Ooh la la! A sneak peek at the foodography from Le Grand Bistro & Oyster Bar

By Lori Midson Thu., Aug. 25 2011 at 1:41 PM

Lori Midson

Executive chef Sergio Romero focuses on the food at Le Grand Bistro & Oyster Bar.

Late yesterday afternoon, the opening crew of Le Grand Bistro & Oyster Bar, Robert Thompson's new French restaurant at 1512 Curtis Street, assembled in the kitchen to get a taste of executive chef Sergio Romero's menu, which Thompson calls "everyday French comfort food."

Le Grand, he says, "is not trying to do anything new or groundbreaking." Instead, insists Thompson, "We're trying to achieve pleasure and enthusiasm by perfecting the French classics, offering good wines at an approachable price and maintaining the integrity and essence of French cuisine by refusing to resort to modern spins."

Thompson, who, along with his ex-wife, Leigh Jones, opened (and subsequently closed) Brasserie Rouge, one of the best French restaurants this city has seen, says that Le Grand is the "recreation of Parisian bistros and brasseries from times past." This is a restaurant, he continues, "that takes us back to an era when eating mussels and frites, a great plate of cheese and drinking a half-liter of wine wasn't a special event but an everyday occurrence."

Come Monday, when Le Grand opens to the public, you can get a real taste of the mussels and frites -- and drink yourself into a stupor -- but I took the liberty of hijacking the kitchen yesterday, snapping food shot after food shot to give all you habitues a sneak peek of what's to come.

Lori Midson

Braised lamb shank, glossed with glace de viande, and plated with parsnip puree, baby carrots, pearl onions and sprigs of chevril.

Lori Midson

Deep-fried frog legs served with Worcestershire aioli and dressed greens.

Lori Midson

Steak au poivre topped with herbed maître d'hôtel butter and accompanied by a potato gallete.

Lori Midson

A Dijon vinaigrette-dressed salad of frisée, lardons, fresh orange segments, walnuts and a poached egg.

Lori Midson

Roasted chioga beets, beet greens, bitter greens and granola sweetened with a honey vinaigrette.

Location Info

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Le Grand Bistro & Oyster Bar

1512 Curtis St., Denver, CO

Category: Restaurant

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French bistro, Le Grand Bistro & Oyster Bar, Robert Thompson, Sergio Romero

We Recommend

Gator1869

I was lucky enough to be invited out Saturday for their mock opening, and after viewing the photos here was even more excited about attending! There was absolutely no disappointment here! Our table of 4 was blessed with the Beef Tartare (surprisingly spicy, but phenominal), the Watercress Soup (delicious blend with beans and pork), Pasta (with mushrooms and an apple brandy gave it a surpisingly delicious twist), Sirloin (how can you go wrong with the Au Poivre, Maitre'd butter, or Bordelaise sauce? We got to try all three!). The Salmon was cooked to perfection, and the head cheese was delicious (a little too sweet for my liking with the mustard sauce, however). We also tried two of the potatoes with the steak the gallette was good, but our favorite was the cheesier one. We ended with a bread pudding (to die for melt in your mouth good) and a plum tart (delicous!). The wine selection was good and we enjoyed the selection of beer as well. Can't wait to go back!

barslinger

The food will be great to be sure, but am wondering if they have finished dressing the restaurant........lacks atmosphere.........I was hoping for something "Grand"

decorslinger

I think it's spectacular looking. What they did with that old mosaic tile floor was great and the light fixtures were period perfect. Really warm.

Suzie Roser

The bone marrow at The Fort is cut exactly the same way and size! It was Julia Child's favorite.

Foodfun

Was at their preview party tonight. It was off the hook!!! Had to be at least 300 people there. I tried oysters with champagne mignonette, steak tartare, smoked salmon pancakes with creme fraiche, head cheese (was delicious) and a duck confit on a potato chip with some kind of sherry gastrique. The place is beautiful, the food was stellar, the French wine went down like, well, French wine, and the staff was very pleasant considering how many food junkies were there attacking each plate of food as it came from the kitchen. They have this cuchon (pig) mural on the wall with all the breeds of France. Fun. Glad I got to attend.

Jeff

Lori, your food photography has improved tremendously as of late. Everything here looks great. Truly worthy of the "food porn" moniker now.

Lori Midson

I owe a big debt of gratitude to the Argyll staff for being so patient with me. I made them starve while hording the plates to take shot after shot after shot after shot. Believe me, I'm no photographer -- just persistent! Still, thanks for the kind words. Just don't elevate your expectations, because for every decent shot I take, I shoot ten clunkers.