At only a year old, the French-inspired Wayzata bistro Bellecour, run by owner and chef Gavin Kaysen, received the prestigious Twin Cities Charlie Award for Outstanding Restaurant.
The Charlie Awards are given out every year to restaurants in the metro that excel in nine different categories, including outstanding service, outstanding baker/pastry chef, hidden gem and rising star.
The award was presented in February at the Pantages Theatre in downtown Minneapolis. Kaysen accepted the award, but gives the credit to his staff of over 100 employees who have helped the bistro achieve all its success.
“Like all awards, [the Charlie Awards] celebrate what we did yesterday, which means we have to give more each and every day to continue to be on top,” Kaysen says.
Kaysen mentions his entire team’s focus on hospitality, first and foremost, as well as their ability to bring authentic French cuisine to the community.
“Bellecour was and is meant to push the boundaries of what dining is in the suburbs, but more specifically with the French bistro in mind. Not to mention, the bakery is a stunner,” Kaysen says (the bakery is a showstopper indeed, under the expert hand of pastry chef Diane Yang).
