Grandgeorge recently opened Le Jardin, a French restaurant serving dinner in the same space where La Mie serves breakfast and lunch. He worked with La Mie owner Joe Logsdon before, and the two realized they could run two complementary restaurants in the same space.
A native of Eagle Grove, Ia., Grandgeorge has also worked at Court Avenue Restaurant and Brewing Company, and former restaurants Varsity Brasserie, Chat Noir and ArtHouse. In 2004 he traveled through the region in France where his grandfather is from, then moved to New York before returning to Iowa in 2005. He helped open the Grand Piano Bistro in 2007.
Grandgeorge considers himself a French chef, but likes to explore fusion with other cuisines from around the world. "I'm always studying different cuisines," he said. "Historically French has had a lot of influences."
Like any good French chef, Grandgeorge prides himself on making everything from scratch, from pate to jam. Eventually he wants to expand the restaurant's charcuterie selections to include house-cured bacon and salamis.
FINDING BALANCE: Grandgeorge says he's put in enough 60- and 70-hour weeks as a chef to know that he'd rather maintain a 50-hour week. "You have to be fresh and stay on your toes," he said.
COOKING FRESH & LOCAL: Le Jardin is French for "garden," and Grandgeorge intends to use as many ingredients as possible from local gardens and farmers. He uses grass-fed beef and free-range eggs from Iowa farmers, and fish from Ecofish.
FAVORITE INGREDIENTS: Olive oil, salt, tarragon, onions, mustard and honey.
FAVORITE MENU ITEM: Grandgeorge loves the house-made chicken pate. "It's perfect cold in the summer with a picnic," he said.
MOST USEFUL KITCHEN TOOL: Tongs. "If I could have a sanitary holster for them, that would be great," he said.
WHERE HE EATS IN DM: A Dong, Thai Flavors, Rock Bottom Brewery, Noah's Ark.
GUILTY PLEASURES: Frozen pizzas and Planet Sub.
