Thursday, October 7, 2010

Are We Falling For French-Inspired Nightlife?

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The gleaming exterior of Maude's Liquor Bar, which is set to open this fall. (Photo: Maude's Liquor Bar)


312DD had the exclusive deets on Maude's Liquor Bar way back in the summer, so it's about time for an update.

Still scheduled to open this fall, the French-inspired dive bar owned by Gilt Bar's Brendan Sodikoff is well on its way to being finished, according to their blog tracking the progress of construction:

"... Maude's will soon be housing more than the team of craftsmen who have lovingly transformed this belle from the former ugly-duckling days as an annex of Vivo to her current sleek, dark, and sexy self.

"Speaking of sleek, dark and sexy, the upstairs is becoming more and more alluring. The built in bookshelves are stained and aged a deep chestnut color. There wall lighting provides dim orange glows and the tin hooded light above the stairs is equally as sexy as it is rustic. The windows are in the process of being replaced with prematurely aged mirrors, pinpricks of light still sneaking through like cigarette burns. There’s a deep, smoky feel like a Parisian alley right out of a black and white, subtitled French film-noir movie."

Ironically, Sodikoff used to be the chef at HUB 51, whose owners are also opening a "funky" neighborhood French restaurant and bar in the old Brasserie JO space in River North.

Brothers Jerrod and R.J. Melman are set to open Paris Club in late November with acclaimed French chef Jean Joho.

Look for a menu of sexy, approachable French cuisine that's meant to appeal to a younger, on-the-go crowd. A young-ish, yet experienced kitchen crew will include Executive Chef Tim Graham (former executive chef of Brasserie JO; previously with Tru), as well Walter Manzke (Church & State, Bastide in Los Angeles) and Doug Psaltis (Alain Ducasse, French Laundry).

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