, Rozelle
Telephone: (02) 9818 4333
Open for breakfast and lunch every day. Dinner, Tuesday to Saturday. Lunch is from $20 and dinner starts at $29. |
Prices correct as at 03/11/07
the barn cafe & grocery
Located in Darling Street, Rozelle, the heart of Sydney’s dynamic, diverse Inner West, the barn cafe & grocery is a true food lover’s destination.
The focus here is on superior food at reasonable prices, from grocery shopping basics to specialty Deli items, to select regional produce and the freshest fruit and vegetables of the season.
Stop by for a cup of illy coffee and a freshly baked pastry or a gourmet sandwich in the Espresso Bar, or enjoy a superb meal at the barn café where the emphasis is on fresh, innovative menu selections prepared with the best of the region and best of the season ingredients. Al fresco dining is available in the food lovers’ courtyard, planted with aromatic herbs and heavily laden fruit trees.
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The barn cafe & grocery is committed to strong customer service, environmental responsibility and community involvement. Their aim is to be a great food venue and also a good neighbour in supporting local schools, artists and community projects.
All products used in the barn cafe dishes are available in the barn grocery, so you can recreate your favourites at home – you can even get recipes in store…or in our book!
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Some of the dishes you may find on the menu:
Lunch
- Thai Chicken Salad - lemongrass marinated chicken breast, vermicelli noodles, bok choy, snow peas and shallots with a coriander peanut dressing
- Panfried Scallops with daikon, pickled ginger, wakame and ponzu dressing
- Grilled Asparagus, roasted bell peppers, portabello mushroom and broccolini with macadamia pesto
Main
- Lemon Thyme Chicken on angel hair pasta with capers, olives, anchovies and fresh herbs
- BBQ Quail on a bed of porcini risotto, wild mushroom and grape sauce.
- Togaroshi Spiced Whitebait Fritter with Wakame, Watercress, Pickled Ginger & Snowpea Salad, drizzled with Wasabi Mayo
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More Information the barn cafe & grocery 731 – 735 Darling Street, Rozelle
Telephone: (02) 9810 1633
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday. Breakfast: $14^ Lunch & Dinner: $18^ |
Prices correct as at 03/11/07