Plats du Jazz ~ August 1999
Dorothee Mitrani-Bell owner and chef of
La Note, is a designer by trade. But when the opportunity arose to create
a restaurant in an atmospheric 1875 Victorian, her love of the cooking
of her native Provence lured her to the kitchen. And what a kitchen
it is! La Note has won awards for its sensitive renovation : With its
warm, earthy decor and bright blue counters, block -printed tablecloths
and Nicole Hummer’s vibrant Provencal style pottery (available
for purchase) it’s like stepping into a Marcel Pagnol film. Even
the bathroom is interesting. Breakfast here can be as simple as a French
Toast Brioche with lavender honey : weekend dinners are determined by
what’s fresh at the produce and fish markets, and the whims of
the chef. La Note offers space to the Jazz School, an innovative music
school that presents concerts in the restaurant on Sunday afternoons.