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Bistro Cocotte, Haberfield

August 14, 2015 by Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

A brilliant new French restaurant has opened in our neighbourhood.

We locals were hoping to keep it a secret, but after just two weeks of trading, it’s already getting hard to make a booking. And that’s because every neighbour we know has already eaten there twice.

Chef and owner Jay is well-credentialed – he was the former head chef of Bistro Mémé and previously worked at La Grande Bouffe. Apart from being an incredibly nice guy, his food is excellent – well crafted, carefully balanced and delicious…

Charming Jeremy runs the front of house. His staff are well trained – the service is professional and efficient, whilst still being relaxed and friendly…

We’ve now eaten there at every sitting. At Saturday brunch, Pete had the Honey and Cinnamon Roasted Granular with Greek yoghurt and baked rhubarb ($13.50)…

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Jay’s Duck Liver Parfait with pickled cauliflower and onion jam ($17) is my favourite dish so far, and that’s saying a lot, because I’ve loved them all…

As Small Man is in the middle of his HSC trial exams, we took the boys down for dinner as a mid-week treat. The bread basket ($7) arrived and we demolished it. As you all know, I’m pretty fussy about bread, but this was that perfect French baguette that I just can’t seem to master – crispy with a tender crumb, served warm…

Soup of the week was a richly flavoured, slow cooked French Onion ($16), served in their trademark cocotte…

Pete and I weren’t particularly hungry, so we shared a few entrees. The Seared Panchetta Rolled Scallops with Leek Fondue and Saffron Emulsion ($19) was sublime…

The Rabbit and Ham Hock Terrine ($18) was very good, but I think I prefer the Duck Liver Parfait…

Small Man was starving, so he had the Grilled Eye Fillet of Beef with Trumpet Mushroom Jus ($32). He ate every morsel on his plate…

For sides, we ordered Petit Pois and Lardon, Ratatouille, and a bucket of Pomme Frites ($7)…

Big Boy chose the Confit Pork Belly with Honey Apple Purée, Braised Red Cabbage, Fig and Chestnut ($29). He’s always been a fan of confit pork, but he declared that this combination of flavours was the best he’d ever tried…

For dessert, Pete and I shared the Apple Tart. Hmm…shared as in I let him have a couple of bites…

…and Big Boy raved about the Creme Brûlée, with it crackly caramel topping…


Bistro Cocotte offers a fixed price three course dinner (with a choice of dishes) for $55, as well as a $35 Tuesday to Friday lunch special (entree and main). Their full menus are available here – there are only a few vegetarian options listed, but if you advise your food preferences when booking, Jay will happily create to order. The restaurant is fully licenced, but BYO is available Tuesday to Thursday. We can now take our old bottles of wine, walk to a fantastic French bistro, eat glorious food, then walk home!

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Bistro Cocotte
78 Ramsay Street
Haberfield  NSW  2045
tel: 02 8964 1301
www.bistrococotte.com.au

Posted in Food & Friends | 28 Comments »

International Scone Week 2015

August 13, 2015 by Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

Your very kind comments on my last post gave us all great comfort. Thank you. ♥

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Folks, it’s International Scone Week!

Here is my simple contribution for 2015 – Small Man’s favourite buttermilk scones. He’s in the middle of a HSC trial exam today, and has told me he’s really looking forward to these when he gets home…

International Scone Week is now hosted by the lovely Tandy of Lavender and Lime. Please see her post on how to join in and check out all the wonderful scones baked so far!

Posted in Recipes | 23 Comments »

In Loving Memory

August 10, 2015 by Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

My beloved father passed away last week. He was 84 years old.

Despite health issues and some memory loss, he lived at home his entire life, supported, cared for, and deeply loved by my beautiful mother. A bad fall put him into hospital in July, and he slipped away 22 days later, very, very gently, with Mum, my sister Cynthia, Pete and I by his side. We like to think that he fell asleep and woke up in heaven.

Dad lived a rich, full life. I love the photo of him above, taken in the 60s, partying hard with a whisky and a cigarette, both in the same hand. He had a smile that could light up a room, and a laugh that could fill it. Despite being a shrewd businessman, he had an incredibly soft heart, helping an enormous number of family, friends and even complete strangers over the course of his long life.

