Tag: French cooking

Foch Café & Bistro opens in Tempe

A new hip bistro opened in downtown Tempe recently serving American & European inspired cuisine and cocktails. Foch Café & Bistro pays tribute to the street in Paris that Fares Tarabichi’s grandparents used to live on. “I am so proud of my French education and visiting my grandparents in Paris every summer made me truly appreciate the beautiful French culture.” says Tarabichi, co-founder of Foch Café & Bistro. “Foch honors both the memory of my amazing grandparents, as well as French culture.”

Tarabichi and partner Chef Timothy Richardson are no strangers to the Phoenix restaurant scene as Tarabichi founded The Crêpe Cafe and co-founded The Bodhi and AZ Liquids. Arizona native Richardson attended Le Cordon Bleu where learned French cooking techniques. For 16 years since he’s worked in several different restaurants from cantinas to fine dining. Before opening Foch Café & Bistro he was senior sous chef at the Arizona Biltmore.

“As a chef, it has always been a dream of mine to open a restaurant and I am excited to share delectable French inspired cuisine with the wonderful residents and visitors of Tempe.” said Richardson, co-founder of Foch Café & Bistro. “Foch is an open, bright and happy space for people to gather and celebrate community once again.”

The bistro offers a full menu for dine-in of hot & cold paninis, salads, freshly baked pastries, a coffee bar and to-go items from Foch Market. Crêpes are featured on the menu and can be paired with unique flavors of gelato. The craft cocktail menu includes cocktails made with house made fresh juices along with local craft beers.

Foch Café & Bistro is at 21 E. 6th St. is open daily from 9 a.m.- 8 p.m. and is dog friendly on the 600 square foot patio. For more information visit their website. Don’t forget to check out my podcast Pulling Corks & Forks: The Podcast with Sandy Wasserman to hear from those in our community. Please subscribe, like & comment.

 

Cuisine Wine & Bistro taking reservations for Chefs’ Carte Blanche dinner

The dinner on the 12th has been postponed, no new date has been scheduled as of yet.

Chandler’s Cuisine Wine & Bistro has been showcasing French cuisine in the East Valley since 2016. Owned by the Buschtetz family along with Gilbert’s B Gastrobar and Copper & Logs, CWB started their monthly Chef’s Carte Blanche dinner series in December 2020 to much success. Reservations are being taken for the next dinner coming up on Monday April 12th.

“Unlimited Discretionary Power to Act”, Carte Blanche is exactly what guests will be giving the chefs to act upon. The 7-course dinner paired with wines showcases Executive Chef Fabrice Buschtetz classically trained French cooking. By his side will be son Steven, chef de cuisine at B Gastrobar and Chef Michael Maitrel- Burgard, chef de cuisine at Copper & Logs with wines paired by Killian Buschtetz, Sommelier at Cuisine Wine & Bistro.

The Chefs’ Carte Blanche menu

“Part of our fun,’” says Fabrice, “comes from making each course look both delicious and memorable on the plate. There is a real talent — I was going to say skill, but it is much more than that — in arranging each course so that it showcases the food in an especially enticing way.”

The dinner will cover land and sea with the evening starting with a trio of Amuse- Bouche followed by courses of caviar, duck, squid and lamb along with a mid-course palette cleanser of sorbet and ending with dessert.

Guests are asked to arrive no later than 5:45 with dinner beginning promptly at 6:00. Reservations are $225 plus tax & gratuity and can be made by calling 480-275-6700. To see the full menu please visit their website. Cuisine Wine & Bistro is at 4991 S. Alma School Rd. Chandler 85248.

French restaurant celebrates 4 years in Scottsdale

When Chef Jean- Christophe and Segolene Gros opened their French restaurant, Voila French Bistro four years ago they were fulfilling their American dream. They chose Scottsdale for their restaurant having fallen in love with the desert after only a one day visit in 2007.  On October 20th the couple will be celebrating their 4 year anniversary of their French restaurant with a prie-fixe wine paired dinner.

Chef Jean- Christophe has been a chef in French restaurants for over 30 years working with French master chefs before venturing out on his own. He approaches his French cooking with modern twist as he adapts it for his American audience.

The three-course dinner is $79 per person and goes from 5 – 7p.m. The menu is as follows.

La Chartreuse – lump crab layered with vegetables and wrapped in lettuce leaves. Paired with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc Atlantic 2016

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Terre et Mer – Pork Surf & Turf, pork filets served with jumbo shrimp and a lobster sauce. Paired with a glass of Château Fongaban 2015 – Bordeaux St Emilion

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Chocolate Caramélia Valrhona Entremet – A flourless chocolate cake with caramel chocolate mousse. Served with a glass of Mirabelle Plum Kir Royal

To reserve a seat for this special evening go to their website or call 480-614-5600. Voila French Bistro is at 10135 E. Via Linda, Scottsdale 85258.

Chef Vincent Guerithault gets “Toast & Roast”ed for 50 years in the kitchen

Before there was a Phoenix culinary scene there was chef Vincent Guerithault of Vincent’s on Camelback. The award-winning chef started his culinary career in his home country of France before accepting a job at Le Francais in Chicago then making his way to Phoenix. His career started 50 years ago and to commemorate the milestone a “Toast & Roast” is planned for Friday, October 11th.

His classic French cuisine prepared with local ingredients has garnered him many awards and recognition in his home country and the United States including the 1993 James Beard Award for “America’s Best Chef- Southwest”. He is culinary royalty here in Phoenix having opened his Camelback Road restaurant 32 years ago.

Chef Vincent will be roasted by local celebrities including Senator John Kyl, businessman Jerry Colangelo, restaurateur Mark Tarbell, former Phoenix Mayor Terry Goddard and more.

Chef Vincent Guerithault classic dishes

The multi-course dinner will highlight classic dishes the chef has served over the years at prestigious restaurants. The exciting evening is open to the public and is $295 per person plus tax & service and includes wine pairings. The menu is below.

Rondelles d’Aubergines Farcies aux Asperges et Parmesan (L’Oustau de Baumanière,Les Baux de Provence). Eggplant Wrapped Asparagus with Parmesan and Fleur de Sel

Consommé de Canard au Gingembre (Le Français, Chicago). Duck Consommé with Ginger

Homard et Saint-Jacques à la Vapeur au Beurre Blanc (Le Français, Chicago). Steamed Maine Lobster and Sea Scallops served with Beurre Blanc

Tourte de Ris de Veau au Champignons (L’Oustau de Baumanière, Les Baux de Provence). Veal Sweetbread Turnover with Wild Mushrooms

Tournedos Rossini et Pommes Soufflées (Le Français, Chicago). Beef Tenderloin with Foie Gras and Soufflé Potatoes

Crêpes Veuve Joyeuse au Citron (Maxim’s, Paris). Lemon Crêpe Soufflé

Pot de Crème et Gourmandises

Information and reservations for the celebration can be found at https://vincentsoncamelback.com/toast-and-roast.php. Vincent’s on Camelback is at 3930 E. Camelback RD. Phoenix 85018.