The French Café is the Ultimate Neighborhood Niche!

The streets of Paris are famous for many things, but perhaps most of all, the quaint, quintessential cafes are the most iconic features of French culture. A cup of coffee and a warm pastry can be found tucked into the nooks and crannies of every neighborhood. Wanderlust for this experience need not lead you to the airport; instead let it lead you around the corner to Horizon West’s very own neighborhood café. 

In the early morning hours, before the sun rises over Horizon West, the chefs are hard at work bringing decades of experience to the kitchen in the café. A long history in culinary arts led them to pursue the passion of bringing beloved French favorites to our community. 

We chatted with him about all things food and here’s what he had to say about The French Café and his lengthy career as a chef. 

My career in America began in one of the best bakery’s in Miami and I learned quickly that Americans lack access to the kind of pastries we have in France. When you walk through the streets of French towns, the warm smell of croissants, beignets, macaroons and bread fill the air. This is something I wanted to recreate in my American kitchen. When I began working on the menu for The French Café, I wanted to pay homage to my heritage while also respecting the local culture. I decided to blend the French with the American so that every dish is a reflection of these two cultures. You’ll find this intertwining of cultures in our dishes like the classic American chicken salad served on a buttery, flaky French croissant or the American favorite BLT on a crisp baguette. My personal favorite is the turkey sandwich with apple and brie. Such a beautiful blend of two worlds. 

Oh, that’s easy! Cheese! So many delicious cheeses and so much cheese in France, how can I not love it? There is a dish from Savoy in the Alps that combines everything good all in one place. It’s called Tartiflette. Imagine fondue, if you will; a dish designed to share that’s rich with savory flavors of reblochon, lardon, onion, bacon and potato all in one giant dish.  

I also truly love Raclette cheese. It’s made into a wheel from Alpine cow’s milk. You can have it as a slice, but it’s best when melted, fondue style. In traditional meals, you would assemble items like potatoes, ham or cured meat like bündnerfleisch- a Swiss cured beef- and scrape the Raclette over each item. French street food like this is what I miss the most about home.

In addition to including a large patio, which was a must-have on our design list- because, what is a neighborhood café without a patio- we also felt very strongly about including a private event space. This little corner of the café is perfect for brunches, birthdays, baby showers, office meetings, lunch and learns, mommy groups and so much more.

It’s designed to give you privacy, and during the times we are in with the utmost importance being placed on health and safety, this space allows you to celebrate your special occasions while maintaining social distancing. We are very proud of it. You can enjoy a special menu by working with our event manager as well. All homemade of course!