La Cassolette A French Sensation on Rebecca Walk
La Cassolette is a revelation with top notch fine French dining at affordable prices. With owners from Roule Galette, La Cassolette has a great pedigree. Michael Dubois the Chef from Paris, has a license to thrill, designing the menu and running with impressive European and French dishes that are his passion. Fast European and French gourmet food. Who doesn't love a restaurant that is French speaking, and with a flambe? The World Loves Melbourne was invited as a guest of La Cassolette for a lunch, and we intend to return.
A few bloggers have visited La Cassolette in recent times - it's fair enough that such a culinary gem be afforded greater awareness, as it's a real find.
La Cassolette is a small bistro gem on Rebecca Walk, a not widely known precinct next to a leafy park and the Yarra River. This precinct is slightly hidden away from the hustle and bustle of the CBD, near a bridge to Crown. But it's well worth the visit. Sit outside and enjoy the outdoor ambience or enjoy the modern rustic interior with warm coloured olive walls and white washed timber.
The food is brilliant and accessible. The ambience is classy but casual, in terms of the usual French dining experience. To be served rustic French dishes, such as Beef Bourguignon, for around $15-25 is crazy good.
Michael is a passionate foodie and skillful chef with a desire to make fine French cooking accessible. The philosophy is expressed on their website -
La Cassolette excels in the small things, like these tasty starters... The tomato and onion spicy salsa was a great touch to go with the black and green olives. And the cured meat was tasty.
This Quinoa Taboule and Crab was a knockout dish. Delicate yet with substance. I was glad to join the Quinoa revolution in this way with a decent portion of sweet crab with a light sauce on a bed of quinoa. The presentation is superb, notwithstanding the balance of flavours. New age dining.
I've been getting into quinoa lately, as a balance to my pork belly obsession. I like the texture of quinoa with its relatively large crunchy grains. Even though this was a delicate dish I could almost settled on it as my sole lunch dish. Note the salad and garnish for a nice touch.
And enjoyed with a glass of Chablis at Michael's recommendation.
Then it was show time . Michael flambed the king prawns using Ricard. Sometimes he chooses the Cognac. You have a choice of scallops v prawns for the flambe.
Not a bad pic if I say so myself.
The result. Perfectly cooked king prawns with flambe finish, to be eaten with a hearty bed of mash and shaved parmesan. Indulgently brilliant.
This dish had a sense of the classical. The arrangement was again top notch with prawns placed around the comforting and generous home made mash and parmesan. Note the garnish.
And a refreshing green salad to boot.
So impressed, I had to take another photo... And the value is excellent.
La Cassolette is also strong in the dessert department with this Panna cotta, so creamy and infused with banana flavours, and refreshing berry sauce on top. And only $6.
La Cassolette is an outstanding bistro that you will want to return to. In my opinion you could be paying much more for the impressive level of food here. The staff and high level of service also make the place. Highly recommended.
