French eatery Paris Brest brings croque madames and tarte tartins to Southport
From flaky croissants to cheesy, gooey croque madames, the French have well and truly mastered the art of culinary seduction. If you’re a self-professed choux bomb connoisseur, are partial to a savoury crepe and think butter, sugar and cream should be at the top of the food pyramid, then Southport’s new French cafe and eatery, Paris Brest, will be right up your pastry-loving alley.
The owner is patissier and chef Virgil Penalva, who has set out to bring the tastes of his homeland to the Gold Coast in the form of a traditional French day-and-night bistro. There’s an all-day menu of authentic sweet and savoury options, washed down with your choice of coffee, Kronenbourg lager, French wine or (real) champagne. Paris Brest is named after a traditional French choux pastry that is lovingly assembled with praline cream, so expect to be greeted with a cabinet full of sweet delights from traditional apple tarte tatins to steamed chocolate fondants, custard-filled fruit tarts and strawberry-almond choux puffs.
As for the savouries, think authentic quiche Lorraine, savoury buckwheat crepes and Virgil’s signatures – croque monsieur sandwiches and the egg-topped croque madames. Opt for the croque monsieur in the traditional way (aka baked and swimming with ham, melted French cheeses and bechamel sauce) or lash out with Le Bonne Chance, which reinvents the croque monsieur by jamming in macaroni, bacon and a seven-cheese bechamel. Yes, seven cheeses. If you’re not in a hurry, settle in for a charcuterie and cheese degustation where you’ll be served everything from dry-aged saucisson (cured sausage) to free-range pork rillettes and duck foie gras.
Ready for a true taste of France? Head to our Stumble Guide for Paris Brest’s location and opening times.
The Stumble Guide is our comprehensive Gold Coast dining guide with more than 870 places to eat, drink, shop and play.
