Pick up some no-fuss fare at À la Bonne Franquette, New Farm’s French-inspired deli and takeaway spot
It’s been a big year for French cuisine in Brisbane. We’ve seen the openings of dressed-down neighbourhood restaurants, grungy eateries and chic contemporary bistros (plus more still to come), but Hugo and Delphine Wintzer have decided to take a different approach. The French expats (who, as it turns out, first met in Melbourne) are the brains behind À la Bonne Franquette, a cosy deli and takeaway nosh spot that officially opened in New Farm on Tuesday September 17.
Hugo and Delphine have taken over the cosy space most recently home to Italian wine bar Ombra for the concept and, though small, À la Bonne Franquette is a venue with two sides. Upon entry, guests are greeted by shelves of imported goodies – everything from pates, terrines and tapenades to gourmet chips, cheeses and cured meats. The range might be a mixed bag at first glance, but Hugo tells us that everything on display has been selected for not only its usefulness as a pantry filler, but also as nostalgia-inducing finds for fellow French expats. “Most of what’s on the shelf, I used to have that in my childhood,” says Hugo. “We just want to try and give Australian people a chance to discover these products.”
Those popping into À la Bonne Franquette will spy terrines from Ducs de Gascogne and La Belle Chaurienne, confit onion from MÉDITÉA, J. Gaillard white truffle oil, an assortment of biscuits from LU, St. Michel and BN, Haribo lollies, an assortment of Brets Chips, Teisseire syrups, and jars of Dijon mustard and Bearnaise sauce. A small refrigerator display houses an assortment of butters, cheeses (think brie, camembert and emmental from Paysan Breton, Brillat Savarin Affine, and PDO Pont-l’Evêque from E. Graindorge), saucisson sec and tins of Kaviari caviar. Though familiar brands in France, a good portion of these items are exceptionally hard to find locally (“Most of those products are almost impossible to find in Brisbane – even the caviar is French,” says Hugo).
You might like
Named after the old-school French expression meaning ‘simple’ or ‘unfussy’ (typically used when referring to relaxed gatherings or meals), À la Bonne Franquette is looking to give locals a taste of honest and humble French food – the kind of everyday fare that Hugo believes is a truer representation of the cuisine of his home country. Boasting only enough seats for four patrons, À la Bonne Franquette’s kitchen is geared towards takeaway fare.
The sizeable menu encompasses a number of classics, from starters like French onion soup, goats cheese salad, and quiche of the day, to mains like beef bourguignon, braised duck, coq au vin and French raclette. Rounding out the offering are sides like gratin dauphinois, ratatouille and mashed potato, and desserts including flan patissier, chocolate mousse and creme caramel. “We’re trying to stay as traditional as possible and make it easy to reheat and eat at home,” Hugo explains, “It doesn’t have to be plated fancy on a very nice plate with lots of fuss. It’s just well made comfort food, that’s all.”
Expect À la Bonne Franquette to bolster its deli range over time, as well as introduce specials to its menu of made-to-order dishes.