Happy Holidays!
Salut to all our subscribers! Weâre happy youâre part of our community, whether youâve just joined or youâve been with us for a whileâmerci! Weâve been cooking up some exciting updates behind the scenes, and weâre thrilled to share them with you.
âïžÂ Don't forget! We offer FREE local delivery and if you havenât already taken advantage of your subscriber discount, make sure to use it at checkout to get 10% off your first online order!
Bistro Updates
Southern French Flavors with Chef Wesley Powell
As this email reaches you, weâre perfecting a menu inspired by the savory street food and vibrant aperitifs of Southern France, paired with a fantastic wine collection that we canât wait to share with you in 2025! Many of you have asked if weâve set our official opening dateâour answer is no, not yet. Weâre aiming for Spring, but we arenât in a rush to the finish line. Our focus is on quality, and we have some exciting projects in the pipeline that weâll be sharing with you very soon.
In even more exciting news, weâre thrilled to announce that Chef Wesley Powell has joined us as the culinary consultant for Ăa et LĂ ! As the executive chef at Monnik, Louisvilleâs popular Schnitzelburg brewery, Chef Wesley will bring a wealth of creativity and expertise to our bistro.
Together, weâre crafting a menu rooted in our familyâs long-cherished recipes, honoring the traditional flavors of Southern France while adding Chef Wesleyâs unique touch to each dish. He has earned recognition for his innovative approach to cuisine, including numerous competition wins with a focus on using locally sourced, sustainable ingredients. His influence will shine in our distinctive dishes and while you're waiting on more details about our menu, you can follow Chef Wes on Instagram @weslantian to get a glimpse of some of the other amazing work he's been doing.
Our vision has always been to make Ăa et LĂ a relaxed, approachable space where you'll feel right at home. Our affordable menu will feature classic Southern French dishes with strong Niçoise and Southern French Alpine influencesâflavors we know you'll love to explore!
What to Expect Inside
Our Frankfort Avenue Location
Weâll be settling in at 1832 Frankfort Avenue, right across from the American Printing House for the Blind but for now, please pardon the mess! Weâre working hard to restore the exterior to its original historic facade, and we want to thank our Clifton neighbors for their patience as we bring this beautiful space back to life. Their support has been wonderful, and we couldnât be happier to be opening in such a welcoming neighborhood.
Ăa et LĂ will be a warm, approachable space with a rustic Mediterranean feel, oak and brass accents, and natural light streaming through transom windows. Whether youâre grabbing a bite to go or settling in beside the cozy stone fireplace, weâll offer the perfect atmosphere to unwind. Those of you whoâve run across us at local markets will be pleased to hear that this Spring you can browse our French artisan ceramics any time, in-store! Each piece gives a pop of color and tells a story about our culture. For those that prefer your retail therapy from the comfort of your own home, youâll still be able to shop our website at caetlaimports.com.
Speaking of ceramicsâthey're flying fast this holiday season! Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for restock updates, so you donât miss out on new arrivals
Ăa et LĂ in the News
The secretâs outâĂa et LĂ is making waves, and weâre thrilled to share some recent media features that highlight our journey. The pressure is on and weâre determined more than ever to deliver on our promise to bring the Spirit of Nice to Louisville!
đ°Â Read more about us:
Thank you to all who have shared our storyâweâre so excited to continue this journey with you!
Join us Next Weekend
For Holiday Shopping at Mellwood
Weâre happy to announce our return to the Flea Off Marketâs 13th Annual Holiday Bazaar! This two-day event is happening the weekend before Christmas at the Mellwood Art Center, and itâs the perfect opportunity to finish up your holiday shopping.
Explore more than 200 juried artists, makers, and craftspeople offering a fantastic range of gifts, from vintage treasures to handmade creations. Youâll find us at our booth inside, where itâs cozy and warm. Stop by to browse our French artisan ceramics and other unique imports, or just say bonjour!
đ Location: 1860 Mellwood Ave, Louisville, KY
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 Dates: Dec 21, 11 AM - 6 PM & Dec 22, 11 AM - 5 PM
Admission is FREEâwe canât wait to see you there! đđ
2025 French Classes
Learn French with Laurent
Want to get to know the owners of Ăa et LĂ and learn French at the same time? Starting in January, Laurent will be teaching French courses for the Alliance Française de Louisville. Whether youâre just starting out or looking to refine your skills, this is a wonderful opportunity to immerse yourself in the language and culture of France. Weâll keep you updated on availability, pricing, and details as January approaches. In the meantime, you can explore the Alliance Françaiseâs current course offerings here. Stay tuned, more info is coming your way soon!
French Culture Corner
What is Apéretif?
By definition, an apĂ©ritif (or apĂ©ro) is an alcoholic beverage enjoyed before a meal to stimulate the appetite, but in France, itâs so much more than that. Itâs a cherished cultural ritualâa moment to pause, unwind, and savor good company. Traditionally, an apĂ©ritif features light drinks like wine, champagne, or spritz, paired with small bites such as olives, charcuterie, or crackers. In Southern France, apĂ©ritif takes on a warm, relaxed energy. Itâs not just about the food and drink, but the joy of connection, the clinking of glasses, laughter shared with friends, and the lingering feeling that life is meant to be savored.
At Ăa et LĂ , weâre excited to bring this beautiful French tradition to Louisville. Our bistro will be a place where apĂ©ritif isnât just a drinkâbut a way of life. We canât wait to share this tradition with you when our bistro opens. And speaking of traditions, weâre so grateful for the community weâre building with all of you.
Merci Beaucoup
We'd like to thank you for supporting us on our journey so far! We hope youâre as excited as we are for whatâs to come. As a subscriber, you get early access to all the latest updates from Ăa et LĂ . Look out for this newsletter on our blog next week. Donât forget to follow us on Instagram and Facebook for extra updates and behind-the-scenes peeks!
Weâd love to hear from you! If you have questions, thoughts, or feedback for the Ăa et LĂ team, feel free to email us at caetlacafe@gmail.com.
Stay tuned for more exciting news in our next newsletter, where weâll keep you updated on our progress, upcoming events, and special offers. In the meantime, you can follow the link below to shop and browse our online store. Ă bientĂŽt!
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