Chef's Corner

Fabien Siebert
Owner-Chef of Marcel's and Le Saint-Tropez

He’s the Gallic nose on the menu upstairs at Marcel’s Bistro, and the guiding force behind the cuisine of Le Saint Tropez downstairs. Fabien Siebert, a native of the Lorraine region of France (he was born and raised in the village of Folkling, the Moselle region of Lorraine), has been presiding over the Marcel’s kitchen for more than twenty years and Le Saint Tropez for ten. And while both restaurants are significantly “French,” the menus and kitchen technique reflect a more worldly flavour.

As all French cooks do, Fabien began as an apprentice, he at La Grange du Paysan, a restaurant specializing in regional cuisine from Alsace. In 1975 he received his “CAP”(Professional Aptitude Certificate) from the Lycée Technique Hôtelier of Strasbourg.

For four years he worked in several restaurants in the Alsace-Lorraine region of France before working through Germany, Corsica, and one year at the Promenade Hotel in Holland, all of which influenced his cooking.

After his year in Holland, Fabien decided to continue his travels and, in 1980, arrived in Canada. Auberge Gavroche on Avenue Road was his first stop followed by Jazberry’s and Julien Restaurant, both on King Street. Those locations introduced him to the Canadian way of French Cuisine.

In late 1983, Johann Strauss a restaurant located above the very popular restaurant Le Pigalle, at 315 King Street W. became available, and on February 8, 1984, he and his partner, Marcel Réthoré, opened Marcel’s Bistro with Fabien in the kitchen. Five years later, his partner left, but Fabien carried on.

In 1993, Le Pigalle vacated the downstairs and, having had a great deal of success on the second floor for almost 10 years, Fabien took it. The result today is Le Saint Tropez, specializing in the flavours of the South of France.

Fabien oversees both locations to create new delicacies to let you travel on your palate. Join Fabien at either location for an exquisite culinary voyage around the world complimented by wine and music.

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