French eateries in the Los Angeles area — from $100-a-plate haute cuisine to $20 bistros — seem to be emerging as the next big dining trend, an industry consultant says.
“Anti-French feelings may be high,” says Ron Paul, president of Technomic, a restaurant consulting firm. “But the palate doesn’t play politics. French dining is doing very, very well.”
Sure, the nation’s politics swung anti-French last year when France loudly protested the Iraq war. Sales of French wine hit the skids.
So did business at some French restaurants. But a surprising number of them, particularly on the West Coast, have entered 2004 standing taller than the Eiffel Tower.
Behind this: diners’ growing desire for variety, particularly international fare. In a nation seemingly overrun with Italian and Southwestern outlets, there’s actually a dearth of French fare, Paul says.
“We don’t really need another Italian restaurant, do we?” he asks.
Voilà ! Here come the French — Southern California-style: