Special for the (Arizona) Republic, by Carey Sweet - Apr. 15, 2010
What would it take to convince a couple to quit executive-level careers, sell a painstakingly remodeled home, uproot their family and move from Paris to serve fast food in a shopping center in Scottsdale?
Sunshine, apparently.
ChezVous Crepes and Gelato opened this week in the Shops at Gainey Village, offering savory and sweet paper-thin pancakes, salads, sandwiches, desserts, omelets and croissants.
The French-born Horvaths met as children. Richard worked in financing for 25 years and Isabella in publishing. The couple fell in love with Scottsdale while vacationing here last spring.
"When we went home, we couldn't stop thinking about Scottsdale and how nice it would be to live here with the sun shining every morning - something you don't see in Paris," Isabella said.
Anchoring the menu are crepes, stuffed with a variety of savory ingredients like ham, Swiss cheese, mushrooms, tomato coulis and egg or smoked salmon, sour cream, capers and lemon.
Sweet selections include a Caribbean of shredded coconut, dark chocolate and strawberry or banana or homemade plain yogurt with cinnamon. An a la mode scoop of gelato is optional.
In the salad area, the French Riviera tosses rice, tomatoes, tuna, black olive and egg, while a Country tumbles sautéed potatoes, prosciutto, Comte cheese and greens cover classics like the Croque Monsieur or Madame.
At dessert, look for a ChezVous signature Floating Island, made with dollops of meringue bobbing in a sea of crème anglaise and caramel.
Once the liquor license goes through, a variety of French wines will join the lineup. And that piano in the corner? Richard is an accomplished pianist.
Details: 8787 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480-443-2575.
