Chef Adam Hegsted opening French cafe Francaise in former Casper Fry space

The recent closure of Casper Fry may well have remaining some questioning what would turn into of the former cafe house in the South Perry District.

Chef and restaurateur Adam Hegsted verified Tuesday he has acquired the former Casper Fry eatery and is opening Francaise, a French-type neighborhood bistro, in the more than 2,150-sq.-foot room at 928 S. Perry St.

“We truly loved the Casper Fry room and are sad to see it go,” Hegsted stated. “It was 1 of our favourite spots … but we are enthusiastic about acquiring a restaurant in that area. We adore the community and community.”

Hegsted operates Le Catering and several dining establishments underneath Take in Superior Team, such as the Gilded Unicorn, Baba, the Yards Bruncheon and Incrediburger & Eggs.

Hegsted was encouraged to open Francaise following visiting France and dining at its neighborhood cafes and bistros, he said.

Francaise will serve traditional French fare with a modern-day, approachable twist, he mentioned. It will give a tasting menu, meal and weekend brunch with sweet and savory alternatives.

A number of of the restaurant’s potential menu products include: steamed mussels deviled eggs with crème fraiche, caviar, chives and blini Parisian-type gnocchi baked with truffle cheese sauce and sautéed mushrooms and duck hindquarters cooked with orange sauce, zest and finished with Grand Marnier.

“We will have a extensive collection of oysters with a lovely presentation, and will have a large selection of charcuterie,” Hegsted explained.

A different menu highlight is the Monte Cristo Français created with custard-battered brioche bread layered with sautéed duck liver, Dijon mustard and gruyere cheese, and concluded with duck powdered sugar and raspberry jam.

Francaise will also serve French-motivated desserts, cocktails and wine, Hegsted included.

Ben Poffenroth, his mom Deb Environmentally friendly and sister Megan VanStone, declared the sale and closure of Casper Fry in early April just after operating the Southern-influenced cafe for a ten years. Casper Fry’s final working day of procedure was Saturday.

Hegsted, who formally took over possession of the former Casper Fry eatery this 7 days, reported he isn’t organizing any considerable changes to the restaurant’s interior.

“We are not going to change that considerably,” he said. “We will have some various artwork up and almost certainly a various mural. (The earlier proprietors) did such a excellent career with it. The household furniture they have in there is one of a kind, and we’ll maintain a large amount of it.”

Francaise is slated to open up in mid-May perhaps, according to Hegsted, who mentioned he’s enthusiastic to introduce the French-design and style restaurant to the South Perry District.

“(Community people) are the ones that build the favorites and ambiance of the position,” he said. “We come to a decision the vision and course of each and every restaurant, and the workers and group dictate what it turns into and wherever it progresses. It is genuinely a neat course of action.”