Guelph, ON—Culinary bright light, Yasser Qahawish, who longed to share his personal take on French regional, country cooking, has made his dream a reality with the move of his restaurant, Artisanale to a beautiful stone building at 214 Woolwich Street, Guelph, ON. Still lovingly hand crafted foods, now Artisanale- French Country Cooking. Every plate, every detail and every stone in the handsome historic building is reminiscent of a southwestern French country maison and carries Chef Yasser’s personal vision of his ideal restaurant. 

Locals know Artisanale from its bistro days beside the bookstore downtown and for the chef’s committed relationships with the very best farmers and food producers across the province. These are the people Chef Qahawish still calls “his heroes” and their ingredients, “his inspiration.” The goal at the new Artisanale is to invite guests to explore chef’s vision of relaxed, sumptuous French country cooking at its best while highlighting superlative ingredients grown or crafted locally by people with as much passion as chef himself.

Inside, the soft, comfortable space is reminiscent of the home of Chef’s inspiration - the inimitable Madame Bregeon. A home cook from the Loire, it was she who taught Yasser the delights of simple cooking with the freshest ingredients: tomatoes still warm from the sun, crispy potatoes made from those just dug from the earth, and steaming fish that was only pulled from the water that morning. “This is what shaped my appreciation for simple and delicious meals that are meant to be shared and enjoyed together. It’s what I hope to do here now, for guests,” says Qahawish.

The Artisanale team and their proud list of farmers and producers would like to invite you to an unforgettable Harvest Table Dinner; a set, 5 course menu featuring seasonal, local ingredients. Highlights include:
Thursday, July 5th: Spring lamb from Best Baa Farms, and Whole Circle Farm’s white turnips, peas and spring onions. Dessert—Summer Berries Chilled Soup.
Thursday, Aug 2nd: Local, freshwater fish, and Cedar Down’s cherry tomatoes, French green beans and basil. Dessert—Apricot Almond Tart.
Thursday, Sept 6th: Rabbit from Top Market Rabbitry and Cedar Down’s Provincial style vegetables featuring eggplants, peppers, tomato. Dessert— Roasted Peach with Pistachios.
Or drop by for lunch or dinner anytime after June 6th, and savour Artisanale’s signature roasted chicken from Fenwood Farms with crispy potatoes, Asparagus Mimosa, and strawberries with crème fraiche for dessert.   

About Yasser Qahawish:

Yasser spent many years working his way through some of the best kitchens in Toronto and France, including his most memorable “stage” with Mme and M. Bregeon in the Loire. He was one of the first chefs in Toronto to buy everything from organic farmers’ markets when he ran the restaurant at Osgoode Hall. It was the quality of ingredients that brought him to the markets well before it was commonplace. And it is the passion, wisdom and courage of the farmers that he has come to know that has inspired him to build his restaurant, culinary style and kitchen to be able to work with these producers and celebrate their food through his meals. Culinary Philosophy: “A good cook knows how to take the best ingredients and make them shine in a way that can make your heart sing.”
Note: Interested media - please see contact information. 
The general public is invited to kindly make their reservations (including for the $65 harvest table dinners -wine not included) by calling the restaurant directly at: 519.821.3359 or visiting them online: www.artisanale.ca

Contact

For more information about Artisanale - French Country Cooking, to interview Chef Qahawish or to attend one of the Harvest Table dinners as MEDIA, please contact:  
Mary Luz Mejia, Sizzling Communications
maryluz@sizzlingcommunications.com
Cel: 416.992.2644