by Steven Doyle
Janice Provost grew up in the Houston area on the Neal’s Family Farm and started out in the restaurant business as a caterer before finally going through the El Centro hospitality program in Dallas. She was eventually hired as a chef at Parigi, and ended up buying the business.
Janice runs the kitchen daily and is partly responsible for starting Café Momentum, which currently is a series of pop-up restaurants to assist at-risk young men. Café Momentum is slated to be an actual brick and mortar restaurant in the coming year and will provide on-the-job training for these kids.
Janice spends her vacation each year in Paris where she soaks up new techniques and ideas to share with those back home in Dallas. Today she sends us her holiday message.
What is a favorite holiday memory?
My favorite holiday memory is my first Christmas in Paris. We rented an apartment on the left bank, and learned about a permanent street market called Rue Cler. We shopped for our food by walking down the street first, seeing what all was there. Then we walked back down the street and bought the fixins’ for our Christmas dinner. Eleven years later, this has become a tradition for us, and we still shop on Rue Cler, even if we are staying far away. Our dinners always include escargot, truffles, oysters, langoustine, and Champagne. Paris is magical anytime, but especially for the holidays.
Your favorite holiday wine?
Champagne, specifically Rose. This year, our trip included a side tour to Champagne, where we toured a private, small Champagne house where the owners of the vineyard live, and make their small batch Champagne. Champagne means happy times, celebration, and bubbles of life. The sparkle of the bubbles just make you smile, and think of good times.
thank you, steve! happy new year to you! i hope 2015 finds you at parigi often!