Nestled behind a quaint white picket fence on the Gold Coast Highway in Mermaid Beach, Le Cafe Gourmand is one of those places you’ve probably thought about visiting as you’ve driven past on your merry way. Well, fellow foodies, there’s one really excellent reason you should stop in next time and that’s the seriously incredible French-inspired fare. Open for breakfast and lunch daily, owner and chef Remi Baron has crafted a menu that walks the line between traditional French flavours and modern Australian tastes. Here, you’ll find everything from chilli scrambled eggs atop a delightfully crispy croissant through to slow-cooked duck leg on sourdough toast, which might seem like an odd choice for your morning meal but is actually amazing, according to the locals who gather here almost religiously. Come midday, Le Cafe Gourmand whips up some tasty takeaway baguettes but if time (and appetite) permits, the Boeuf Bourguignon – 15-hour slow cooked beef cheeks on a bed of creamy mashed potato, mushroom and red wine sauce is an absolute must. In addition to breakfast and lunch, Le Cafe Gourmand is also open for dinner every second, third and fourth Friday of the month (soon to be every Friday night due to overwhelming demand) with a four-course set menu for $64 per person. The menu changes monthly but is designed to expand your culinary horizons whilst also serving up some familiar classics. In true French style, Le Cafe Gourmand is licensed and offers a succinct selection of beers, wine and French sparkling so if you fancy a mimosa at midday, you’re in good company. Le Cafe Gourmand offers a little taste of France right here on the sunny Gold Coast.