August 2014 Newsletter

Jacques’ Greeting

September will mark the 60th Anniversary of the founding of Chez François in Washington D.C. I don’t think that my father, François, could have imagined then that we would still be going strong 60 years later. Many of Dad’s loyal patrons followed when we moved the restaurant to Great Falls and become an auberge. I’m amazed at how often guests will stop to tell me their memories of eating with us in Washington D.C. and now in Great Falls. The painting above, gifted to my parents by Washington artist Lily Spandorf shows the sidewalk cafe tables of the original Chez François on Connecticut Avenue in the early 1960s.

To continue the Anniversary celebrations, I’ve scheduled a full week of events and cooking demonstrations in September, kicked-off by a special Garden to Table dinner on Monday, September 15. There are events scheduled the rest of the week including a wine dinner and cooking demonstrations featuring classic recipes and dishes that our patrons request the most. Save the dates and watch for upcoming announcements and our September newsletter to reserve tickets.

Cheers and a special toast to all our loyal patrons who have been celebrating life’s special moments with us all these years.

Washington State Wine Dinner

Please join us Thursday, August 7 at 6:30pm for an evening in our series of sommelier-curated wine dinners. Sommelier, Alex Bardsley AIWS will be discussing wines from Washington State, specifically the Columbia and Yakima Valleys. Columbia Valley, Washington’s largest appellation, and Yakima Valley, Washington’s oldest, established in 1983, are distinctive wine-growing regions with clearly defined geographical, climate and soil features. The evening’s wine selections will be paired with Chef Jacques specially created menu.

Reserve Tickets

Garden to Table Dinner

On Monday, August 11 at 6:30pm, the third in our Garden to Table dinner celebrations will feature Chef Jacques’ own specialty cocktail and mais oui, but of course, champagne and wine pairing with each course. The evening’s menu begins with canapés, followed by my Papa’s Classic Vichyssoise, a Summer Garden Salad, Roasted Red Pepper Granité, Diver Scallops Provençal and Organic Blueberry Tart. Weather permitting, we will dine on the terrace and tour the gardens or move indoors if inclement weather. Please join us!

Reserve Tickets

L’Auberge Through a Lens

Olivia Rae James and her family have frequented L’Auberge Chez François over the years, but her attendance at Chef Jacques’ Bastille Day Garden to Table celebration brought a new behind-the-lens perspective. Fostered by time spent in the countryside of France as well as an inherent sense of eternal optimism, as photographer, Olivia seeks out beauty in the everyday. Her photos evoke a timelessness that feels both ineffable and universal. Raised in Nashville and residing in Charleston, she focuses on lifestyle, wedding and editorial photography. View Olivia’s L’Auberge photo blog.

Olivia’s L’Auberge

A Taste of France

Chef Jacques is leading a special group of gourmands on a river cruise through the Rhône Valley. A Taste of France seven-night cruise begins September 22, 2015, a perfect time of year to sail through Provence. Chef Jacques will be aboard to host special events and wine tastings. The trip offers a private dinner for Chef Jacques’ group at a famed brasserie in Paris before setting sail from Lyon on the MS Swiss Emerald. We have a great group on board, view the cruise itinerary and join us!

Cruise Itinerary

Proud Papa

I am very proud to share that my daughter, Madeleine Haeringer has been promoted to Executive Producer of International News at NBC News. Madeleine will manage the overall agenda for the network’s foreign news coverage, and identify and develop their long-range international story planning. Madeleine spent more than a decade covering wars, revolutions and political transitions around the world. She has earned almost every major broadcast journalism award including six News & Documentary Emmy Awards.

Madeleine Haeringer

Diver Scallops Provençal

Our Recipe of the Month is Diver Scallops Provençal and the featured entrée at our Garden to Table Dinner on August 11. Scallops Provençal is a classic French recipe for seafood lovers, and simple to make. The scallops pair perfectly with a delicate, restrained white as the 2009 Stony Hill Chardonnay. Be careful not to over cook, the scallops will toughen. When properly seared, the scallops should practically melt in your mouth.

View the Recipe

Reservations

Wine of the Month

Our featured wine is a 2009 Stony Hill Chardonnay from Napa Valley. This old-school Chardonnay exhibits elegance, and great purity of flavor. It is a food wine par excellence, and will positively flatter our Diver Scallops Provençal. To those who have not tasted Stony Hill Chardonnay, the young wine can often seem restrained and understated. This is by design. Given a few years of age, a delicate, fruity quality evolves into a more complex wine with overtones of honey and mature fruit.

Stony Hill

To Your Health

In general, use whole grains and flours. There are notable exceptions, such as dusting before sautéing or making a pie crust (whole wheat just does not work as well) Refined grain products such as white flour and white rice have been stripped of their nutrients. During the refining process, 22 essential nutrients including fiber are removed. So-called enriched products have three to four nutrients replaced but remain nutritionally inferior. Find more healthy cuisine tips in my Two for Tonight cookbook.

The Store

Monsieur François Compétition

I want to congratulate Allison Y. of Middleburg, VA for winning the July Monsieur François’ Profile Embellishment Competition. Allison will receive a $200 gift certificate to L’Auberge Chez François.