By Ann Cipperly
Walking into Café de Fleur in Auburn is like turning the corner in Paris, France, to find a bistro tucked into a courtyard. Windows at the end of the café are adorned with cascading blooming plants, while guests chat at a bar under a black and white awning. On the opposite side, a long-cushioned banquette under another awning with hanging plants is inviting to sit and relax with a glass of wine and an authentic French meal.
“Restaurants are about experiences,” says owner Corrie Sid. “When you come into a restaurant, you need to feel that you have been transported. If we are serving cuisine of another country, we need to go all in on the décor. When we walked into this space, we thought what we would do with those windows on the tall walls. We treated them like an outdoor wall.
“It was about taking an outdoor patio and converting it inside,” she added. “We brought the silk florals in as we felt they would add to the courtyard feel. We wanted to keep the colors neutral except for the blue cushions on the banquette to pay homage to Auburn, and the crystal chandeliers that look like wisteria, giving homage to the south.”
Corrie grew up in Tallassee and graduated from Auburn University. She then moved to the bay area in California where she served as a social worker before working in high tech, traveling the world. Later, she owned and operated a small boutique hotel on the coast.
After Corrie’s two children were in college, she returned to Tallassee where most of her family live. “Of all the things I have done,” she said, “I fell in love with hospitality. It has to do with growing up in Tallassee. My grandfathers and father were good cooks. I have wonderful memories with family at holidays.”
Corrie had learned a great deal about foods and different cuisines when she traveled for work. She had a desire to use that knowledge of foods combined with her love of hospitality.
Five years ago, Corrie found a location in downtown Tallassee to open her business, Grove Station. It featured a bakery, butcher shop and market on the lower level, and cooking classes, multi-course dinners and other events in the upstairs.
With the success of Grove Station, Corrie purchased Our Place Cafe in Wetumpka last year, and then became a partner in Café de Fleur. After hosting successful French cuisine meals at her Tallassee business, Corrie felt the French bistro would be an ideal addition in Auburn since there was not a French restaurant in Lee County.
Corrie has three partners with Café de Fleur, who approached her about opening a restaurant in the former space of Christine Healey’s business, Christine’s Unlimited. The space already had a commercial kitchen, and the location was appealing. The restaurant opened in early November last year in the Ogletree Village Shopping Center off Moores Mill Road.
“We want to be the neighborhood restaurant,” Corrie says. “French food is the mother of all great food. We want to be sure the restaurant has a menu that is approachable and interesting.”
Corrie is heavily involved in the kitchen and menu. Her knowledge comes from travels and an understanding of French food.
Every dish on the menu is prepared in house except for the bread that comes from Stinsons’ Breads and jams. The menu is also seasonal.
“We have escargot, and that is something you can’t get anywhere else locally,” she says. “We want to be known for that. It is an ingredient that we will use in different ways as we continue to evolve our menu.”
The escargot is served in a shell with butter, garlic and parsley. Corrie plans for the restaurant to serve it different ways. For French dinners, she has served escargot with cream sauce in puff pastry.
Other appetizers feature an expansive charcuterie board with select cheeses, cured meats, house curated butters, jams, Dijon mustard, pickles, fruit and breads.
A highlight on the salad offerings is Landaise with warm duck confit shredded over greens with toasted walnuts and bacon in a Dijon vinaigrette.
Two main choices on the menu are lamb and an 8 oz. filet mignon served with red wine jus, grenaille potatoes and foie gras butter.
“Our lamb has gone over very well,” says Corrie. “We now have lamb chops on the menu. Our meats are coming from Evans in Birmingham that I have used for my other restaurants. They do some of the best steaks you can get. We currently have an amazing filet mignon and will slowly add more to the menu.”
Corrie recently added crème brûlée to the dessert choices. “We have a chocolate mousse that is popular and a seasonal sorbet with fresh fruit,” she says. “We will be introducing a soufflé and a molten cake.”
“We have new dishes that will be added to the menu that are exciting,” Corrie adds. “Our menu is classic and a little innovative.”
Brunch is served at the bistro on Sundays. Two yummy appetizers are the fresh croissant with French hot chocolate, whipped cream and Grand Marnier butter and the brie croute in puff pastry with preserves and pecan and hazelnut praline.
Other dishes to consider include omelette du fromage, café steak, Grand Marnier pain perdue and crème Brulee bread pudding.
“When I open a restaurant,” Corrie says, “I am not interested in creating a chain concept. I want to focus on what can be special about that location and the food that would inspire people to want to come in and engage in community.
“At the end of the day, I am more interested in that than even the food to a degree. I know if the food is not good you cannot create community. If the food is great, then you can create great community.”
The restaurant has a full bar, and the wine list is expanding. Corrie is planning special events on Tuesday nights called Passport to France, which will feature wine dinners from the different regions. “Those who attend all the dinners will receive something amazing,” she says.
Café de Fleur is located at 2272 Moores Mill Road in the Ogletree Village Shopping Center. Hours are Wednesday through Thursday 4:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday 4:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Reservations can be made on Toast through their website at cafedefleural.com. Private events can be scheduled.
