April 2017 Newsletter

Greetings from Chef Jacques

Happy Easter and happy spring to everyone. We are pleased to have had our organic gardens featured in a recent article in the Washington City Paper. Fortunately, we have the space to grow much of our produce on-site during the growing season which means many of our herbs and vegetables travel only a few feet from our garden to the kitchens. The gardens will be expanded yet again this year to allow us to grow a wider variety of ingredients. In addition to providing us with fresh produce, the gardens are a way for us to connect with our neighbors in Great Falls and around Northern Virginia. Our customers are welcome to come by and take a tour of and learn more about what we’re growing. You can read the full article in the Washington City Paper here.

Mother’s Day is coming up in a few weeks. Might we suggest tickets to our Mother’s Day Cooking Demonstration or one of our other May special events as a gift for Mom? Upcoming events also include three chances for you to hear the wonderful music of virtuoso accordionist Jacques Pellarin and wine dinners with the famed California winery Cakebread Cellars and renowned Alsatian winemakers Domaine Zind-Humbrecht. You may view a listing of all of our upcoming events here.

Cheers and best culinary wishes,
Chef Jacques, Paul, and the team of L’Auberge Chez François

Italian Wine Dinner featuring Paitin Estate Vineyards

Please join us Thursday, May 4th at 6:30pm for a dinner featuring the wines of Paitin. Since they first purchased the farmstead, wine cellar and vineyards in 1796, the Pasquero-Elia family has been producing acclaimed wines in the Piedmont region of northwest Italy, exporting them as early as 1898. Even with all their experience and success, the family continues to invest in the future, adopting best practices and fine-tuning their methods to deliver ever more excellent wines. We have selected several characterful examples and Chef Jacques has crafted a series of courses to compliment them.

Reserve Tickets

Mother’s Day Cooking Demonstration and Luncheon

Treat Mom or your special someone to a lively culinary demonstration and luncheon on Saturday, May 6 at 11:00am to celebrate Mother’s Day. Your day begins sipping a glass of Crémant while watching Chef Jacques demonstrate a selection of his special recipes before you retreat to our beautiful Garden Room and continue the Mother’s Day celebration with the Chef’s five-course “Menu du Jour pour Mama”, paired with fine wines chosen by our sommelier. This culinary demonstration hits the spot and makes the perfect gourmet gift. Come and join us and celebrate Mother’s Day at L’Auberge Chez François!

Reserve Tickets

Cakebread Cellars Sommelier Series Wine Dinner

Please join us on Tuesday, May 16th at 6:30pm when we welcome Cakebread Cellars to L’Auberge Chez Franҫois for an evening of fine food with one of California’s benchmark wineries. Special guest David Griffiths, Director of Sales and Marketing for Cakebread cellars, will guide us through the wines of this iconic winery, all perfectly paired with a menu specially created for the evening by Chef Jacques. We hope you join us in what will be a magical evening that will sell out quickly. Bon appétit and cheers!

Reserve Tickets

Vive la France Musique et Cuisine Dinner with Jac & Co.

Please join us on Thursday, May 18th at 7:00pm for the first of two evenings of Parisian music and food as we welcome back French accordionist Jacques Pellarin and his wife and vocalist Corrine. Performing together as Jac & Co., they bring the sounds of France to all corners of the globe with their French-cinema inspired accordion compositions and traditional songs. Chef Jacques has a special fondness for the accordion, as he too learned the instrument at a very young age and still enjoys the classic sound of French accordion music.

Reserve Tickets

An Evening of Parisian Musique et Cuisine featuring Jac & Co.

We are excited to announce the second of two evenings as we welcome back French accordionist Jacques Pellarin with his wife and vocalist Corrine on Friday, May 19th at 7:00pm. Noted French magazine Le Progres writes: “Jac & Co. bring back almost a century of the traditional French ‘chansons’ from artists like Edith Piaf, Yves Montand and Francis Lemarques. With just voice and accordion, Jacques Pellarin & Co. captivates audiences and transports them to the dance halls and street side cafes of France’s yesteryears!” Enjoy a six-course menu of Parisian favorites paired with three wines as you listen to the French standards you love.

Reserve Tickets

Musical Brunch featuring French Duo Jac & Co.

Please join us on Sunday, May 21st at 11:00am for a musical brunch featuring Jac & Co., the delightful French music of husband and wife duo. Corinne and Jacques Pellarin will serenade you with the eternal sounds of France as you enjoy a delicious brunch. Chef Jacques has created a special menu for the afternoon that includes unlimited cocktails and our newest brunch addition, Lobster and Crab Cake Benedict featuring local Indian Springs Farm eggs. We hope you will join us for this special afternoon to hear all of your favorite French songs and enjoy a delicious meal in beautiful Great Falls, Virginia.

Reserve Tickets

Alsatian Heritage Wine Dinner featuring Zind-Humbrecht

Join Chef Jacques and the team on Wednesday, May 31 at 6:30pm for a special wine dinner celebrating Alsace’s revered Zind-Humbrecht Winery. Assistant wine maker Jolene Hunter will guide us through tasting some of Zind-Humbrecht’s most outstanding wines. With an unbroken winemaking lineage in Alsace since 1620, Zind-Humbrecht produces elegant and complex white wines expressing the beauty of the Alsatian terroir while following strict biodynamic farming principles. To honor the Alsatian heritage of his father, Chef Jacques has created a delectable menu of Alsatian dishes to pair with these magnificent wines.

Reserve Tickets

Team Member of the Month

Abel Flores began working as a waiter at L’Auberge Chez François in June 2006. He takes his work very seriously and strives to deliver good service. His ability to work well with others has made him one of our lead trainers for new employees and many of his peers consider him a great mentor. Abel is devoted to making our customers feel special and you will always find him with a smile on his face. Even while working, it is apparent that Abel is having a good time and wants the same for those around him. He has exhibited continued and unwavering professionalism, dedication, and compassion for his guests and the team. Thank you, Abel, for your hard work and support!

Monsieur François Competition

Congratulations to Meriel K. of The Woodlands, Texas for winning the March Monsieur François Profile Embellishment art contest. Meriel will receive a $200 gift certificate to L’Auberge Chez François.