New St. Charles restaurant offers ode to the American table with local and global influences

The week of July 21, The Finery & Blacksmith Bar will open in downtown St. Charles in the former Copper Fox location, 305 W. Main St.

Juliette and David Reyes who met in culinary school at Kendall College are opening their dream restaurant and bar, an American bistro highlighting high end comfort food with an atmosphere to match.

Juliette and David both have long-standing backgrounds in the restaurant industry, going back to their childhoods. David grew up in the restaurant world, and his earliest memories include going to the Fulton farmers market in Chicago to pick up produce. Juliette fell in love with food while working in the kitchen with her grandmother, stating, "She was a mix of June Cleaver and an old school Eastern European Grandma". Both David and Juliette have cooked in Michelin-starred restaurants in Southern France and Chicago, respectively.

The Finery & Blacksmith Bar will focus on locally sourced food and beverages. Owners are building relationships with local farmers and have spent time researching, visiting, and experiencing the food and where it has come from. "I want to cook like I did with my family growing up, handpicking the food and preparing it with passion" says David Reyes. With cooking experience from both Mexico and Southern France, Reyes plans to bring that passion to your table.

David Marzorati will be the general manager of the restaurant and wants the community to know that everything within the establishment has a purpose. From the walls to the cups to the plates, everything was thought through. The restaurant will have suggested pairings for food and drink to make each dining experience the best it can be. Marzorati recommends making reservations through their website when they open, www.thefineryrestaurant.com.

The Reyes are excited to be in downtown St. Charles, as it is a happy medium between the city, which inspires them, and the farm, where they acquire their food. They love the building and the history behind it. As David puts it, "Downtown St. Charles has a great history and flavor, just like our new restaurant."