|
Back to the late '80s when there was a delightful little
restaurant called Sweet Basil in, of all places, Kissimmee.
It was a diamond in the rough, a jewel among the fast-food
rhinestones along U.S. Highway 192, with a French
continental cuisine.
In 1991 the
restaurant's owner sold it to one of his chefs, Jean-Louis
Tran, who renamed it simply Basil's.
Now
travel with me to Deland, about as far from Kissimmee and
it's neon lights as you can get. On the corner of Garfield
and New York avenues, in an old building that at one time
must have been a grand old Victorian house, is Le Jardin
Cafe. And somewhere in it's kitchen you'll find Chef
Jean-Louis Tran.
Chef Jean-Louis is known
for his fine French cuisine, with authentic flair. His menu
closely reflects Tran's double heritage, which, like his
name is both French and Vietnamese.
Chef Jean-Louis and
his staff quickly outgrew this Bed and Breakfast setting and
moved into the heart of Downtown Deland on Indiana Avenue.
The kitchen at Le Jardin
Cafe in Deland suddenly is a symphony of familiar sounds -
the scrape of a long spoon as Chef Jean-Louis stirs a
mixture of mushrooms, shallots and beef stock in a heating
pot, and a steamy hiss as he adds port wine to the day's
lunch special.
Le Jardin Cafe and
Restaurant specialized in French continental cuisine, but
was especially known for the Vietnamese menu.
In late 2008, Chef
Jean-Louis decided to make the move to Boca Raton and open a
new restaurant. This time showcasing his Vietnamese
Style dining.
|
