The Rusty Fox Review

I am a big believer in supporting small local business. The produce is better, it is often sourced locally, you can ask questions and get knowledgeable answers, and you get a side of social good with your salad. Which is why it is particularly remiss that I have only just made it to The Rusty Fox.

I first heard about it from a friend who showed up at my place for dinner bearing a perfectly oozy French brie. She raved about the range and quality and I promised myself I would look out for it next time I was in Macaulay Rd in Kensington. But I didn’t look hard enough. I assumed it had moved, or closed. Then one day construction work next door saw me weaving back onto the footpath at the right angle to finally see the sign. Yep, I am known for having a ‘boy-look’ (sorry lads!). 

Once inside you find an array of beautiful cheeses, charcuterie, dips, jams, sauces, pickles, ready-made salads, ready-to-heat gourmet meals, cakes and biscuits- everything you could want for a delicious lunch, luxury night in, stress-free entertaining or an alternative to takeaway.

Kim Scott (ex Rockpool, Pei Modern, Spice temple etc) handles the majority of the service while Rebecca Creighton (ex Coda, Pearl, Rockpool) rushes about preparing slow-cooked meals, and hearty cafe-fare. This is where the joy of shopping with small business comes to the fore. When I enquire about a cheese I have selected, Ubricao amarone ($13), Kim tells me it is a firm cheese allowed to rest on the lees of amarone wine (wine cheese, heck yes!). She’s delighted I asked as it is one of her favourite cheeses but doesn’t sell well because people don’t recognise the name. Overwhelmed by the charcuterie selection, I am offered a taste of a few of Kim’s recommendations. Decisions made, I add a slice of cake for dessert and throw in a salad for balance. 

I may have also munched one of those enormous pecan, hazelnut and chocolate chip cookies on the way home too 🙂

In addition to my amazing cheese I picked up a Delice de Bourgogne ($6.50) (a soft triple cream from Burgundy). I have completely forgotten the name of the meats but the salami has chilli and fennel- yum!  Spiced cauliflower, freekah and zucchini salad with tahini yoghurt dressing ($14).

This beautiful creature is the Moroccan spiced orange cake with whipped ricotta. It was so moist and delicious.

To drink?

A soft cheese from France, a hard cheese from Italy, some slightly spicy salami and a spiced cauliflower salad – slightly random array, but it went beautifully with the 2012 Domaine de la Guicharde I talked about here. When mixing styles of cheese and spicy foods I tend to either go with a fairly rich white (like an oaked chardonnay) or generous fruit in a red such a riper-style grenache.

The Rusty Fox is just delightful. Eating-in is available too with a seasonal breakfast and lunch menu. You can pull up a stool at the bar and watch the chefs at work. They are also open until 7pm Tuesday to Friday if you want to pick up something you can heat quickly for a delicious dinner.

Opening hours:

Tues-Fri 9am-7pm

Saturday 8am-4pm