Jules Bistro Chef/Owner Emmanuel Joinville has poured his heart into an exciting new chapter for the beloved Gastown restaurant in Vancouver by bringing the classic Parisian bar à vin (wine bar) experience to life at the local enclave this fall.
Beginning Tuesday, September 27, Jules will transport guests to the heart of Paris by debuting a new menu of casual-yet-elegant noshes, boards and small plates and special weekly features available Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11:30AM to 9:30PM, all paired with a list of carefully selected wine from France and British Columbia.
Jules’ new menu showcases the very best of farms, fields and oceans via curated ‘On Board’ options including: Charcuterie (sweet bread paté, prosciutto, salami calabrese, genoa, duck rillettes); Cheese (Dauphin, Roquefort, aged Comté, tête des moines, raclette); House Smoked (salmon, sablefish, tuna, olives, duck magret); Raw (oysters and caviar, tuna tartare, scallop sashimi and salmon roe); Shellfish (oysters, mussels, clams, prawns, crab terrine); and a Chef’s Selectiontasting experience of hand-picked items perfect for sharing.
Avowed fans of Jules’ authentic French fare need not fear — remaining on the menu are signature dishes like French Onion Soup; Escargots Bourguignonne (garlic, parsley, Ricard butter); Bistro Salad (mixed greens, sundried tomatoes, candied walnuts, fried onions, bocconcini pearls, Dijon dressing); Chicken Liver Mousse (grape chutney, toasts); Moulard Duck Leg Confit (crispy coppa, salad, pine nuts); Lobster Bisque (rouille, Gruyère, croutons); Sauternes-Marinated Foie Gras Terrine (beet chutney, mini blinis); 35 Days Dry Aged 12oz Ribeye Steak (peppercorn sauce, fries or salad) and Truffle Fries (Parmesan, grated truffles).
And knowing full well that no dining experience is ever truly fini without le cours de dessert, Jules will cap off culinary adventures of guests by featuring a classic Vanilla Crème Brûlée, Buttermilk Pannacotta (lemon brûlée) or a Chocolate-Chili Terrine with port glaze.
Jules will also feature a daily Happy Hour service from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. that offers guests an opportunity to say ‘à votre santé’ with friends and indulge in celebrated and little-known wines hailing from French vineyards and BC’s backyard alike available by glass and bottle at discounted prices.
Joinville began his kitchen career in 1984 in his hometown of Dijon, France as an apprentice at Chef Rene Villard’s 3-star Michelin restaurant Chateau Bourgogne, and climbed the culinary ranks to earn his own stripes as an acclaimed and well-respected chef and restaurateur prior to emigrating to Vancouver with his family in 2000 and opening Jules in 2007.
Despite two-plus years of unprecedented pandemic pivots that wreaked havoc on the tourism and restaurant industry at large — and Gastown businesses in particular — as well as an unexpected spring closure after the catastrophic fire at and subsequent demolition of the Winters Hotel across the street, Joinville’s resolve remains as firm as it was when he first opened Jules.
Reservations are available by calling the restaurant at 604-669-0033 or by booking online via OpenTable.
Here are some more photos from my media tasting. We went with the Chef’s Tasting which included sweet bread paté, prosciutto, salami calabrese, jelly crab terrine, smoked tuna, duck magret, aged Comté, olives, mango chutney, sour cherry jam, scallop sashimi, oysters and caviar, blue cheese, clams, mussels, seaweed salad. Complemented with Passion Fruit – Chili Martini and Chai Blossom.
