All kidding aside, Gaby Brasserie Française, the charming bistro at the Sofitel New York, will bring April Fool’s Day back to its roots with a fun-filled Poisson d’Avril (April Fish) theme that will delight even its most serious guests. The Midtown Manhattan hotel will celebrate the holiday’s French origins on April 1 with an evening filled with surprise-and-delight treats.
As part of the French tradition, the target of a prank will unknowingly walk around with a paper fish taped to their back. Gaby guests who discover a fish on their back will not become the butt of a joke, but the recipient of a pleasant surprise. One lucky diner at each table will receive a surprise of sorts such as free cocktails, an appetizer to share, or a complimentary bottle of wine. Guests are also encouraged to visit Sofitel New York on Facebook and Google+ to share their favorite April Fool’s pranks using the hashtag #GabyAprilFools.
The Cuisine
From coq au vin blanc to steak frites, French-born Chef Harribey infuses classic brasserie fare with innovative flavors. Among the appetizers are a Hudson Valley foie gras scented with Cognac and traditional French onion soup. The daily special might be sea scallops pan-seared with lemon poppy seeds, asparagus quinoa, caviar and beurre blanc or a duck confit ravioli with celery root purée and porcini sauce. Chef’s signature dessert is a French chocolate chip bread pudding of croissant and chocolate cake served warm with salted caramel ice cream. As a savory alternative, a selection of artisanal local, French and Spanish cheeses are rotated monthly and can be enjoyed with a choice of more than 40 wines by the glass.
Gaby is open for breakfast through dinner daily. Among its special menus are 30-minute business lunches served in bento boxes for executives on the go and pre-theater menus for patrons heading to a Broadway show.
The Bar
A popular Midtown gathering place, Gaby’s lively bar is the place to be seen and the place to enjoy both creative and classical cocktails, fine wines and champagne. Here, guests can savor a classic croquet monsieur served on brioche, accompanied by a glass of bold red wine from Chateau “GABY.” The enticing bar food menu ranges from tapas for grazing, inventive salads including grilled portobello and prosciutto with parmesan and spring mix, or, for a heartier meal, a petit filet mignon. The impressive wine list spans primarily French and U.S. vintages, with selections from South Africa, Argentina, New Zealand, Germany and Spain as well. Wines are available by the glass, by the bottle, or in flights of three. Signature cocktails range from a Grand Marnier Smash with fresh mint and lemon juice to a Dark Chocolate Martini.
The Design
Boasting an archetypal brasserie setting by French designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, Gaby has its own entrance on West 45th Street. Large, 1920s-style bronze doors lead from the street into the 27-seat bar area, which is anchored by a mahogany bar topped with dark green marble. The 45th Street façade is lined with a series of glass doors that can be opened much like the brasseries along Paris’s grand boulevards.
In the main dining room, an eye-catching, 32-seat oval banquette upholstered in rich black-and-tan fabric occupies the restaurant’s center, with a variety of two- and three-top marble tables placed around it. A portrait of Gaby herself overlooks the green marble-topped mahogany bar of Gaby Bar, which reflects Manhattan’s artistic energy in its stained glass accents and green zebra-print banquettes. Walls are graced with theatrical posters from silent movies, and the room’s black marble flooring, warm colors and stylish décor create an inviting ambience reminiscent of popular Parisian bars.
The Muse
In 1922, an 18-year-old Parisienne arrived in Manhattan and took the city by storm. Known as Gaby in French fashion circles, she parlayed her position in Europe as the favorite model of famed couturier Paul Poiret, designer of the iconic flapper dress, into work as a lingerie model for New York’s Henri Bendel. Her success on the fashion pages soon led to Broadway roles in productions like Ziegfeld’s Ripples and in several silent movies. Gaby’s love affair with New York continued for nearly a decade until she married and returned to France.
About Sylvain Harribey, Executive Chef
Sylvain Harribey is the award-winning executive chef of Gaby Brasserie Française, the outstanding restaurant and bar at Sofitel New York. The French-born chef brings to his position a precise knowledge of French culinary techniques honed over more than two decades of training at, and ultimately helming, some of the finest restaurants in France and the United States.
“I cook with my heart, and my French heritage,” said Harribey. “I look for new ways to refine classic French recipes and techniques, trying new combinations of ingredients, experimenting with culinary traditions, and procuring only the freshest products from local farms.”
Harribey joined Sofitel New York in 2009 after serving as executive chef at Sofitel Philadelphia’s Chez Colette since its opening in 2000. His association with Sofitel began before his arrival in the U.S. with a sous chef position at Sofitel Bordeaux Aquitania in France. Harribey’s early career saw him rise from commis de cuisine to chef de parties to sous chef at a succession of leading French restaurants, as well as a brief stint as sommelier at The Ritz in London.
Harribey was born in Rouen, in the north of France, and raised in Bordeaux, where his fascination with cooking began early, working alongside his mother to prepare meals for company and holiday celebrations. A graduate of Talence Hospitality School in Bordeaux, he perfected his baking skills at the renowned Lenôtre in Paris, and also completed advanced training in seafood preparation.
The chef’s many achievements include winning first prize on the Food Network’s hit show Chopped. A recipient of AAA’s prestigious Four-Diamond Award, he has participated in the Gridiron Chef Award competition in Dallas and has been a popular interview subject on local television shows in New York and Philadelphia. Harribey is a member of the French Académie Culinaire.
About Gaby
Gaby is the outstanding brasserie and bar at Sofitel New York. Named for a Parisian model who found her milieu in 1920s New York, Gaby serves classic French cuisine by Executive Chef Sylvain Harribey, whose culinary achievements include winning the Food Network hit show Chopped. Its bar is the place to be seen and the place to enjoy both creative and classical cocktails, fine wines and champagne. Boasting an archetypal brasserie setting by Paris-based interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, Gaby has its own entrance on W. 45th Street. It offers continuous service from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily. For reservations, call (212)782-3091 or visit www.gabynyrestaurant.com.
About Sofitel New York
Sofitel New York is a stylish Midtown hotel with a decidedly French accent in its contemporary décor, sophisticated artwork, brasserie cuisine, and cosmopolitan service. Open since 2000, it features 398 guest rooms, including 52 suites; function space that serves small to mid-sized events with French sophistication and charm; and an outstanding brasserie, Gaby, led by a French executive chef whose accolades include winning the Food Network show Chopped. Sofitel New York is ideally located at 45 West 44th Street, affording easy access to Fifth Avenue and the Times Square theater district. For reservations, call (800) SOFITEL (763-4835) or visit www.sofitel.com.
