A Bistro Affair

 Renoir’s impressionistic compositions are what come to mind when I think Bistros. Lazy afternoon’s filled with cappuccino sipping, chitchatting with girlfriends and tasty plates of savoury, salty compositions. A place where tables perfectly paired for two spill-out in orderly rows onto the street, teasing pedestrians to consider a pit-stop.

Europe has made this fashionable social sphere a part of everyday life for centuries. Crisp white linens gracefully fall over little table tops, decorated with elegant stemware which sparkles in the afternoon sun. Laughter and the tapping of utensils to plate echo up through the squares as your round corners discovering a new neighbourhood.

Canadians haven’t quite mastered this artful outdoor charm although there are many valiant efforts. After a couple trips abroad I believe this comes down to two main factors. The, first and most obvious is our need to constantly be on the go, busy-bees, working hard in order to live large. The second, which I believe to be more truthful, relates to form over culture and reflects our urban planning.

I became particularly enamoured with this idea after my most recent jaunt in Spain. Europeans develop their cityscapes to include public gathering. Wide pedestrian boulevards create perfect opportunity for restaurants to capitalize on the outdoor culture. La Rambla in Barcelona provide a full promenade for locals, tourists, friends and family to cruise through the urban jungle.

Shameless Promotion of May's Euro Trip

Bistros, cafes and restaurants have crawled out of store fronts to this conduit, providing perfect social retreats. Aromas of local fares draw your attention as diners enjoy colourful plates of tapas and tangy sips of sangria. What Canada lacks is a consideration in infrastructure for a similar public experience. I’m not knocking a box of hot greasy fries shared with friends at Nathan Philips but there are few paths in this city where pedestrians rule.

With that being said, I get to the meat of the meat…a juicy steak et frites may jump to mind but this blog is about design. I’m more interested in the table and chairs your meat meets in order to enjoy that tasty meal. It might just be me but those perfectly paired pieces of furniture are as much a beacon of bistro fare as the food may be.

In comparison to Europeans, Canadian patios tend to place chairs across from one another. What differentiates the Euro bistro is that the chairs are placed side by side in order for the occupants to take in the street scene.  Maybe it has something to do with our use of the word patio, easily defined but it doesn’t seem to compare to dining ‘al fresco’. With all this being said I have narrowed down the two principal approaches to bistro furniture as simply, metal versus weave.

I came across the crème of carmel sites while perusing for bistro inspiration,  ina word, Fermob.  Depuis 1889, Fermbo has dished up fantastic outdoor metal furniture powder coated in a rainbow of options of your choosing. In addition to cruising the animated online catalogue you can actually create a 3D mock-up of your dream bistro set. I killed a good hour of a rainy Sunday afternoon concocting a setting that would do the Paris skyline proud.

On the opposite end of the spectrum we go from spindly metal frames to the weave. Equally iconic, woven outdoor furniture can be a bit more substantial lounging in comparison to its metal sibling. It must have been my lucky day because I stumbled upon a second website gem, TK Collections. Don’t judge this baby by the name because tucked into the sidebar of this site is a link to the Weave Designer. This feature lets you select your favourite weave pattern from endless options. From there you can customize a signature colour combination to create a one of a kind woven gem.

TK Collection is the US distributor of these hand, made to order beauties. The frames are constructed from Rattan which are then woven with Rilsan, recognized for it’s strength and durability. These time-honoured artisans are able to recreate your custom choices into a bistro set that is truly one of a kind.

However if you feel that classic forms are uninventive and practical simplicity is mundane I ask you to pick up this month’s edition of Objekt. If you’re a colour-aholic like myself the cover alone is enough to grab your attention. Hot shots of pink, reds and yellows jump from the pages capturing some new takes on outdoor living.

 Inspired by Moroso, designers Tord Boontje, Philippe Bestenheider, Stephen Burks, Rodrigo Almeida, Birsel & Seck and Patricia Uriquiola have brought some whimsy to the outdoors at this year’s Paris Maison & Objekt show. The playful reconstruction of form integrates traditional techniques and designs with traditional African colour elements and motifs.

I think what is wonderful about dining outside is the light-hearted sentiment of the moment. No one cares if crumbs from your Croque Monsieur fall on the ground or if you accidentally slosh a bit of wine over the rim. The outdoors is all-forgiving much like the furnishings designed to outfit the space.

These simple pieces can be easily dressed up in china, crystal, candle and flowers to only later be folded, stacked and tucked away unceremoniously as the last dinners head home. I had the chance to visit Jules Bistro this past weekend where unfortunately my frites looked a little too similar to those served up at the golden arches across the street. However it’s hard not to be enticed to return, as its warm glow beckons Spadina strolling appetites.

Le Select - 432 Wellington Street West

As a second option, located on slightly more secluded real estate, is a bistro that could hold it’s own on the streets of Paris. Le Select captures the ‘En Plain Air’ feel showcasing a scrumptious menu for it’s hungry and loyal crowd. If you want to escape to Paris for a night without leaving the city I highly recommend this jewel (sorry, Jules!). Rich sauces, crispy baguettes and a chilled sauvignon blanc are a perfect retreat on a sweaty July evening.

Jules Bistro - 147 Spadina Avenue

Both feature an outdoor dining space, Jules opted for the metal dining sets while Le Select went with the woven armchairs and wrought iron based tables. While I can’t say I necessarily prefer one over the other I would like to make one more evident point to the pitfall of Canadian outdoor dining. This being….Fences! The need to enclose our space, separate us diners from those pedestrians or us pedestrians from those diners. A simple physical structure that draws a line, creating separation between those that are within from those that are not.

I’m sure there is a by-law in regards to this decision for separation. But none the less, there’s something adventuresome knowing that while nibbling on a papa frita, a hungry passer-by could just as easily snag your treat.  Should Toronto ever consider a more European approach to outdoor dining, I’m sure the hostesses lining King Street West would appreciate retirement. Passing pedestrians might just be enticed by a relaxed outdoor space with stylish furnishings in comparison to conning and menu flaunting while they pass by. Bon Apetite!

ROMA 2008