Cyril Seguin is more French than the Eiffel Tower. His authentic French bistro, Rustic French Bistro, Potts Point, is a microcosm of his rustic French heritage. His personality oozes Gallic charm.

He was born in a quaint country village, Melun, and was raised in Lunay in the countryside about 200km south-west of Paris. “Rustic” therefore has a practical meaning for him and includes sensing the “terroir” in every dish while cooking under the watchful eye of his grandmother.

He was born into food and washed dishes aged 15 after school in the local café. He trained in an Antonin Carême-inspired Michelin-starred Parisian restaurant, then in Southampton, England, Dubai and Hong Kong, and then in Sydney at Le Bouchon, Crows Nest, working his way up the corporate ladder.

“Opening my own bistro was the best thing,” he says, adding “I control everything and am only answerable to myself and to my customers”.

He puts this enthusiastic approach into action and gets up at 4:30 am to start work on the fresh pastries.

He has his own unique coffee blend, a secret recipe, which has more flavour than usual and is smoother and richer, as well as a special blend made to his own formula from a supplier made up of six types of beans.

He knows coffee intimately (possibly each bean by name !) and was in charge of coffee at the upmarket two Michelin star Hélène Darroze restaurant, 4 Rue d’Assas, Paris.

He loves Potts Point and Potts Point loves him. He loves the wide range of locals of all ages, professionals, those working from home and St Vincent’s College staff across the road.

His most popular dish is his omelette, beef Bourguignon and cassoulet, a rich casserole with beans pork and slow-cooked confit duck.
Cyril’s approach is fastidious. Everything single item is carefully coiffured and freshly cooked.

He has already expanded to the neighbourhood Saturday Fitzroy Markets in Fitzroy Gardens, Kings Cross, and the French market, Le Marche, Willoughby, and is preparing for a gourmet delicatessen to showcase his pork sausage from Toulouse with red wine and his home-made low-sugar fruit jams and marmalade.
It’s a petite pocket of Paris in Potts Point. Bon appétit.

Rustic French Bistro
Hours Tuesday – Friday 7am to 3pm Sat-Sun 8am to 3pm, Monday closed
Shop 1, 87-95 Victoria Street Potts Point NSW 2011
Ph 9184 7948
Email rusticfrenchbistro@gmail.com
www.rusticfrench.com.au

by Andrew Woodhouse
Heritage Solutions