I should really subtitle this story to be “How much can a petite female food blogger eat?”. Even though Karen and I have both polished off 2 burgers not only 30 minutes ago, we find ourselves compelled and positively drawn to the Alliance Francaise building opposite Bécasse where their chef Justin North has just opened up a cafe a mere 5 weeks ago where he supplies them all manner of French goodies. What we had originally intended as a quick dessert stop (which was completely and wholly unnecessary given the prior ingestion of food), turned into a full blown affair once we saw the menu. Oh yes it was good and it was very reasonably priced so what’s a girl to do? Ladies, you’re with me right?
Our waiter Brad is very friendly and says that this must be our first time as he’s never seen us before which is nice and personal service indeed. He lets us know that we order at the counter and then asks if we can understand the menu. We both speak Menu French so we’re safe. After much dithering we hone in on the favourites and order those. Sadly only one is not available – the Citrus Mille Feuille but we take his suggestion of the chocolate pot.
Display of goodies
Frisee aux Lardons $10
It’s not long before our food arrives. Another waiter was perplexed as we were taking photos “Aren’t you going to eat that before it goes cold?” he asks. He’s obviously unfamiliar with our kind 
The frisee salad aux lardons is a pretty, small plate of chicory or frisee leaves, lardons, caramelised shallots, a soft cooked egg and crispy baguette croutons. It reminds me so much of the meals we had in Paris and it’s flavoursome, perhaps erring towards too salty but the lovely poached egg in the centre gives it a creaminess. And I feel that you would need more baguette croutons for the amount of salad.
French Brioche Toast $6
I take a slice of the French brioche toast with a rhubarb and pear compote (there was also a choice of strawberry & lime jam or maple syrup). My initial confusion was that I thought it was French Toast made out of brioche but it is just French Brioche toasted-it appears word order is indeed very important! Nevertheless the brioche is lovely and buttery and the pear and rhubarb compote is out of this world good. They need to bottle it so that I can take it home and ladle it over some vanilla bean ice cream and add some Pashmak (Persian fairy floss) on top and serve it at a dinner party. One thing that Karen notes and I agree with, is that the toast is a little more browned that I usually brown my toast.
Croissant with butter and Jam $4
The croissant with butter and jam is interesting. Buttery certainly, but not as flaky as some (and I admit I love the flakiness of croissants). We’d hoped that it might have been warmed but it isn’t. Still, it’s moreish and I find myself going for more and more of this. And the other reason for our intestinal fortitude is the strawberry and lime jam. Yep strawberry and lime. And yes it’s even better than your wildest dreams come true.
Petit pots au chocolat $8
I was a bit wounded that the Citrus Mille Feuille wasn’t available but one scoop into this and I’ve forgotten it completely. The chocolate is nutty and incredibly silky smooth but not too sweet. Think of a small pot of Nutella crossed with a pudding i.e. Nutella’s sophisticated cousin. It’s not moussey or airey and it’s definitely more pudding-ey in texture. The toasted pistachios are sprinkled on top and then there’s a quenelle of vanilla bean cream. It’s rich though so a little goes a long way and when we sit back, vanquished waving the white flag of surrender a friendly French waitress picks up our plates and notes the chocolat pot saying “That is my favourite, did you know that he puts a surprise at the bottom of caramel?”. Well that woke our stomachs and taste buds and we grab our spoons and ferret around the bottom ad lo and behold, there’s a thick dollop of caramel at the bottom. Ah yes life is good and food should always have (good) surprises.
Une dollop de caramel
Banana bread
Brad brings by a piece of toasted banana bread for us. He’s a darling and we try this at home. it’s beautifully moist and very banana-ey. What a find for a CBD starved of fantastic, quick, inexpensive meals and not a snooty waiter in sight.
So tell me Dear Reader, what’s your favourite French pastry? A croissant? Pain au chocolat? Or an eclair or Saint Honore?
Le Grand Cafe by Becasse
Alliance Francaise Centre
257 Clarence Street, Sydney CBD
Tel: +61 (02) 9264 7164
Open Monday to Friday 8am to 6:30pm
Saturdays: 8am to 3pm
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47 Comments | Add your own
That caramel and the pots of chocolate look just amazing – can you tell my weaknesses? I always seem to find room for more….no matter how full I am at times!
Yummie! All the dishes look delicious! Too bad that is too far for us to go
Sadly, there ain’t much French food in Texas. So the only thing I have is creme brulee.
Wow you girls sure took one for the team!!! My favourite is definitely pain au chocolate or a lovely flaky croissant with strawberry jam
What a lovely find! I love the decor. It looks like a place where the SATC girls would brunch
Good work with getting more food, doing the foodies proud! And yay for surprises!
Oh god, this kind of thing makes me wish I was still working in the city. Must remember terrible commute, must remember terrible commute ….. hmmm chocolate pot.
You had me at the chocolate pot: a posh take on Nutella, a dollop of vanilla bean cream, AND caramel at the bottom – DIVINE!
