Long before he was a restaurateur opening a new project in the heart of Silicon Valley, along one of its wealthiest commercial strips, Thierry Fassiotti was living on the streets of Paris. The French native was homeless during the mid-1980s, and says that ever since he pulled himself off the streets, he has fashioned a mission to help low income and homeless people.
Fassiotti has worked at Restaurants du Cœur in France and more recently, Bread and Roses in Southern California’s St. Joseph Center (in addition to a number of other Los Angeles restaurants).
Tonight, he opens Alkymists in downtown Palo Alto.
Set in University Avenue’s former Palo Alto Grill, the 100-seat restaurant and bar specializes in global street food from chef Jared Combs, who comes from Los Angeles. That means the menu will include everything from curry-glazed pork belly tacos to harissa meatballs in house-baked Bosnian bread to cocktails with herb-infused liquors.
“It’s traveler food. If you’re traveling the world, what kind of street food would you come across?” says Fassiotti.
The “foodanthropy” side of the equation is perhaps more noteworthy.
Once or twice a month, Alkymists will provide free lunch to low income members of the community, with a particular focus on abused women, single mothers and their children. It will be done in partnership with local charity organizations, with donations from vendors.
The free lunches will be flanked by more opportunities.
Alkymists — a funky spelling based on the fictional Esperanto language — opens tonight. It is open for dinner nightly. Weekend brunch begins next month. Reservations accepted.
Alkymists: 140 University Avenue, at the corner of High Street, in Palo Alto. (650) 321-3514 or alkymists.com.