Cedric Defayes got out of banking business in 2009 and returned to Guadalajara to eventually open a bistro with friends he made 10 years before during a stint here as a student. The steely blued-eyed native of the Alps region of Switzerland serves up European cuisine in his Le Bistro, Le Cava & Le Jardin, just half a block off Avenida Chapultepec.
Le Bistro’s menu is a mixture of French, German, Italian and Spanish recipes, many culled from his childhood cooking with his great aunt and mother, others from Swiss friends with whom he met frequently to cook and drink wine.
Fondues are a house speciality and the base is a mixture of gouda, gruyere and cream cheeses. One variety is tomato centric, others include one loaded with basil pesto, another with mushrooms, and one with curry, garlic and cumin. A best seller is the fondue with a mixture of gruyere, brie and blue cheeses.
Menu
options include vegetarian or meat lasagna, quiche Loraine, spinach
quiche, rib eye topped with Cafe de Paris butter (anchovies, spices,
curry and garlic) and au gratin potatoes and a plate of tapas-like small
flakey pastry served with brie, smoked salmon, serano ham. Daily
specials on the board the day we went included a German-style pork
shank or saurkraut with white veal sausage. Other sausages include
Polish, schübling and wiener.
Defayes declines to
Mexicanize his food and doesn’t serve any chile unless it is asked for.
His one deviation from this is a delicious pan de elote dessert. All
the desserts are made in house, although the croissants and bread are
purchased from a bakery that is up to European standards and tastes.
Those with a sweet tooth can enjoy carmelized apple pie, chocolate
volcano cake and coconut paradise among other options with a rich, dark
Chiapas coffee.
Defayes has a decent wine cellar
with more than 30 vintages from around Europe, South America and Mexico.
He personally likes Cabernet from Santo Tomas, Baja California’s oldest
winery. He also carries a variety of Mexican craft beers and considers
many of the Wiess (wheat) brews made here as superior to those found in
Germany. During the colder months Glühwein, a spiced hot wine with a
cabernet base is available. Monday to Thursday a 3 x 2 offer on almost
all beverages is in force from 5 to 9 p.m.
Once a
month, Le Bistro hosts guest chefs to cook up special dishes from a
specific European Country. Russia’s cuisine will be featured November 12
and 13. A four course meal will be enhanced by traditional and modern
Russian music. Special dishes will be offered during the yuletide season
and they can host your Christmas party or Posada there as well.
The
restaurant has three different areas to choose from: the main Bistro
with a view of bustling Avenida Lopez Cotilla, a patio with lots of
greenery called El Jardin, and La Cava which is where many couples enjoy
a romantic dinner. Hours are Monday to Friday, 5:30 p.m. to midnight
and Saturday 1:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday a brunch is served from 11 a.m.
to 2 p.m. for only 79 pesos including one coffee.
Lopez Cotilla 1480, Tel. 3615-1800, e-mail: lebistrogdl@hotmail.com
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