There's a slow but growing interest in everything French, whether it's food, culture or couture. Matthieu Foss Gallery has been exposing the city to French art, and the city's first French bistro Chez Vous opens next month, followed by a new suburban branch of French salon Jean-Claude Biguine. Kasmin Fernandes finds out how this French invasion is making a headway
There's a slow but growing interest in everything French, whether it's food, culture or couture. Matthieu Foss Gallery has been exposing the city to French art, and the city's first French bistro Chez Vous opens next month, followed by a new suburban branch of French salon Jean-Claude Biguine.u00a0Kasmin Fernandesu00a0finds out how this French invasion is making a headway
Mumbai is one of the most iconic cities of the world, but the only one that does not have a French restaurant," says 30 year-old Satyen Melwani, a Mumbai-based hospitality professional, who plans to change that. A few weeks down, South Mumbai will bid goodbye to Sundance Cafe, an old dying favourite and welcome in its place Chez Vous, thanks to Melwani and his French partners -- entrepreneur Frederic Fernandez and contemporary chef Cedric Combe.
Satyen Melwani, Frederic Fernandezu00a0and Cedric Combe are bringing
Mumbai its first French restaurant to a well-loved South Mumbai venue;
Sundance Caf ufffd. Lunch is expected to draw in young professionals from
offices around the area, while dinner is expected to be an elaborate affair.
Pic/Sanjiv Valsan
In a career spanning 20 years, 33 year-old Combe, who started off when he was 13,u00a0 has worked for Michelin starred restaurants in Geneva, set up bistros, restaurants in Australia and New Zealand, and been head chef for 10 years. "The bistro will stand true to its name, which means 'at your place'," promises Melwani. The trio hope to create a warm and friendly atmosphere and serve affordable French breakfast, lunch and dinner. "The lunch menu will cater to business crowds and change every day. Dinner will be a more complete and elaborate French experience," says the 30 year-old, who has previously worked with Le Royal Meridien, Radisson Hotels, Mars Restaurants and Encore hotels. The team is chalking up an exclusive wine list of French wines and a cocktail menu with quintessential French spirits like Chartreuese, Absinthe and Pastis.
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The beginnings
It all started last November when Melwani met 28 year-old finance professional Fernandez, through common friends.
"I had travelled to India several times and fell in love with the country and its culture," says Fernandez at his sea-facing apartment in Colaba. The passionate foodie also recognised the country's strong business potential, and was looking for a partner to start his first restaurant.
"When Fred and I met, we realised we wanted to bring the French bistro experience to Mumbai," recalls Melwani. Fernandez invited Combe to India, and he "fell in love" with what he saw.u00a0 Combe isn't the only one.
"Mumbai is where everything happens," says Bandra resident Isabelle Viola, who moved from Lorraine two years ago. Translator for a television channel by day, Viola is the official photographer for the Bombay Elektrik Project (BEP) by night. "I first came to Mumbai on a marketing internship four years ago, and decided to move here when I was offered a translator's position. My first set of close friends came from the Bombay Elektrik Project," says the 27 year-old. Amateur comedy night Krack You Up, poetry slam or confession night Wince, Viola captures it all on her digital camera.
Art Conspiracy has a French connection
In fact, she's also helping organise The Art Conspiracy (ACT),u00a0u00a0u00a0 an underground festival to promote art in the city which was conceptualised last month. ACT has French roots too. French-Indian siblings Leila and Kevin Tayebaly are at the helm of this campaign, which involves gigs, night markets and underground art events across Bandra's trendiest venues, culminating in a grand finale on October 23 and 24. The siblings have been living and working in the city for the last few years.
Another tireless promoter of art and artists from France in particular, is curator Matthieu Foss. For the past two years, his south Mumbai gallery dedicated to photography and photo-based art, has hosted cutting-edge exhibitions by a slew of French and Indian photographers.
For Nantes-based Laurene Daluzeau and Edouard Delvaux, however, Mumbai was completely uncharted territory. It took a while for Daluzeau, spa supervisor at French salon Jean-Claude Biguine, to adjust to the city's frenetic pace. "But when I was settled, and met like-minded people, I was comfy," says the 27 year-old who moved to the city a year ago to "enrich my life and experience a completely different culture." In fact, the salon, which also has a bunch of French stylists in-house, is rolling out a new branch in Juhu this month.
Breach Candy-based mergers and acquisitions specialist Delvaux decided to pursue his gap year internship in Mumbai, after befriending an Indian course mate. "Asia is the fastest growing market, and Mumbai is the business capital of India; it's also very no-nonsense," says the Parisian who intends to return and start his own business here.
Heard this?
Parlez-vous French wines?
Sopexa is organising a series of 20-plus French wine appreciation workshops on behalf of the French ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. Find out how wine is made, the main grape varietals used and characteristics of different wine types. Learn practical tips on how to serve and store wines, as well as the basics of wine tasting and food-wine pairing.
On: October 23 through January 2011
At: The Tasting Room, Lower Parel
Fee: Rs 1,500 per head, Rs 2,500 per couple
For session timings and registration, visit www.frenchwinetraining.com or visit the Facebook page of French Wine Training India.
French wine and cheese tasting
Alliance Fran aise de Bombay will take you on a Tour de France through the taste of wine and cheese. The tasting promises to "lift your senses to the banks of the French Riviera". Open to all.
On: October 18, 8 pm
At: Novotel, Juhu beach
Fee: Rs 750 for Alliance Fran aise members and students; Rs ,1000 for non-members
To register, email: sheryn@afindia.org
Club France de Bombay
For 15 years, Club France de Bombay has been bringing French-speaking people in the city together. Says organising committee member Jeffrey D, "We organise activities ever so often, exclusively for French-speaking expats in Mumbai." From Argentine tango classes to cocktail dinner parties to dinner dances at the Royal Yacht Club of Bombay, the events ensure the expats mingle with enthusiasm. "We have about 250 members spread across different parts of the city," informs Jeffrey.
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