Morsels: Homestead Cafe for sale, Les Bistronomes to open in Braddon

New French bistro in Braddon
A French bistro is coming to Braddon – Les Bistronomes. Who's behind it? Clement Chauvin, formerly chef at Waters Edge. The bistro is going to be on the corner of Mort and Elouera streets in the building which used to be occupied by Delissio. Chauvin tells us the new restaurant is going to be "me all over" and will be buzzy, loud, and full of French character with a rustic style fitout. And the food? "The cooking style will be my contemporary French cuisine ... I want it to be quite authentic. In a way it will be modern but still very authentic French," he says.

Chauvin says he hopes to have a fully French team on the floor "so as soon as you walk in you feel like you've just gotten off the plane and you're in France". Yes, please. Managing them will be Chauvin's business partner – Abel Bariller, the sommelier at Sage Dining Rooms. Chauvin has been looking to open his own restaurant for nearly a year and left the one-hatted Waters Edge, where he worked with owner James Mussillon, at the end of May to pursue his dream. He and Bariller hope to open Les Bistronomes at the end of September or in early October. "We don’t have much money to invest [but] we’ve got culture, and good skill and passion," he says. It sounds very exciting. Watch this space.

In the meantime he's also done some consulting work, revamping the menu at the Kennedy Room in Kingston. Chauvin says it was good challenge to spice up a menu that "was in all honesty 1970s... You had prawn linguine and salt and pepper squid, all those old classics that people are so bored to see everywhere." Chauvin has brought some much more funky touches to the new menu with jalapeno poppers, sliders, an Asian-style beef tartare with wasabi mayonnaise. "It’s modern Australian in that it’s influenced from everywhere," he says.

Power breakfast
The National Library of Australia is holding a "Power Breakfast" this weekend at bookplate cafe. It's a special breakfast to celebrate the library's current exhibition of artwork by J.W. Power, known as "Australia's Picasso". A band will play Parisian-themed music from the 1920s and '30s and breakfast will feature shaved truffles, scrambled eggs, toasted brioche and more. You're encouraged to dress Bohemian and after breakfast there'll be a tour of the exhibition. Sunday, August 31, 9am-11am. $35. Book at nla.gov.au/event/7051.

Homestead Cafe for sale
The Homestead Cafe at Hall is up for sale. Owner Robyn Cooper is looking for a young chef to take over the cafe, which is in a green-and-red trimmed weatherboard 1930s home at Gooromon Ponds. She's not selling lightly – her mum has become very ill and something's got to give.

"It's been a really tough decision. I also own Two Girls Catering and also do the weddings at Ginninderry Homestead and everything with mum's illness, it's just got too much," she says. Cooper took over the cafe five years ago and turned it into a spot for weekend breakfasts, lunches and high teas with views over the Brindabellas. "It's a place that a young chef can make their mark. It's been fantastic and you learn so much owning your own business."

Cooper set up the cafe and Two Girls Catering with her business partner Kirsten GIllespie after returning from a career in high end hotels overseas. She says she wants to keep running the cafe for as long as she can but is looking for a buyer in the next month or two. "I'll keep it open until Christmas, but if I don't find a buyer before October that's my cutoff. It's too good a place for it just to close." If this sounds like fun, contact Cooper on 6230 2349.

Dessert bar
Also coming to Braddon is Mr Frugii's much-anticipated artisan ice cream and dessert bar, which will open in the "Ori" apartment complex on Lonsdale Street. The maestro, John Marshall, says he's busy designing a range of desserts to go into the shop while he waits for access to the construction site. "We're hoping we'll be up and running by November and December but it's going to be ready when it's ready," he says. There will be ice creams and gelato in various forms, a cabinet full of chilled pastries and much chocolate will be served.

"Once we get comfortable we're going to do plated desserts as well," Marshall says. The shop will be inside the foyer of the six-storey apartment building and will have a playful, fun style that echoes Marshall's creative flavour combinations (which include strawberry and balsamic vinegar, black truffle, and beetroot). "I purposely chose not to be on the street. So we're tucked away nicely in air-conditioned comfort," he says.

The name of the store is under wraps at the moment, but Marshall is taking a democratic approach to the hours he'll keep. "We're looking at Wednesday to Sunday about midday to late," he says. They have to close at 11pm, which is when the building shuts but he's open to suggestions about opening. What hours would you like to see the Frugii dessert bar open? Let John know on the Frugii Facebook page – facebook.com/frugii.

Punk wines
Head to Ainslie Cellars for a wine tasting on Thursday September 4, from 5.30pm. It'll be hosted by Col McBryde from the South Australian wineries Some Young Punks and Adelina. Book on 6230 6622.