Owner of Coolamon’s Little Rustic Pantry, Lesley Jarrett. Photo: Supplied.
Who is Lesley Jarrett? I’m a wife, mother and grandmother. I’m a business owner (of Little Rustic Pantry), and I love what I do!
Best recent dining experience: Uneke in Wagga. It has a lovely atmosphere and I always enjoy the food.
Favourite cuisine: There are so many, it’s very hard to choose just one. I really love most food!
Most embarrassing pantry item: I don’t think I have one.
What ingredient can I not live without? Garlic.
Best coffee spot in Coolamon: Well, I’m very biased but Little Rustic Pantry in Coolamon of course.
Lesley uses Hustle & Bustle Coffee which gives their coffee a slight caramel undertone. Photo: Little Rustic Pantry.
What’s your coffee blend? We use Hustle & Bustle Coffee which is a strongish coffee with a slight caramel undertone.
Next big thing in the Coolamon food scene: At the moment the Coolamon shire are hosting a series of music sets on a Sunday at the Up-To-Date precinct which incorporates some local food choices. It’s had a great response.
Little Rustic Pantry’s Caprese bruschetta. Photo: Little Rustic Pantry.
A must-try on our menu: A must-try on our breakfast menu is the French toast which is served with maple syrup, banana and crispy bacon.
My biggest culinary influence: My mum has had the biggest influence in my cooking career. She was an amazing cook and taught me everything I know. I also love Maggi Beer.
There are plenty of delicious baked goods to try. Photo: Little Rustic Pantry.
Favourite cookbook: I really don’t use cookbooks a lot but I do like to flick and get new ideas, so my picks would be Maggie Beer’s Recipes for Life, Annabelle Langbein’s Through the Seasons and Donna Hay’s The New Classics.
Who I admire in the Coolamon food and wine scene: I really admire everyone who is giving it a go in the hospitality industry. It’s a challenging time.
Little Rustic Pantry has a few specials every week. Photo: Little Rustic Pantry.
What are this week’s specials at Little Rustic Pantry? We have quite a few specials each week, but the crepes are always a popular choice. Varieties change each week and this week we have chicken, mushroom, ricotta and baby spinach.
Death row meal: My death row meal would have to be a roast leg of lamb with loads of roast vegies and homemade gravy.
My least favourite food: My least favourite food would be steak and kidney.
My top three cooking tips: Season for extra flavour, taste your food during cooking, and experiment – you don’t always need a cookbook.