Oh, and my French pastry of choice is pain au chocolat; non-negotiable.
Oh, I’m totally with you, NQN! The chocolate pot would be my choice, it looks very tempting. My favourite pastry is the humble pain au chocolat, preferably straight out of the oven in the early hours of the morning, bought on the way home from a night out on the town! Ahhh, happy memories…
I had to Google moreish. A great word! There is just so much to love in this post that I don’t know where to start. Just looking at the map brought back fond memories. I probably walked right by this lovely shop.
Croissants are my absolute favourite without a doubt!
I have a silly habit of running around saying croissant in the snootiest, Frenchiest accent possible. teehee
I have to practice my quenelling skills. I just can’t seem to get it right, although in my defence I have been trying it with gelato which doesn’t exactly play fair!
Not really a big pastry eater to be honest, but am sure I’d enjoy that croissant and that jam!
Also, well done on making full use of your spare dessert stomach
wow i can’t belive you guys fit more food in after our burger lunch. that’s a cute idea with the surprise caramel pocket too!
What a great decorations and the goodies are outstanding!
Omg! with the petit pots au chocolat..so dangerous for chocoholics
Cheers!
Gera
oooh, i went here earlier in the week (to to a french assessment test (i begin french lessons here twice per week on tuesday. how lucky am i!) and i had a hot chocky which was delish. i am definitely having the chocolate pot next time. looks so yum!
<3
sounds like you had a great time flogging at the cafe lol!
I’m fairly certain Justin North could turn poop into gold, he seems to have the magic touch! I’ve been hearing about this place since it opened, I can’t wait to check it out!
Pain au chocolat is my favourite. Every girl needs a morning chocolate fix.
Ooh I’ve been meaning to try this place since it opened and good to see that they have unpretentious and inexpensive French food! Strawberry and lime jam sounds fantastic
The presentation of the food is very nice considering the price! This looks like a place I will definitely try.
Can I have one of each?
Ooh la la, Bonjour pot au chocolat! I hope it’s on when I go, which will be soon – thanks for letting us know about it.
My favourite pastry is the apple turnover from Adriano Zumbo. Not sure it’s French or a ‘pastry’, though!
Definitely a ‘pain aux raisins’ is my favorite french pastry! I like the crunchier crispier texture…with goeey custardy filling. A bit burnt is also wonderful. And does a macaron included?
A french cafe in the city, this is exciting! The petit pots au chocolat definitely looks decadent.
My favourite French pastries would be the pain au chocolat and escargot aux raisins. Our French teacher used to organise French breakfasts for the class and she would bring in boxes of those fresh from the bakery. Yum!
Be still my beating heart – that chocolate pot looks irresistable! My favourite French dessert would be profiteroles filled with pastry cream and covered with chocolate sauce. Hmmm, I can feel my waist expanding just saying that – and I have a bias cut dress to squeeze into for tomorrow night …
I love a soft poached egg! The compote sounds pretty special. Maybe you can replicate it for your icecream dessert.
Wow, I was reading about it in the sydney magazine .. actually heard for long time that Justin gonna open new shop but I couldn’t find it cuz never thought it will be inside Alliance Francaise Centre…So lucky its opened on Saturday.. I will go tomorrow
and the brioche toast at Bacco also is served similar style as this one..
If you like the flakiness of croissants, you should try the one at Caketown, Newtown.. I had 1 and OMG, its awesome !!!
ooh It’s lovely isn’t it! Went for lunch the other week with Carm. Was lovely apart from hordes of schoolgirls doing an exam…get in early for lunch. There are lines from about 12:15pm
that looks to be an outrageously banana-y piece of banana bread. also, that dollop of caramel belongs in my mouth.
I’m with you, full or not I wouldn’t have been able to turn this down either. Oh my goodness, the caramel at the bottom of that chocolate pot is fabulous! My favorite French pastry is the Napoleon…mmmm!
ooo the caramel….yum
Oh, I say as I’m stomping my feet. We don’t have any cute french cafe places here that serve up a caramel surprise at the bottom. My mouth fell open because although not much sweet tooth, this kind of dessert would take me down.
I love the looks also, when I am photographing food out. “our kind” always puts the picture before the right temp.
Oh how exciting!! Can’t wait to go get myself a croque monsieur and one of those chocolate pots — looks absolutely divine!! and maybe a croissant and that strawberry lime jam…ohhh if only I had a stomach as big as my eyes!
wow quite decent pricing considering it’s under Becasse – mmm must try that croque monsieur….
Hello, I went to this place today and was disappointed with the food & service. Firstly they did not regularly clean the tables so I was eating my food on a table that had left over food and drinks. Secondly I had the Petit pots au chocolat but it didn’t come with the vanilla bean cream as you had. It was also too sweet for my taste. They were out of the croissants. Not going back again, not worth it.
Looks great. I need to go there some time for a coffee and something sweet, methinks.
Wooo more place to have a glimpse of Justin North!
Une dollop de caramel.. I could easily go for more than just a une dollop!
