T H E
|
G O O D
|
L I F E
F O O D
|
W I N E
|
T R A V E L
Two times Tables Matthew Michaelis
Rely on the kindness of strangers
Two Times Tables Having owned and operated food businesses, I wholly appreciate the effort people put into creating their own eateries. Now, imagine two times the effort – cafe and bistro – and I can really ap-
Confit of duck leg served in a stolid French setting Photo Matthew Michaelis
Top: The owners of La Table, Louise and Bruno Pouget. Above: La Table cafe – quinoa salad. Photos Matthew Michaelis
preciate the choice on offer. The owners, Louise and Bruno Pouget, have something in common (apart from their kids) – cooking; they’re both accomplished chefs. Their resumes suggest that their kitchen at home would be something to behold and that they really know what they’re doing in any kitchen. Adding to this pool of experience is Wilfrid Nages, the chef looking after the bistro now on Friday and Saturday nights. I sidled into the bistro last Friday night with a small group and ordered a dish of snails. These little treats for me evoke foggy seaside weekends somewhere in France, plentiful escargot casseroled in garlic and parsley and sides of thick sliced bread
cut from ‘two pound loaves’ for soak-up. The escargot arrived potted with a Patis (anise liqueur) herb butter and a side of sliced fresh fennel all of which satisfied my fantasy adequately. The confit of duck leg was again served in a solid French setting, sitting centred on a sweet potato and carrot puree and flanked with a siding of perfect green beans, sprigged with thyme and set on a good shiraz glaze. I love the simplicity of this dish so much that I will include it as a recipe down the track. Lamb fillet was also served perfectly cooked to order, pink and medium rare. At this point I won’t apologise to the vegetarians reading as I was dining with one who had ordered a fantastic goat cheese
soufflé served with olive and almond crumbs, asparagus, tomato and roquette salad. At La Table’s cafe everything is in place and as good as any other cafe around: fresh juices, good coffee from baristas using a Botero blend and food from breakfast to lunch that’s well executed and served in or out, garden or lounge-chaired. La Table’s bistro next door is definitely not to be ignored. Now a Friday or Saturday evening affair, it’s wonderfully casual with a privileged feel to it, like you have your own French relative cooking for you. You can come in before eating a meal at home, enjoy one or more dishes off the tasting plate with a drink if you so desire without being eyeballed. Selections are very well priced from $7 to $13, charcuterie and cheese boards at $16, or mains from $24 to $30. A good wine list includes quality wine the likes of the biodynamic red Chateauneuf du Pape, Domaine de Villeneuve 2007, Vielle Vigne – an aged drop worth trying. The Pougets have provided the ardent foodie with an unusual opportunity: French culture, food, wine and joie de vivre right here in Mullumbimby and on any budget – Bon Appétit!
Q La
Table – Bistro; Fully licensed. 72a Burringbar St, Mullumbimby 6684 2227 contact@latable.com.au Friday 4pm till late Saturday 2pm till late
BYRON BAY every thursday 8 - 11am butler st reserve
every saturday BANGALOW 8 - 11am behind bangalow hotel Byron Farmers’ Market
BANGALOW
Coolangatta The Strand, Marine Pde Dr 07 5536 5455 Byron Bay Woolies Plaza, Jonson St 02 6685 7103 Broadbeach The Oracle, 12 Charles Ave 07 5570 2166 www.osushi.com.au
%DQJDORZ
GLQLQJ
URRPV
Bangalow Hotel Open 7 days Lunch: 12 – 3pm Dinner 5.30 – 9pm All day bistro menu
BYRON BAY
6687 1144
Hog’s Breath Cafe Open 7 Days, 11.30am-2.30pm Dinner from 5.30pm 9/4 Jonson St, Byron Bay 6685 5320 www.hogsbreath.com.au
Enjoy our balcony restaurant, intimate dining room and generous bistro food in the pub. With reasonable prices our menu reflects the wonderful local and fresh produce of the region. SMH GOOD PUB Large groups welcome. FOOD GUIDE We also offer off-site catering. 2013 AND 2014 www.bangalowdining.com Hog’s Breath Cafe’s menu just got better with some mouth-watering new steaks, salad, pasta and an abundance of delicious dessert selections. As usual, the diverse menu also offers chicken, seafood, snacks, burgers, ribs, kid’s meals, a range of Lite Options, plus their famous Prime Rib Steak – slow cooked for up to 18 hours for maximum flavour and tenderness. Kids eat free Mon – Wed nights and you can grab lunch for just $9.90, so there’s something to please the whole family.
North Coast news daily: www.echonetdaily.net.au
Table – Cafe; 8am–4pm (kitchen closed at 2.30pm) Saturdays 9am–2pm (kitchen closed at 1.30pm) 6684 2220 72a Burringbar St, Mullumbimby
Get the freshest food weekly straight from the people who grow it
O-Sushi
Bangalow Dining Rooms
Q La
Legend Pizza Open 7 days 9am till after midnight Shop 1 Woolworths Plaza 90-96 Jonson Street 6685 5700 www.legendpizza.com.au
Muoi’s Feast Dinner: Mon-Sat 11 Fletcher St, Byron Bay Bookings Essential 6685 7557
@ByronFarmMarket
Come and see our newly refurbished restaurant Outdoor dining area. Easy parking. Eat in or T/A, licensed, open 7 days a week. An award winning Japanese fusion cuisine bringing you the best sushi. FRESH PIZZA – BYRON STYLE Check us out on
BYRON BAY CONTINUED
Having a spot of lunch at La Table cafe in Mullumbimby, a couple of friendly international travellers came up to me. Matteus from Turin, Italy, and Lily from Marseille, France. I asked them what they thought of food here in Australia. ‘I imagined Aussie food to be like American: food, fatty, kilojoule-laden foods’, Lily told me. She was very surprised at just how wrong she was. I mentioned the multicultural aspect of Australian cuisine and Matteus, the young Italian, quickly asserted, ‘Australia has no cuisine! It’s too young a country’. He was right of course though only in the obvious respect. I noted that I had a tremendous salad mound of quinoa, carrot, zucchini, fetta and caramelised sunflower seeds flecked with a citrus parsley dressing and fresh greens sitting plump in front of me. I added that there was a French chef preparing this food and next door there was a modern / traditional French menu being made and sold to all nations who’d care to partake. Australia’s cuisine definitely relies on the kindness of strangers creating fresh, fusion and traditional menus from many cultures of the world – I don’t think I’d want it any other way.
facebook.com/byron. legendpizza Scan code for our menu! BYO Home delivery 7 days Muoi’s Feast has created a strong following since opening in 2003. Winning numerous awards for its international cuisine, the Asian section of the menu is the predominant favourite. Enjoy for dinner.
The Byron Shire Echo November 18, 2014 25