Mistral Rotisserie Provencale

Most people, when they think of French cooking think of rich sauces. Mistral Rotisserie Provencale is a company with food prepared in the classic style in the south of France.

By Michelle Moday
Published: March, 2006

Most people, when they think of French cooking think of rich sauces. Mistral Rotisserie Provencale is a company with food prepared in the classic style in the south of France.

In Provence the food is lighter in flavors and textures. A lot of it is warm-weather food (tomatoes, peppers, garlic), which is associated more with Italy than France, says Betty Mistral.

Betty and her husband, Fabrice, opened their Ferry Building store Dec. 1993. The food we serve is very natural and not hidden in a lot of sauces, she says. Mistral’s food has an earthy factor, rustic even. The rotisserie allows us to stick to the natural flavors of the food, and the gas-fired rotisseries adds a visible warmth to the cooking.

Betty began her career in the culinary arts as a pastry chef. Fabrice Marcon apprenticed in the culinary arts starting at age 14. He learned cuisine from masters in three and four star restaurants in cities such as Cannes, France and Geneva, Switzerland. Both of them were working in the kitchen of the Grand Hotel in Stockholm, Sweden when they met. It was in the Grand Hotel where they would also marry.

Betty says that Fabrice is the one who had the idea for Mistral. He knew that people wanted less complicated, unadulterated food that paid tribute to the original flavors.

When the Ferry Building first opened, the Marcon’s went down to take a look, then decided to inquire about tenancy. Betty shared Fabrice’s idea, which was very well received. She says one of the reasons is because Were not really just a restaurant (that brings all their food in); but we prepare our food on site.

Mistral serves fresh, high quality, all-natural foods, and is a great option for residents, visitors and commuters. Enjoy one of their meals on the waterfront or take dinner home. You can pre-order by phone, and their Website should be live this spring, allowing customers to view the menu and order online. There are options for single serving orders ($6.75-12.50), and they prepare dinner boxes ($18-36), which can satisfy the palettes and fill the tummies of three to four people. Mistral needs about an hour of notice to prepare a hearty meal of roasted meat with choice of side dishes-, choices that include fresh cauliflower, creamed spinach and macaroni & cheese. Plus, they always have ratatouille, and roasted potatoes are the specialty.

Mistral Rotisserie Provencale is a classic French rotisserie offering meat and poultry roasted with Mediterranean flavors. The shop draws its name from the strong northerly wind that blows toward the Mediterranean coast of southern France. The owners say this is most fitting for their back to nature approach to cuisine.