After four years of paperwork and waiting, the Wilmington area has a new resident -- and Far From France Bakery and Bistro has a new chef.
The restaurant at The Pointe at Barclay recently introduced Chef Remy Adriano with a wine dinner and a menu of classic dishes like Beef Wellington, foie gras poêle, and Crepe Suzette.
With the addition, the local food scene now has someone with background working in a variety of restaurants and hotels, including those that have earned Michelin stars. Adriano is a graduate of École Ritz Escoffier, and has worked with acclaimed chef Alain Llorca and at the legendary Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo, a 5-star luxury hotel in Monaco.
“It was an amazing,
amazing experience,” Adriano said. “And as I was waiting to have the paperwork done, I also just worked on my skill and experience."
Alban and Josephine Pelletier opened Far From France in 2017 as a bakery and shop with imported French goods, especially those from the Maxim's de Paris gourmet brand. In 2023, they expanded into a larger restaurant space and added dinner service and more.
Even before the expansion, Alban Pelletier said he was looking for the right chef to bring to the restaurant.
Adriano has been at the restaurant since June, and now his wife and two children have joined him here as well.
There have already been a few tweaks to the menu, Pelletier said. The dinner menu now includes pan-seared foie gras and an Oeuf Mignonette aux Champignons, or sauteed mushrooms topped with a poached egg and bacon foam as starters. New entrees include a duck confit and coq au vin. Plus, there’s a new chocolate souffle with a Nutella sauce. On Sundays, look for Filet De Boeuf en Croute, or Beef Wellington.
But he said that they want to maintain the bistro atmosphere with an approachable menu.
“A lot of people get intimidated,” Pelletier said. “But it doesn’t have to be fancy. It's just good.”
They are hoping to offer more specials and events like wine dinners, and their popular movie nights with the screening of a French film and a three-course menu at a special price.
On Aug. 20, they’ll be showing New Beginnings, a French romantic comedy.
Adriano said he’s already enjoying working with the staff at Far From France, who might not have his experience but are excited to learn.
More than that, the chef said he’s fulfilling a longtime dream to come to the United States and follow an aunt who moved to Florida many years ago.
“For the moment, I'm focused on the objective to grow happier, and learn about the community, and learn the American habits of eating French food, because it's a little bit different,” Adriano said. “It's a new life, and I am enjoying this new life.”
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Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at aballard@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: New chef brings French fine-dining pedigree to Wilmington bistro
