Downtown's Top Chef

Former Mansion chef stays in Dallas to swoop in on downtown project

Chef Bruno Davaillon from Rosewood Manion on Turtle Creek

Chef Bruno Davaillon is staying in Dallas.

Photo courtesy of Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek

Bruno Davaillon, chef at The Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, is opening a new restaurant at 400 Record, aka the former Belo Building at 400 S. Record St. in downtown Dallas.

This is the 17-story, 235,000-square-foot office tower located at the corner of Wood and Record streets, which previously served as headquarters for the broadcast firm Belo Corp.

Davaillon, whose departure from the Mansion was announced in October, will be partnering with the new owners of the building, the Hartland-Mackie family of City Electric Supply, who acquired the property in October 2014.

The restaurant is yet to be named, but the concept will be a casual contemporary eatery featuring refined yet seemingly simply prepared foods using the finest ingredients.

Thomas Hartland-Mackie says in a release that he's greatly pleased to be partnering with Davaillon on this restaurant.

"I loved the food he prepared at The Mansion, and I have the utmost belief that the restaurant will enhance the amenities offered in the building to our tenants, be a great destination for Dallas residents, and create a national buzz for culinary excellence," he says.

Davaillon says that he's ready for his next culinary adventure. "I'm so excited to have the opportunity to create a new restaurant in Dallas," he says. "The building and the downtown location makes this project very special."

The restaurant will be located on the second floor of the building. New York City and London-based architecture and interior design firm Martin Brudnizki Design Studio will create the interior. The restaurant will debut alongside the building's opening in late 2016.

Davaillon joins the previously announced Sharon Hage, who was retained in April to develop a concept and who will remain as a consultant.

The Hartland-Mackie family will undertake a renovation that will include significant upgrades to the entrances, a new glass-walled lobby, a sky garden on the top floor, fitness center, and conference center.

Gensler, a global design firm, is spearheading the redesign of the lobby, which includes removing existing walls to create a better flow between indoor and outdoor spaces. The two-level lobby will be enclosed with frameless glass. A custom-designed metal canopy will create a dramatic new front door. Pieces from the Hartland-Mackie art collection will be on display, and the space will be available for private and community events.

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Escargot News

New all-day French bistro in downtown Rockwall is all from scratch

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Belle View Bistro Rockwall

An all-day French bistro has made its debut in Rockwall: Called Belle Vie Bistro, it’s a new mom-and-pop in the charming historic downtown district, at 112 E. Rusk St., the former home of The Fatted Calf restaurant, where it opened its doors on November 12.

Belle Vie is from Luis and Iliana Marquez, a hard-working couple who also own Los Marquez, a popular taco--themed food-truck-turned-restaurant in Rockwall they first debuted in 2019. In May, the couple took over the former Fat Chicken space to open a brick and mortar location of Los Marquez, where they serve well-made Mexican food like tacos, burritos, and quesadillas, but also burgers & fries. They open for breakfast with breakfast tacos, and run a daily lunch special, often creative, always popular, such as birria ramen with choice of beef or lamb for $11.

But the couple had a bigger vision of creating a place where chef Luis could stretch and showcase his skills.

"Luis has a lot of culinary experience, and it’s something that he’s been putting aside,” Iliana says. “We were just waiting on the perfect time to bring this to life.”

"This is something exciting and new for us, it’s something that we always wanted to make,” Luis says.

Like Los Marquez, Belle Vie is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, serving classics like French onion soup, moules frites, escargot, and duck confit. There are also comforting and American dishes like spinach-artichoke dip, crab cakes, and fish & chips.

Lunch features Cobb salad, a French dip, and chicken & Brie panini, while an extended breakfast -- which runs from 7 am to 4 pm — includes pancakes, waffles, eggs benedict, beignets French toast, and crepes, plus pastries and breads made from scratch.

Mural on the wall at Belle Vie Bistro RockwallFacebook

The bakery counter is a delight, with eclairs, croissants, scones, fruit tarts, and cake slices in flavors like carrot cake and white chocolate raspberry. There's also a serious coffee program with espresso drinks such as lattes.

"We pride ourselves on making everything from scratch," the duo says. "Our bread—whether for sandwiches, paninis, hamburgers or anything listed on our menu is made fresh just for us by our incredibly talented pastry chef and baker. The same care goes into our pastries and desserts ensuring every bite is special and crafted with love."

The dining room is warm and cozy with dark wood chairs and plush booths and a full-wall mural depicting a street in Paris. They also have a full bar, with cocktails and beer on tap. Prices are reasonable, ranging from $9 for a Belgian waffle during breakfast to $45 for prime ribeye at dinner.

For now, they're not taking reservations — it's first come, first serve.

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