Bitton Gourmet: French Cafe & Bistro, Rose Bay (17 Feb 2020)

23 Plumer Road, Rose Bay NSW 2029
https://bittongourmet.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/bittongourmet/

Bitton joins Rose Bay

It's looking like a good start for Bitton Gourmet's new opening in Rose Bay taking over the prestige corner site where Bernasconi's ran for many years. As you enter you're greeted with their extensive range of gourmet jams, dressings and condiments. Cappuccino ($4.40) using Grinders Coffee was nice although positions itself as one of the more expensive coffees in the area. French Crepes with Bitton Strawberry and Vanilla Jam, Mixed Berry Compote ($16) had nice thin crepes and tasty jam. Would have loved more of the berry compote for the serving size. A small pot of double cream would do wonders as well. Outside tables are on the petit side so a bit of plate tetris will be required if you're thinking of sharing a dish with side plates. Service was welcoming and friendly as you'd expect from a hospitality veteran with two other well-established cafes in Alexandria and Oatley. Pleasant outside dining on a sunny day with local views of the green trees and golf course. For those with deeper pockets I spy glasses of NV Louis Roederer Brut Champagne available for $26 to wash down your breakfast order.

The Pacific Club, Bondi Beach (22 Sept 2018)

182 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach NSW 2026
https://www.thepacificclub.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/thepacificclubbondibeach/

Bondi's new bistro looking good

It's always a promising sign for me when oysters are served shucked to order with all their natural brine. Oysters ($4.50) from Pambula are well presented and achieve my happy place. I also tried the 'The Nut Cracker' cocktail with Macadamia oil washed Tanqueray, Herbs de Provence Vermouth, lemon myrtle ($19). Quite nice, a bit different,  a bit unusual. Would love to see more Aussie artisan gins on their menu besides the usual suspects since the food menu and chef seem to be focussing on native ingredients as a theme. Decor is looking great including the opalescent toilet floor tiles and the fiery coals in the kitchen makes for a wonderful centrepiece. Service friendly and a menu that deserves a revisit I think. Especially anything that's cooked on those coals.

Little Bistro, Hotel CBD Pop-up, CBD Sydney (24 April 2018)

52 King St, Sydney NSW 2000
https://merivale.com.au/venues/littlebistro

Refined flavours in Little Bistro

Little Bistro pop-up takes up position at the former Bistrode CBD site where the much loved but not forgotten Jeremy Bistrode brought joy to his dishes. British chef Alastair Little is at the helm and so far I'm impressed with the professional and down-to-earth service, decor and dishes that delivered on taste and technique. Vodka Martini ($14 / $17.50 on bill corrected back to menu price) is served at the table from a mini carafe filled with Absolut Elyx, Noilly Prat, Lemon Zest and '4:1 ratio' which I'm not quite sure what that meant. The tiny martini glass is also well-suited for a tea party but filled with lovely flavour and topped with a massive juicy green olive as my preference over the twist. Keep them coming I say. Clair de Lune oysters, spicy sausages, mignonette ($5 each) are from Moonlight Flat Oysters and come with a housemade spicy sausage which is a first for me but won't be the last I hope. Oysters seem shucked to order as well which is always my preference for some flavoursome brine.

Seafood life is good in the Bourride of market fish, mussels, squid, prawns, fennel, rouille, croutons ($35). Nicely cooked seafood, plump mussels and a tasty punchy rouille makes for a happy tummy. Some softer sourdough would help also to soak up the leftover broth. The Apple Tart Fine, Chantilly cream ($14) apparently is one of Little's signature desserts using his apple tart recipe since about 1983. Nice thin caramelised pastry topped with wafer thin slices of apple. A joy with the Chantilly cream. I'm suspecting the only thing that could make it better is if you were lucky enough to have it served just out of the oven and not at room temperature. I think a bigger hit of vanilla from some vanilla bean paste in the Chantilly would be most welcomed. Looking like a good addition to the CBD dining scene and well-suited for the business lunch crowd that keep in mind the online booking confirmation Dress Code of Smart Casual.