November 28, 2017 – The ribbon cutting ceremony has been announced and—if you peek through the windows—there’s already glassware on the table! Staff training is underway and it appears the Carmel Valley Chophouse is just about ready open. Owners say they hope to get final permits by Saturday, when they’ve scheduled the ribbon-cutting for 2-4pm.
Chef Fabrice Roux and Jennifer Roux, the husband-wife team behind Roux, are opening their second Carmel Valley restaurant in the space on Center Street that was previously occupied by Lokal Restaurant. The idea behind the Carmel Valley Chophouse is a tribute to the Valley and its community. Imagine a salt of the earth steakhouse infused with innovation that comes from featuring locally-grown produce.
A native of Laon in northern France near the Champagne region, chef Fabrice began his culinary career in Paris, working at landmarks such as the Hotel Crillon and Fauchon. Once in the United States, he worked at the Grand Café in San Francisco, the Eiffel Tower Restaurant in Las Vegas, and Joya Restaurant and Lounge in Palo Alto before landing in Carmel Valley. Chef Fabrice has long married classical technique with culinary creativity.
Chef Fabrice spoke with Sarah Wood, Edible Monterey Bay’s publisher and editor, saying that they were in the process of getting all their permits signed off, but that they would be open very soon. Though he was reluctant to divulge a menu, he admitted, “I have a menu in my head.”
According to its social media posts, the meat-centric restaurant was testing recipes last week for their bison burger with cheddar lace, a wedge salad, and more. He shared a photo of the banana cream pie that might be the Chophouse’s signature dessert. “This was a game at the Grand Café…each new pastry chef and new chef [had] to come up with a banana cream pie.”
The Carmel Valley Chamber of Commerce is holding a grand opening, ribbon cutting ceremony this Saturday, December 2nd from 2pm to 4pm. Guests will be able to sample small bites and sip wines and brews from the menu.
Once they officially open, the indoor dining room and bar will be for adults 21 and older, while the seasonal outdoor patio will welcome families. That patio will host a happy hour from 4:30pm to 5:30pm and be dog-friendly. They will even have a menu for the furry companions. Dinner service begins at 5pm. And they will be closed on Mondays. Stay tuned for more new soon.
CARMEL VALLEY CHOPHOUSE
13762 Center St. Carmel Valley CA 93924
(831) 659-5886
About the author
Camilla M. Mann has crammed a lot of different jobs into four decades: florist, waitress, SCUBA divemaster, stock photo agency manager, stroller fitness teacher, writer, editor, and au pair. But, if she had to distill who she is today – tree-hugging, veggie-crunching, jewelry-designing mean mommy who loves to cook but hates to clean. Thankfully her husband and their boys clean like champs. Her current culinary goal: grow conscientious, creative kids with fearless palates! She blogs at culinary-adventures-with-cam.blogspot.com
