S Haslam
There’s something very romantic and appealing about Provence, about French and Spanish food, about eating the sort of delicious cheeses and other delicacies that the French might enjoy. But right here in Byron you can eat the foods that a person from the South of France might choose from their local farmers’ market, because Antoine from Byron Bay Olive Co. used to sell the best local cuisine at his parents’ market stall in Sanary-sur-Mer in the Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur region in south-eastern France.
Antoine, who first tended the stall from five years old, feels fulfilled being able to bring that offering to Australia. Whilst many of us might dream of living on the Cote d’Azur, Antoine fell in love with Byron on a visit and moved from there to here. Of course, in Europe food miles are not such a thing, getting Sicilian or Spanish olives is easy, from somewhere that has perfected growing olives over thousands of years. But, in a sustainable way, Antoine now offers both European and NSW organic award-winning olives here.
Of course, once you understand how to source quality ingredients, you have the chance to use them to create your own delicacies, and he doesn’t just sell olives, he also makes a terrific black tapenade. One remarkable success story is his sweet, slightly pickled garlic, even young babies love to eat them in the pram, and old blokes like myself like them with beer! Spot the difference.
They began making olive oil this year, squeezed from the organic olives they sell; a new product that’s great for cooking but also tastes great on meals, or on salads, now that it’s getting warmer, or on baked fish or vegetables.
Isn’t it amazing how many innovative food companies start up here? Antoine’s first sales were at the local markets, and they still have a stall at the Byron and Bangalow markets, although the operation is now Australia-wide.
The crew make all their products from the kitchen behind ‘La Cuisine’, their French Deli on the roundabout opposite Bunnings in Byron. Come and say ‘Hi’ to Julian and the rest of the crew at their deli and kitchen, who are vigilant in making sure that the flavours and quality of the produce is kept high.
You can buy a carefully selected range of French cheeses like La Raclette from their French Deli, and takeaway olives and other gourmet food, but soon you’ll be able to sit down again in the garden out front and eat a delicious baguette or have a coffee there as COVID rules relax.
And, if you are a Byron restaurant owner or food retailer, ask the crew at Byron Olive Co. about sharing their product range.
2/29 Brigantine St, Byron Bay
