Brunch lovers can bid bienvenue to a new dining experience that brings the celebrated aspects of French bistro culture and cuisine to West Van’s Ambleside neighbourhood when Meréon opens its doors at 1479 Clyde Ave. in early 2024.
The brainchild of owner and North Shore resident Ophelia Arida, Meréon promises to immerse locals and visitors alike in the iconic café culture found throughout France in a 52-seat space that will be open for brunch 5 days a week, Wednesday to Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Merèon menu will marry time-honoured French recipes and classic techniques with West Coast ingredients delivered fresh daily to the culinary team in dishes like a trio of iconic Croque sandwiches (Monsieur, Madame, Forestière), Quiche du Jour, Eggs en Cocotte, French Onion Soup, Signature Socca, West Coast Niçoise Salad, Duck Confit Cassoulet, Steak Frites, and more.
The menu was envisioned by Emmanuel Joinville, the chef/owner and driving force behind the beloved Gastown Bar à Vin Jules Bistro, which has been a staple of the city’s dining scene since it first opened in 2007. Joinville began his career in 1981 in his hometown of Dijon, France as an apprentice at Chef Rene Villard’s Michelin 3-Starred restaurant Chateau Bourgogne and went on to become an acclaimed chef and restaurateur in his own right prior to emigrating to Vancouver with his family in 2000.
Ophelia took her inspiration for the name of the restaurant from ‘Mère’, the French language word for ‘mother’ and an honorary title bestowed upon female cooks in France and particularly the city of Lyon that dates to the 18th Century. The moniker is a nod to multiple women who helped Lyon stake its claim as the gastronomic centre of France, chief among them Mère Brazier, who is regarded as “the mother of modern French cooking.”
The seeds for the new restaurant were sown long ago during Ophelia’s many travels to France, when she developed an abiding love affair with the culture, cuisine and the simple joy found by bringing people together to the table to share a drink, a hearty meal, and make lasting memories.
“Those trips helped me develop my passion to host and showcase the sort of hospitality and home-spun cuisine for which French culture is so well known,” says Ophelia. “It’s a place that’s nostalgic, welcoming and evocative where guests can gather around the table and enjoy a little joie de vivre with friends, family and loved ones.”
For more information and to stay up to date on the latest developments prior to the official opening of Meréon, go to https://www.mereon.ca
