Former Rockpool chef opens Heidelberg food store City Larder

British chef Robbie Bell spent nine years in the Melbourne and Sydney kitchens of Rockpool Bar & Grill. So it's something of a surprise to find him in Heidelberg Heights making take-home meals.

But these are no TV dinners. We're talking bistro-style slow-roasted duck leg with braised red cabbage, Toulouse sausages with braised Puy lentils, and duck fat and rosemary potatoes.

Bell and his wife Rebecca set up the City Larder two years ago crafting French-style terrines, pates and rillettes, which they initially sold to restaurants and speciality food stores, and through weekend farmers' markets. But growing demand nudged them to find a place of their own so they could expand into ready-prepared meals, which will change weekly.

The City Larder, which opens Tuesday June 27, will have all the fixings for a dinner party, including charcuterie, soups, salads, mains and sides, along with cheese from Essendon fromagerie Harper & Blohm. They'll also sell hot pies, from Red Hill's Johnny Ripe, to go.

The Bells will continue to sell through farmers' markets on Saturday mornings. "It's a great way to meet our customers and get their feedback," says Rebecca.

Open Mon-Fri 10am-6.30pm.

137 Bell Street, Heidelberg, 0435 956 368, city-larder.com