Audubon's of Ste. Genevieve opens
<span>Bradon Parsons is determined to make his latest venture a destination attraction in Ste. Genevieve.</span>
<span>Parsons is general manager of Audubon's of Ste. Genevieve, a new restaurant that offers farm-to-table food and fine dining in the former Hotel Ste. Genevieve building at 1 N. Market St.</span>
<span>The restaurant celebrated its grand opening on Dec. 13.</span>
<span>"Our concept is farm to table," Parsons said. "By summer, we're hoping to be 80 percent farm to table in buying produce from local farmers.</span>
<span>"Anything we can do to put money back into the area is crucial, I think, to our success."</span>
<span>The building is owned by Herb Fallert, Bob Mueller and brothers Jim and Greg Ferguson. The two-story structure was built around 1901 and is part of Ste. Genevieve's historic district.</span>
<span>"We gutted the whole building," Parsons said, adding the owners have hired local contractors for the work in nearly all situations. "Phase II (of the renovation) is a party room in the basement. Phase III will be retail where the old hotel rooms used to be."</span>
<span>Parsons spoke at length about the vision the owners - three of the four live in Ste. Genevieve - have for the property.</span>
<span>"We want to make it an attraction to Ste. Gen," Parsons said. "It's a beautiful community. We've talked about getting shuttles to attract people from different areas.</span>
<span>"Hopefully, (the restaurant) benefits the community as a whole. We don't want to put anybody out of business, we want to bring business to the community."</span>
<span>Andy Gegge is the executive chef at Audubon's and Parsons said the restaurant is looking for a sous chef.</span>
<span>"I think we have some very good prospects," he said. "We're going to have quite the team."</span>
<span>Parsons was manager of St. Louis-based Harry's and for 17 years and was also a bartender at Horizon Boutique Nightclub before the owners plucked him away to run Audubon's.</span>
<span>"Jim and the rest of the owners came to me with an offer and I'm used to a small-town feel," Parsons said. "It's funny how you migrate back to what you know."</span>
<span>Parsons said he is in the process of working with local wineries for selections to the restaurant's wine list. In terms of food, Audubon's offers a chicken baeje as one of its signature dishes.</span>
<span>Chicken baeje is a prime cut chicken breast stuffed with spinach, prosciutto and Baeje Farms goat cheese. It is rolled in bread crumbs and then baked.</span>
<span>"Everything we outsource, we try to do locally to put money back in the community," Parsons said.</span>
<span>Audubon's of Ste. Genevieve is open on Sundays from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. for breakfast. The restaurant offers a family-style dinner from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.</span>
<span>On Monday through Thursday, Audubon's is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. for dinner.</span>
<span>The bar stays open until 10 p.m., with a bar menu offered between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m.</span>
<span>"It's basically to give the guys in the back a chance to change over the menu," Parsons said.</span>
<span>On Friday and Saturday, the restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., while the bar will remain open until midnight.</span>
<span>"It's bringing a casual fine dining restaurant to the heart of St. Louis County," Parsons said. "It's got such an appeal to it."</span>
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