Chef Jason Whitehead has sold Frères’ Bistro, a French-style Bistro which he established on the Foreshore in the Cape Town city centre in early 2013. The Bistro has been bought by Barry Owen, who has sold his former hospitality business to run Frères Bistro, keeping the name of the restaurant, as well as its staff.
Frères Bistro has become well known as a restaurant offering genuine French cuisine, with dishes laden with farm butter, real cream, duck fat, and truffle oil. Bringing Paris to Cape Town, the Bistro has become popular for serving classic French-style dishes such as Vichyssoise, Bouillabaisse, rillettes, fricassee, cassoulet, French onion soup, French onion tart, and many more. Fresh herbs and vegetables have been sourced from Chef Jason’s private organic garden.
One of the many highlights of Chef Jason’s culinary journey at Frère’s Bistro was Food France, Frères Bistro being one of only two restaurants in Cape Town selected by the French Embassy to participate in a global culinary event celebrating the innovation and excellent produce associated with French cuisine, in which 1300 chefs around the world participated simultaneously on 19 March 2015.
Chef Jason had consulted to numerous restaurants in the past, such as Kream in Pretoria, the Salushi Group in Cape Town, assisting with menu development and marketing, before opening Frères Bistro. This consultancy service he will offer again, including start-ups, menu development, marketing, and more.
Chef Jason has put rabbit on the map in Cape Town and South Africa, and is an Ambassador for Coniglio Rabbit Meat Farm, making Frères Bistro synonymous with this delicacy. A rabbit recipe book is on the cards. He also is one of a number of chefs who have collaborated in the compilation of the Cobb cookbook, which will on the shelves internationally by late September. An exciting coffee table book on some of Europe’s hidden bistros will be whipped up later this year as Jason embarks on a European tour in September. Marketers of kitchen equipment have recognized Chef Jason’s cuisine talent, and increasingly are sponsoring him and his events, his latest client being Health Appliances, based in Johannesburg.
‘I am so proud of how my team and I have grown Frères Bistro into a leading French-style Bistro in Cape Town in the past two years, with the Bistro consistently being in the top 20 out of over 900 restaurants in Cape Town on Tripadvisor. I am leaving the Bistro in the capable hands of new owner Barry and our existing kitchen and restaurant team. Restaurant Manager and sommelier Daniel Fox will stay on. I wish Barry and his team all the best for the way forward at Frères Bistro’, said Chef Jason.
Jason Whitehead sells Frères’ Bistro
