French-born and trained chef David Bitton and his wife Sohani started in the café business more than two decades ago, and today Bitton Gourmet Café & Grocer is not only a much-loved local icon in the inner-city Sydney suburb of Alexandria, it has since been complemented by Bitton Oatley, a café, bistro and functions venue in Sydney’s southern suburbs, and Bitton Rose Bay which is a café by day and cosy French bistro by night.

The current crop of breakfast offerings in foodservice are being driven by the rising cost of living. That’s the word from chef Adam Moore, which he says is reflected in emerging menu trends: “People are still wanting to go out, they may not be doing brunch as much, but they are doing breakfast, as it’s perceived as a not-so-costly meal and a great way not only to socialise but also for informal business meetings.”