He was honestly the best father ever. He and I were particularly close and would talk every day. He would tell me how happy he was, how well Mum was looking after him, how much he loved us, how proud he was of us. I can’t begin to tell you how empowering it was to hear that every single day.

Dad was always a very happy man, but when he was with his grandchildren, the joy would literally shine from his face. They brought him more happiness than should have been possible. He delighted in every little and big thing they did, and he was incredibly proud of each and every one of them.

Dad’s funeral was just three days after he passed away, but it was full of friends and family, several of whom had flown in from overseas. It was a testament to the high esteem in which he was held, and the deep intensity with which he was loved.

Rest in peace, wonderful man. I will miss you desperately. ♥

Posted in Musings | 139 Comments »

In My Kitchen, August 2015

August 1, 2015 by Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

Folks, I’m afraid there’s going to be a slight hiccup with the August IMK. We’re in the midst of some major family issues and I won’t have the time to link everyone up this month. Please still write your IMK posts (if you’d like to) and leave a link in the comments below so others can visit you. And please take the time to read and comment on each other’s posts, if you can. My sincere apologies for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.

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In my kitchen…

…is a copy of the Oz Harvest cookbook. This is actually my second copy – I bought one at lunch with Lorraine and Jaqi, but gave it to my friend Lisa for her 50th birthday. So I ordered another one from their website…

This wonderful organisation rescues surplus food and distributes it to other charities, who then use it to feed those in need. If you’d like to know more about Oz Harvest, have a look at Lorraine’s post here. And please consider supporting them – it’s incredibly rewarding to know that the two cookbooks I purchased will provide meals to more than 200 people. As an added bonus, the books were published and printed in Australia…

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In  my kitchen…

…is a tinned peach tea cake. It’s my mother’s favourite…

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In my kitchen…

…there will be scones this month! Don’t forget that Tandy at Lavender and Lime has taken over hosting International Scone Week, 10 – 16 August 2015. Please send your photos and blog links to her. I might make some more buttermilk scones this year – they’re Small Man’s favourite…

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In my kitchen…

…is homemade chirashi sushi, with sustainably caught tuna and salmon purchased from Cleanfish Australia…

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In my kitchen…

… are prime cuts of venison, a generous gift from Monkey Girl’s family…

We combined two large pieces with fatty speck offcuts to add unctuousness to the delicious lean meat. After three hours of slow braising in the oven, it was meltingly tender and not at all gamey…

The following day, the leftovers were turned into a pie…

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In my kitchen…

…is a large jar of homemade yellow bean dressing, a gift from my friend Dotti…

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In my kitchen…

…is culinary gold – duck fat saved from our most recent roast duck dinner…

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In my kitchen…

…is this stunning tea bowl, a gift from my Pete. It was handmade by Steve Sheridan in the Blue Mountains. After being formed on his potter’s wheel, Steve hand carved the grass stalk design, added the little frog inside, and finished the entire piece with a traditional celadon glaze. Amazingly, it’s dishwasher and microwave safe…

I feel like I’m sipping tea from a piece of art…

imk0715b

…..

I have to end this post with incredibly sad news – the beautiful Selma Jeevanjee of Selma’s Table, a member of our In My Kitchen family and avid sourdough baker, passed away last month after a long battle with cancer. May you rest in peace, my darling friend.

Elaine at Food Bod has suggested that we all bake a loaf of sourdough in Selma’s memory. I think she would have loved that idea.

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Wishing you all the very best for August. ♥

Posted in In My Kitchen | 106 Comments »

International Scone Week – A Reminder

July 20, 2015 by Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

Folks, the second week of August is International Scone Week!

If you’ve never heard of it before, that’s because Joanna, Heidi and I made it up in 2010. Since that time, it’s been a very casual gathering, where bakers all around the world make scones in August and share their photos of them.

I’ve hosted the event in previous years, but things are incredibly hectic here at the moment and I’m not really in a position to run it anymore. Thankfully, lovely Tandy at Lavender and Lime has offered to take it over from now on. It’s an extremely fun week, so please consider joining in!

International Scone Week will run from 10th – 16th August. Everyone is welcome to participate, whether you’re a blogger or not. And if you need some inspiration, here are links to the scone photos from previous years. I can’t wait to see what we all come up with this year!

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International Scone Week, 2012

International Scone Week, 2013

International Scone Week, 2014

Posted in Food & Friends | 29 Comments »

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