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MARYLAND WINE
TRAIL IN FOCUS
WHEN CHEF LOIC JAFFRES DECIDED
to open Leonardtown-based
Café des Artistes in 1999, the large food distributors would not deliver
that far south in Southern Maryland. So Chef Jaffres did what many chefs
had not yet started doing in our region: he got together with some other
local chefs and had a meeting with local farmers to start buying relation-
ships that continue to this day. Produce, eggs, foraged mushrooms, cheese
and meats are just some of the examples of local products that Jaffres
purchases from local farms. And that relationship also extended to local
wines. While the wine list spans the globe, Maryland wines from Fiore
Winery, Slack Farms and Port of Leonardtown are also featured on the
list, both by the glass and bottle.
Described as a “classic upscale bistro where you can escape the culinary
mundane and take a journey to the French countryside,” the café offers
the promise of a moderately priced, truly elegant country French meal.
Outside the restaurant, a quaint cobblestone patio is perfect for open-air
dining, and is “extremely popular during summer ‘First Friday’ events and
Sunday Brunch.” The inside décor resembles a country inn, with classic,
crisp earth tone tablecloths, and a softly lit dining room. Enjoy live piano
every Friday & Saturday, as well as jazz cabaret twice a month. The res-
taurant also hosts periodic wine dinners, and offers a private dining room
for events.
Café des Artistes
RESTAURANT
REVIEW
34
M A R Y L A N D W I N E P R E S S