The petit pot au chocolat looks like a winner, another place on my to-do list! My favourite pastries are the “pain au raisin” and the “eclair au cafe”. I’m going back home (Paris) in 10 days, I’m already planning all the patisseries I want to visit, can’t wait!
I am yet to try the cafe yet but I have had coffee from the ‘compact’ Becasse takeaway place – you need to try the awesome coffee made by the lovely, friendly and fabulous Barista Jean
Hi Julia-hehe they’re mine too!
Me too!
Hi Juliana-Ahh yes what a shame but if you ever come here you know where to go!
Hi Blond Duck-Aww what a shame! But you have lots of other goodies!
Hi sandra-Haha we did!
Mmm yes flaky pastry-soo good!
Hi Betty-It was! Oh this is total SATC isn’t it! Hehe thankyou!
Hi SydneyGal-I know! Yes keep thinking of that and then think of the chocolate pot!
Hi Midge-I know! That’s the way to do it really
Hi Angela-it was just right! Ahh sounds like wonderful memories indeed!
Hi Barbara-Haha sorry I do use strange words now and then! It has only opened up 5 weeeks ago but I think the Alliance Francaise has been there for a while
Hi Esz-Haha that sounds like something I might do too!
Hi Conor-Me too, I’m not so good at that
Gelato is hard as it melts so quickly! Tahnks, I try! 
Hi Helen-I can’t believe we did either but there you go-what we’ll do for the blog!
Hi Gera-They were! Yes it should come with a warning
Hi holly-Oh cool!
I saw a lot of students there. It was great-in fact I’m craving one now! 
Hi Big Boys Oven-Flogging? Huh?
Hi Steph-Haha that’s a colourful way of putting it!
Hi Katherine-Yes true true! Who could argue with that?
Hi Jacq-yes it’s really welcoming there! Oh yes I must make that-it was so perfectly balanced and you could really taste the lime!
Hi clekitty-I know, it’s amazing isn’t it! Definitely!
Hi Lulu-Hehe I said the same thing!
Hi Belle-Yes indeedy! Oh I haven’t really tried his pastries although I really should!
Hi Emmelyn-Oh yes I forgot about that one! I love that as I love the custard! Sure why not!
Hi Jess-I know! How great is it! Oh what a fantastic teacher!
Hi Cakelaw-it is!
Oh yummy indeed hehe yes such are the hazards of loving French pastry! Good luck with your dress! 
Hi Arwen-Yes me too
Absolutely I’m going to try!
Hi Ja-How did you find it? Did you like it?
Oh really? Thanks for the rec! 
Hi Reemski-We were lucky we missed the crowds although some came at the end but they looked like they were studying.
Hi grace-Haha yes it was! Yep, it was hard to resist going back for more of that one
Hi Faith-hehe cool! The sign of a true food blogger
Oh yes the Napoleon! How could I forget!
Hi pigpigscorner-hehe!
Hi Angela-Oh what a shame! perhaps the best solution is to make your own and I’m sure your version would be sublime! Haha yes so true!
Hi ben-hehe I know! It’s a bit like that isn’t it!
Hi Lex-I know, it’s incredibly good pricing considering that it all comes out of the same kitchen!
Hi Twitty-OH what a shame. Perhaps they were understaffed as it was very clean and neat when we went. I think you’d definitely need the cream to balance it out as it wasn’t sweetened. Did you ask for the cream?
Hi Y-I’d love to know what you think of it!
Hi Yas-Haha! Yes beaucoup dollop de caramel (I probably just butchered the language
)
Hi Myriam-You’re definitely right
Oh you lucky thing! Great idea! I ate so many when I was there it was crazy 
Have a great time!
Hi Jo-Ahh cool! Yes the coffee there is great!
My fav would be almond croissant! And I can only think of 1 place in syd that serves really good ones. :d Luv the photo’s you take btw.
Hi Noriko-I love those too! Oh really, which place is that? Thankyou so much!
I pop in whenever I am in town, best value in Sydney and fun to speak French with the staff. My fav is the duck breast baguette -whilst you are there girls check out the chef Andy…..and he can cook too!!
Just went in today, a lot of things were different on the menu and the wait staff seemed less enthusiastic.
I love the thought of trying more French food as I haven’t been exposed very much, part of which is due to the fact that French food can be quite intimidating for the newcomer, especially if the atmosphere is so.
But great post!
the waitresses are really nice and suity, the service is quite good and quikly.
Congratulation for the English of the french waitresses
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[...] North from Becasse, Plan B, Etch and Le Grand Cafe is up next. He starts off making an orange oil which is a fascinating item as it becomes solid with [...]
[...] say, and then I suddenly recalled wanting to replicate the rhubarb and pear compote I had eaten at Le Grand Cafe a month or two earlier. I had loved the stuff so much I had asked if it were available for purchase [...]
[...] it was something that I gladly rose for. When I was invited to experience a Day In the Life of Justin North, I had an idea that it would be busy (he owns four establishments after all) and full of good food. [...]
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