Former Cafe Saint Rose chef, Mark Malicki, has been named the new chef at French Garden Restaurant in Sebastopol, beginning officially on Dec. 9.
Malicki is newest in a long line of toques at the restaurant and farm gardens, owned by Dan Smith. Chef Peter Roelant, who was a top LA toque was at the restaurant for about 6 months, preceeded by Frenchman Didier Gerbi was was at the restaurant less than a year.
Despite some bummed-feelings after his surprise departure from the Sebastopol roadhouse this fall, Malicki has long been considered one of the top restaurant talents in Sonoma County. Best wishes for his new appointment.
I eaten recently in the Frensh garden an I was depply disappointed. Microscopic portions with very little flavour.
My vote 0 stars – A clear, stay a way and not seen again.
I honestly can’t think of a more bizarre match. The French Garden is plagued with inept owners who have no clue how to run a restaurant — much less what good food is. There is a reason why chefs don’t stick around long. From the pedestrian service to tacky interiors — I’m amazed it has lasted this long. Mark’s talent will be lost at this place. he must have been desperate for a job.
Hey Mark, I’m comin’ to visit you…hope you have that bag of hot dogs ready….
We ate there last night and it was AWESOME! We liked everything we ordered which is rare since we are picky. LOVE the new chef!!!!
Mark is a great cook & a great guy. I miss Cafe St. Rose. My favourite kind of place.
The only thing French about the French Garden is their condescending attitude.
I’ve had the good luck to have eaten Maliki’s creations in the past. All very satisfying. I say, give him a month or two to shake out the dead wood and LOOK OUT! THere will be awsome food to be had. I just hope he has the spine to cut the dead wood. In Sonoma Co. we dont deal with bad service.
PS. i think that guy ment “rogue chef”? can you imagine a rouge chef?, all rosey cheeked!
I asked the owner if he had frog legs and he said, “off course” I said “good, hop over the bar and get me a drink hippy”
we all need good jobs . . . good luck my brother!
The French Garden should be less about the French and more about the Garden. They have the ingredients for some fantastic peasant fare (which could be offered at much more attractive prices), but seem too high-minded to go for it.
And for crying out loud get rid of those ridiculously shaped plates. Use some regular round dinner plates that sit still on the table, and which can be brought to said table by a single, competent server instead of a parade of wait staff, none of whom seem to know what goes where.
I’ve eaten there many times, I enjoy the location and the decor, I just wish they’d get the food right.
i give this 3 months, bad match, bad owner, rouge chef, french/poprocks pork chops, lets see this makes chef 9 or 10 for that place?
I’m happy to hear he’s back, as I’ve always enjoyed his cooking. I wonder if he’s going to go back to the prix fixe approach from the old downtown St. Rose, or stay with a more conventional menu. Anyone heard? The current online menu from French Garden is dated November 19th, but I expect he’ll be making a bunch of changes.