A NEW bistro is seeking giving locals another reason to walk through the doors of their community club, with affordable meals and weekly specials helping bring people together.
Jo Fitzgerald has stepped into the kitchen at the Cumnock Bowling Club, running the bistro with the support of the small team, with the focus firmly on good food, reasonable prices and community.
The bistro serves familiar pub favourites including chicken schnitzels, parmis, fish and chips and burgers, alongside a weekly special.
Last week’s beef ragu proved a hit, with Ms Fitzgerald preparing three large crockpots and selling out of two.
“What makes me happy is when other people have their favourites and the plate comes back clear,” she said.
The bistro is currently open Friday evenings from 5.30pm to 8.30pm, with Saturday evening service from 6pm to 8pm also being trialled.
Ms Fitzgerald said keeping prices reasonable was important, particularly as the cost of living continued to put pressure on households.
“We could charge a hell of a lot more than what we do, but that’s not the objective,” she said.
“The objective is to get more people into the club to socialise and be a stronger community.”
Friday night specials are priced at $15, offering another incentive for locals to make the club part of their regular routine.
“Small town clubs depend on the patronage of their locals, and the only way to keep our little clubs afloat is to offer incentives and encourage our community members to walk through the front doors,” Ms Fitzgerald said.
“We have an amazing community, and the more time we spend together, the stronger we are.”
Ms Fitzgerald said the long-term goal was to eventually see a full-time chef take over, but for now she was happy to help provide the community with good food and a place to gather.
“For me, it’s not just about the food,” she said. “A club or a pub is the hub of a community.”
And while Ms Fitzgerald may be the familiar face in the kitchen, she is quick to point out that the bistro is a team effort, with support from Matia and Xavier, who she said help keep things running smoothly.
“It’s not just me. It’s a collective,” she said.
For some locals, the bistro has already become part of their weekly schedule.
One resident, Jan Gibson, said a group of friends had been making the Friday night meals a regular outing for several months, and welcomed the addition of Saturday nights.
“It’s nice if you’ve got visitors, it’s somewhere everyone can go and eat,” she said.