Jeff Balfour & Laurent Réa: Brasserie Mon Chou Chou (San Antonio, TX)

All over the South in city after city, the idea of a French bistro or brasserie has taken hold. There’s something about those French comfort food classics, the gleaming bar, and the plates of briny oysters that invite conversation and communing with friends, but there’s much more to learn behind the scenes than just what wine pairs best with steak frites. Brasserie Mon Chou Chou is one of the finest examples in the region, and it’s the brainchild of its three Frenchmen founders. The menu highlights the cuisine of their homeland -- including dishes directly influenced by the trio’s respective grandmothers -- and it is a slice of Parisian life in the middle of the Pearl complex in San Antonio, TX. Part of the Southerleigh Hospitality Group, it’s helmed by Chef Laurent Réa, a native of Lyon, France whose tenure at other restaurants include the O’Keefe Cafe in New Mexico and Andrew Weissman’s Signature restaurant in San Antonio. We’re joined on the mic by Chef and Co-founder of the group Jeff Balfour, which is fitting since a brasserie experience is all about good conversation and good food.