Buvette Petit Feast, Barton*

* I attended the Buvette Petit Feast as a guest.

It’s a dreary Canberra morning – one that it’s easy to despite but photographers love. The light casts just right. There’s no glare or overshadowing and the pale grey backdrop is just perfect for that picture.

While it’s too cold to sit outside, we’re offered a table near gorgeous lengthy windows at the new Buvette Wine Bar and Bistro at the bottom of Hotel Realm. It’s in the space of the old Mavi (kebab-loving public servants will know what I’m talking about) and another restaurant space where seemed to be to go through a few hands. The result is a dining area which reaches, stretches out; as we walk in it’s not clear where it ends and the numerous doorways remain – closed today (and a tad confusing to know where is the actual entrance), but potentially thrown open in warmer weather.

Our view outside is Autumn’s last echo – sparks of green against burnt orange and roar-red – and we drink it in while we’re served the complimentary glass of Mt Majura rose to start our petit feast.

We enjoy the crispness of the wine with a very large, creamy oyster. I’ve spoilt myself with weekly trips to the Belconnen markets for my fix of small, flavour-punch Clyde River oysters, so these surprise me with their size and chewiness.

The first major part of the feast is a board of savoury: hot, flaky pies; buttery quiches; salmon finger sandwiches; cheese and tomato finger sandwiches; lashings of Spanish jamon; pistachio terrine; pickled cucumbers; salami;  decadent slabs of duck liver parfait; sweet, dried figs; long chunks of cheese; lavosh bread; and oily olives.

My favourites are the pies and the figs and the salmon finger sandwiches, but the jamon takes me to another place. It’s sliced beautifully thinly and so very recently. There’s so much of the duck parfait and it’s such a stimulant to the senses that I crave a thick cut or two of sourdough to balance it; the lavosh doesn’t quite do it for me.

As we finish our roses we’re offered mimosas – these are orange juice and sparkling wine mixes, bottomless during the Petit Feast for $15. This – or a water, if you’re so inclined – helps reset the palate because there’s an enormous amount to come.

Yes, this

Or, more accurately: this

The lemon meringue tartlet has meringue coiffed high; the macarons are almost Flute-worthy; and the pistachio friands are light and sweet. The tiramisu was delicious – even for someone like me who doesn’t normally like coffee – and the brownies were topped with bright red-fresh strawberries. Custard profiteroles and strawberry friands topped off the plate.

And yes, I ate all my share.

The  menu changes often. I was impressed that the despite the large space – quasi-industrial – it’s easy to hear each other speak. Attention to our table is mostly excellent, especially by our host, the owner. If it’s possible to make it in house (noting they’ve got a small kitchen), it’s made in house.

Date: Saturday, 21 May 2016

Cost: I dined at Buvette as a guest; the normal Petit Feast costs $65 a head including a glass of rose; it’s $15 extra for bottomless mimosas

Worthwhile factor: Worthwhile

Value for money: Reasonable – and especially good if you’re with a group catching up; taking out a parent or family members; or on a first, second, third or fourth date! Basically: if you’re after a leisurely afternoon, this is it.

Want more? Read more and book here. 11.30am-2.30pm every Saturday.