Ohio Weekly News Recap: The Columbus Dispatch’s Top Stories
Here are some stories you may have missed on Dispatch.com and in the print edition of the Columbus Dispatch.
Chouchette: In French, this word can mean either “owl” or, in colloquial slang, something beautiful, cool, chic, or overall pleasant.
Columbus’ dining scene is expanding with a new restaurant that takes this word as its name, with a double meaning: it embodies the wisdom of the French culinary tradition to bring authenticity to the table while also conveying comfort, accessibility and ease to guests.
On Tuesday, August 13, Chouette, a restaurant serving authentic and classic French cuisine, opened its doors at 66 N. High St. and guests are invited to try the menu of bistro-style French classics.
New bites: Smash Buddies opens new brick-and-mortar location in the Brewery District
Here you will get an insight into the chef’s dedication to delivering authenticity at a good time and right in the heart of downtown.
What’s on the menu?
Menu highlights include Steak Frites, served with crispy homemade fries and a cut of meat of the guest’s choice and butter or sauce, or the Bouillabaisse Marseillaise, which chef Jacques Sorci described as the culmination of the restaurant’s search for the golden ratio of authenticity and accessibility.
Coming and going: 19 restaurants in the Columbus area recently opened and 10 closed
Featuring an ensemble of flavors from the sea, including Maine lobster, sea bass, shrimp, mussels and clams, topped with a saffron rouille, Sorci says the communal dish is designed to create a culinary experience that not only emphasizes the joy of sharing a meal, but also puts the spotlight on lesser-known dishes in the world of French cuisine.
“Personally, I like to cook dishes that bring people together,” Sorci said. “I like recipes that take a little longer to make, dishes that you can share. Bouillabaisse is the first thing that came to mind.”
While the restaurant will initially be open for dinner only, it has been announced that guests can soon expect lunch and brunch options in mid-October, offering simple but hearty dishes such as a seasonal quiche, a Gruyère cheeseburger with caramelized onions and Espelette aioli, and a croque-monsieur sandwich with jambon, Gruyère, Dijon and a small salad.
Bringing France into the city centre
Although Chouette is not the first business of Rockbridge division Makeready in Columbus — its hotel The Junto moved to town last year and Hank’s Low Country Seafood and Raw Bar moved earlier this year — it is the first concept of its kind for the company. Like Hank’s, which is just down the street at 6 W. Gay St., Chouette is owned by Jeff Edwards, CEO and president of Edwards Companies, who saw an opportunity for a business of this kind in the market.
Cocktails with a view: These 7 Columbus restaurants and bars offer outdoor rooftop dining with a view
With few French restaurants in the area, the chef’s approach of building the menu from scratch while being free of preconceived notions about French cuisine is breathing new life into the downtown scene.
“In most places, authenticity has been lost,” Sorci said. “I was really committed to cooking and presenting an authentic bouillabaisse on the menu, something that people really enjoy and that is also a unique selling point because we don’t want to be the restaurant that offers every dish that everyone has. When our guests look at the menu, we want to pique their curiosity and offer dishes that are a little bit unusual, a discovery.”
Contrary to the popular notion that French food is heavy and creamy, Sorci pointed to Chouette’s relatively light offerings, which are deliberately prepared to be enjoyable any time of day or year. This is evident not only in dishes like the bouillabaisse, but also in the cheese offerings, which include cheeses from France to Ohio, served with a simple yet sophisticated plate of fruit, bread and jam.
The key to making French cuisine accessible is in the ingredients and figuring out which ones resonate with a broad audience, Sorci said. And with so much farmland in the Columbus area, Sorci expressed his appreciation for the location of Chouette’s new home and the access to an abundance of produce and quality ingredients.
“French in every detail and in every respect”
In the time Sorci has spent in Columbus, he has discovered unexpectedly familiar European aspects in the bustling downtown streets lined with storefronts and pedestrians. That’s good news for Scorci, who wants to make Chouette more than just “French” and offer an experience that is “French in every detail and every way.” Soon, the corner of Gay and High will be alive with the conversations of diners under the bright yellow awnings of the outdoor patio.
In the last few days before the restaurant opened, he noticed curious glances from passersby, Sorci said, and he was happy to finally be able to welcome guests.
At its core, he said, a restaurant is about the people in it, about communal enjoyment and celebration of good food and good people.
News from the food sector: The new bistro “Chouette” in downtown Columbus opens on Tuesday
“The amazing thing about things like this is that you arrive and there’s nothing there,” Sorci said.
“Then the pots come, you unpack everything and get to work in the kitchen. And a few days later you start cooking. Watching that transition from zero to 100 is always amazing. And also building relationships. Our business is all about relationships. When you get the kitchen cooking together with the staff and so on, it’s always very memorable.”
Is a table ready?: After the difficulties caused by the pandemic, restaurants in Columbus are again offering lunch dishes
When you go
Chouette is open Sunday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Although the restaurant is currently only open for dinner, it will also offer lunch and brunch services in mid-October.
To view the full menu or to make a reservation, visit chouetterestaurant.com.
