Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

Fuego International Restaurant opened its doors to the public last week in the former home of The Office Dining Lounge. Pictured from left are Dave Hurley, Sue Dinham, Curtis Inward-Jones, Dustin Mercredi, head chef and owner Kaven Paradis, Jeff Kincaid, Vanessa Baron and Caleigh MacArthur. - Guy Quenneville/NNSL photo

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The food served at Kaven Paradis' restaurant, which includes everything from duck confit to spicy lamb sausage, could easily fall under the fine dining category.

But Paradis, owner of the recently opened Fuego International Restaurant, hesitates to use that term because he's afraid of the impression it creates.

"I don't want people to think it's a dress code kind of place," he said of his restaurant.

The new business kicked off with a VIP soiree last Tuesday, officially opening to the public the next day.

"I want them to come dressed in whatever makes them comfortable."

The same goes for his food, which is rich but not astronomically expensive, he said.

"You eat really well and you get served really well. We make it worth your money. That's what I'm trying to do as best I can."

For Paradis, who trained as a chef in Quebec City and previously worked as chef of the now-closed Old Town Landing, calling the shots at his own restaurant has been a lifelong dream.

His sister and mother traveled from Quebec City to mark the moment with him.

"They want to see me succeed, so they came up here to support me, which I would do for them as well," said Paradis.

He also put his sister to work, asking her to make some final touch-ups to the interior paint job, mere hours before the VIP dinner.

"I'm a perfectionist and I like to have things done properly, and if there is touching to be done, there is," he said.

He said the biggest logistical challenge to opening his own restaurant was making sure all the materials, including the flooring, the art, windows and the new bar, arrived on time by truck.

"It's a lot of phone calls, a lot of headaches," he said, shrugging.

The result was on full display for all to see last Tuesday.

Three photographs encased in glass windows, showing Yellowknife summer scenery, adorned each side of the restaurant, whose walls were bathed in warm, orange-tinged paint.

The look is modern and sleek - purposely different from The Office Dining Lounge, which closed in the same location last month.

"Things have been pretty steady since we opened," said server Caleigh MacArthur, who darted around busily without breaking a sweat Friday night as gentle guitar music played in the background.

With his first week now behind him, which he said went smoothly because of his expert staff,

Paradis said he will keep his focus on his lunch and dinner menu while gradually preparing to offer lunch later this year.