Ghirardelli Square Welcomes New Tenants Celebrity Chef Jonathan Waxman, Le Marais Parisian Bakery & Bistro
San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) June 19, 2015 -- Under Jamestown two new prestigious tenants will join Ghirardelli Square’s existing mix of retailers and restaurants. Berkeley born, NYC celebrity chef and restaurateur, Jonathan Waxman will anchor a transformed Upper Plaza by opening up a two part restaurant featuring both a sit-down brasserie and a fast, causal café element. Husband and wife team Patrick and Joanna Ascaso are turning the Square’s Apartment House into the second location of their Le Marais Bistro & Bakery.
In fall of 2015 Jonathan Waxman will return to the Bay Area to open his two part restaurant concept and collaborative space for young chefs. The to-be-named restaurant will be housed in the Square’s Mustard Building, constructed in 1899, and incorporate a sit-down fine dining experience and a more casual trattoria component sharing one kitchen and serving fun, gutsy, seasonally precocious food. Waxman started in the Bay Area at Chez Panisse and is currently the chef and owner of Barbuto, a celebrated Italian eatery housed in an airy garage space in New York City.
“When I was a kid in the 1960’s Ghirardelli Square was the coolest place ever and has a spectacular place in San Francisco history,” said Jonathan Waxman, celebrity chef and restaurateur. “The draw to open my restaurant here is to bring to life a sense of the old San Francisco and celebrate Square Founder Domingo Ghirardelli with phenomenal food from his home country of Italy.”
Influenced by French traditions and a farm-to-table philosophy, Le Marais Bistro & Bakery in San Francisco’s Marina District relies on classic techniques and a passion for ingredients that are grown locally and responsibly. All doughs are made using artisanal methods, with natural starters and long fermentation periods. From traditional baguettes to seasonal loaves, their breads stand out for their uniqueness of flavor and quality of ingredients. Le Marais' viennoiseries — croissants, pain au chocolats, carrés, and danishes — are often hailed as the best in the city, and their pâtisserie — tarts, macarons, choux, entremets, and panna cottas — are filled with fresh, local fruits and the best chocolates, offering twists on tradition and transporting customers back to Paris.
“Overlooking water views of tall ships and Alcatraz Island, as well as the Fountain Plaza, the Ghirardelli Square location reminds Joanna and me of our favorite European squares,” said Patrick Ascaso, co-owner of Le Marias. “We are excited to be part of such a historic establishment and be able to introduce a wider audience to our food and baked goods.”
About Ghirardelli Square:
Jamestown purchased Ghirardelli Square in 2013 and has since been working to reinstate local significance to the the historic global destination and strengthen its neighborhood influence in San Francisco. Jonathan Waxman’s restaurant concept serves as an anchor to the space which includes more than 20 tenants purveying everything from local coffee and art to Northern California wine and French baked delicacies. The Square is also an epicenter for annual community and national events such as Uncorked Wine Festival, Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival and the Tree Lighting Ceremony. Purchased by Domingo Ghirardelli in 1893, the Square was built to headquarter the original Ghirardelli Chocolate Company. In 1982, the Square was added to the National Historic Register. For more information visit http://www.ghirardellisq.com/.
About Jonathan Waxman:
Jonathan Waxman is an American chef and restaurateur known for his use of fresh local ingredients, with an emphasis on seasonality and California cuisine. He currently owns Barbuto in New York City’s West Village and Adele's and Bajo Sexto in Nashville. Named on Esquire magazine’s list of most influential Americans, Jonathan participated in two seasons of Top Chef Masters on Bravo, where he earned the nickname 'Obi Wan Kenobi', is a Founding partner of Nashville’s Music City Food + Wine Festival and works closely with many charities, including City Meals on Wheels and Alex’s Lemonade Stand. For more information visit http://www.barbutonyc.com/index.php.
About Le Marais:
Le Marais Bistro & Bakery opened in 2013 and has since become a local favorite in San Francisco’s Marina District, hailed as one of best bakeries in the city by Condé Nast Traveler, San Francisco Chronicle, Fodor’s Travel, and The Wall Street Journal. Owner Patrick Ascaso and his wife Joanna, a literary agent to several bestselling authors, are set to open a second location in spring 2016 in Ghirardelli Square's historic Apartment House building. The inspiration for Le Marais was to recreate the French boulangerie of Patrick's childhood, an open space filled with an oven and the baking of bread and viennoiserie. Learn more about them at http://www.lemaraissf.com or instagram.com/lemaraisbakery.
Katie Wagner, Remark Media Relations, +1 (513) 260-2700, [email protected]
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