“Enjoy the art of food, conversation and environment,” says Nancy Lamazou as she greets us at Bistro Lamazou, the lovely Manhattan eatery she co-owns with husband and partner Aziz Lamazou. Known to New Yorkers because of their long established Cheese shop, the couple recently opened the trendy bistro to great acclaim.

The Lamazous’ 20 year old local cheese shop Lamazou Cheese focuses on the art of affinage, maturing and ripening
over 150 cheeses to reach their best flavor.

Since the owners are passionate about cheese, Bistro Lamazou has some amazing
choices from all over the world, and an impressive wine list which includes rare
selections from Tunisia and Morocco. 

Nancy Lamazou says, “My husband and I put the menu together. We wanted
to have a little bit of the cheeses because that’s what we are known for and
then do a little bit of a fusion. We concentrate on Mediterranean food.” Here
you will find a delicious assortment of cuisines from Tunisia, Morocco, Italy,
France and Spain.

When you first step
into Bistro Lamazou you will experience an elegant, yet cozy and friendly design. The warm
colors of the walls, the candles on the chandeliers and the light music will
make you forget a busy day and immerse yourself in a relaxing and
peaceful journey of exploding flavors.  You
will surely notice artistic touches all over the place. Pay special attention
to the light design in the form of a painter’s palette right above the bar.
Nancy says, “I want people to come in here and be able to walk in a new
environment, get away from their daily life, be able to sit down, have a
conversation, a good meal, to savor every bite and have a good glass of wine.
Enjoy it! Life is simple.”

The Bistro’s menu gets updated quarterly; this is so you
don’t get bored and excitedly anticipate the new dishes. The best way to start
your journey to flavorland is with the Cheese Sampler, served with slices of
apples and grapes and fresh toasted bread.

Since the Lamazous are
cheese experts, guests have an opportunity not just to eat cheese but to truly experience its taste. And if you’re a beginner you will be pleasantly surprised at
how different and unpredictable a cheese can taste.  The cheese menu includes fresh, matured, and
cave aged cheeses from Holland, Spain, France and other countries that vary
monthly and seasonally.

As soon as the cheese platter is done it’s time for
appetizers. ‘The Taste of Morocco’ sampler plate will let you try a little bit of almost
everything.  Of course
the ‘must’ is the ‘Moroccan Chicken Pastilla,’ a round filled dough
wrapping  of shredded chicken, almonds,
cinnamon, and honey. Another ‘must’ is the remarkable ‘Tunisian Brick’ with
different stuffing depending on the day and Chef’s inspiration.

Speaking of the very talented Moroccan Chef Abdel
Makdad, Nancy says she’s happy having him on the team since he
is not only a top professional but – more importantly – he feels true passion
for the food and its preparation.

The appetizers that follow are a Roasted Beet
salad with toasted pecan and cherry vinaigrette, fresh Baby Arugula salad, and
Gazpacho Andalusia; all will provide a nice addition to your sampler plate and
will be a nice overture to your next dish.

When it comes to a main course the ‘Slow-Braised Beef
Tagine’ topped with Apricots, Prunes and Walnuts and palative steamed couscous
on the side will delight you. Deliciously soft, the beef will melt inside your
mouth leaving a slight sweet taste. Furthermore, the bone from where the meat
fell off remains on your plate, giving the whole presentation a complete and
imaginative tone.

Depending on your preferences you can also ask for the ‘lamb
tagine’ with green peas and artichokes

or ‘chicken tagine’ with mushrooms,
olives, potatoes and lemon confit.

Regardless of how full you may be, there is no way to skip
dessert! One of the most recommended is the ‘Exotic
Fruit Salad’ with blood orange sorbet presented in orange wedges.

Another is
the ‘Warm Chocolate Molton Cake’ with vanilla ice cream and dark chocolate sauce.
From the moment you first cut the dark chocolate sponge the rich chocolate
creamy middle will smoothly spread around your plate. Warm chocolate and cool
homemade ice cream is the perfect way to drop the curtain on your meal.

Nancy and Aziz Lamazou have grand plans to make your visits
even better. One of their special features is a weekly performance schedule
including belly or flamenco dancing. 
Amaya Arberas sings opera once a month. “We want to bring more culture
to the place and every weekend there will be something new,” says Nancy.

The restaurant occupies a pretty big space which makes it
perfect not only for a business lunch or romantic dinner but also allows for
organizing special occasions.

While a newcomer to the market it has every
chance to become a strong addition in New Yorkers ‘go to’ list. Like any good piece
of art, Bistro Lamazou stands out with its own ambiance and its own dynamic, and it will surely leave a lasting impression.