How Could We Say No To Taste Testing This Special Weekday Selection Of Local + Seasonal Produce at Bistro Sociale?
We do love a sneaky weekday lunch [+ even non-sneaky ones!] so when we started to hear a bit of a buzz about the new Prix Fixe menu put together by Nathan Jackson, Berida Hotel’s Executive Chef, we booked a table at Bistro Sociale – stat!
When, Where + How
Okay, let’s start with logistics.
The Prix Fixe menu is available Monday to Friday at Bistro Sociale, the wonderful inhouse restaurant at Berida Hotel in Bowral.
You can book a table for anytime between 12 and 2pm – we did it online. Super easy.
When you get there, you can choose whether you’re going to go with the two courses for $45, 3 courses for $58 OR if you love the contemporary European cuisine at Bistro Sociale and you want something from their regular menu, you can do that instead!
Either way you can settle in for a long-ish lunch or make it a quick [+ delicious] one with the two course selection.
Menu Delights
So, the dealio is this.
There are two options for each course – entree, main and dessert – and you can choose which two courses you have too if you’re going down that path.
If you’ve got a sweet tooth, rock out a main and dessert, or if you like the look of something on the entree selection [which is what happened with us] choose the entree and main.
Or if you can’t decide, go for the 3 course option and ask your date ever so sweetly if you can have a bit of their rosewater pavlova!
Executive Chef, Nathan Jackson changes the menu regularly – sometimes daily, sometimes every few days, sometimes weekly – depending on what he’s got growing out the back in the veggie patch, herb garden and orchard he’s cultivating, what seasonal produce is available to him thanks to local producers and of course, he’s always giving the food that subtle European touch that is Bistro Sociale’s point of difference in the Highlands.
What did we have?
Well, we started with the heirloom tomato salad, whipped buffalo ricotta and lentil vinaigrette.
It was light and refreshing and if you were going to put the Amalfi Coast on a plate, you’d probably pop this on it!
We also selected the duck liver parfait, chutney, pickles and brioche and really? We could have eaten this all day……the parfait was light and fluffy and the pickles had a caramelisation to them that really made the parfait jump to another level.
Entree was closely followed by the mains where we both chose alternative options on the menu so we could actually taste both dishes.
The pan roasted fish, braised fennel, tomato, black garlic, crostini was a winner.
Both of us at the table actually aren’t huge fans of fennel but Nathan had managed to somehow lessen the aniseed aftertaste you get with fennel and sweeten it.
Oh, and the barramundi was cooked perfectly.
The other dish was the Grilled Angus Scotch Fillet, hand cut chips, Cafe de Paris butter.
The plate was loaded up – the Prix Fixe menu is DEFINITELY good value – and I had to have some help making my way through the hand cut chips.
We didn’t have dessert because we needed to be in and out within an hour to go to a whisky tasting at Aspinall’s Whisky Lounge & Bar [also at the Berida Hotel] – yeah yeah, poor us!
BUT here’s what was on the dessert menu that day so you can get a taste for it.
Triple cream brie, local honey, macadamia praline, lavosh OR Rosewater pavlova, chantilly, lemon curd, balsamic strawberries…….drooooool!
Now, something we both noted was the variety on the menu.
It felt like there was a lighter option at each course for people wanting something a little less filling or something they could choose if they were let’s say watching their waistline.
And then if you were up for a big feed, you could choose the more substantial options.
We liked that the menu gave you choice like that – even though it was a choice of two for each course.
So, we rolled up at 1pm and with a glass of wine each, two courses and some table water, were all done by 1:45pm so it really is a great midweek option for business lunches, taking a client out, and catching a quiet hour with your significant other during your lunch hour if you’re on the clock.
But we love that there’s also the option to settle in for a long-ish lunch with a bit of pre or post lunch cocktail action at Gin Trading Co next door.
While we were walking out, an order came in for a Salted Caramel Espresso Martini at 1:45pm on a Friday afternoon – we almost turned right around and joined that table! They sound like our kind of people!
So, yes…..we do absolutely recommend Bistro Sociale’s Prix Fixe menu at Berida Hotel.
There’s always so many reasons to visit this pocket of luxury and style in the Highlands…..and this is a delicious addition to that ever growing list.
Book your weekday lunch at Bistro Sociale online here, email bookings@bistrosociale.com.au or give the lovely team a call on 4899 7116 to lock in a lunch over the phone.
***
This blog features friends and advertisers of The Fold Southern Highlands and is fully endorsed by The Fold Southern Highlands. We strongly believe in the businesses and all the information we share with you on The Fold and we’re excited to share the amazing stories and adventures of our local businesses. We want to say a BIG thank you to you for supporting our sponsors who help make The Fold possible.