On Dec. 17, the Bleu Rendezvous French Bistro, SanCap Chamber, and friends hailed the reopening of the popular French restaurant at 751 Tarpon Rd. on Sanibel by two new owners.
Laurence and Chef Pierre Bastien met at the Culinary School in Paris when they were teenagers, then worked for 10 years in restaurants and hotels in France before they decided to change careers. Laurence opened her own office design company, and Pierre served as a police officer in the motorcycle unit.
“Last year, we decided to go back to the restaurant industry,” said Laurence. “We searched for a business to buy in Florida and found last summer a French bistro for sale.”
Christian and Mari Vivet have owned the restaurant since 2015 and reopened it in a new location following devastation by Hurricane Ian in 2022.
“They wanted to get retired after 50 years of hard work and made a wonderful transition with us, freshly arrived from Paris in September, proud to continue this French story in Sanibel,” Laurence said.
“And what a wonderful story it has been and will continue to be,” said John Lai, president and chief executive officer for the SanCap Chamber. “The Vivets have made the bistro one of Sanibel’s most well-loved restaurants. Chef Christian began the tradition of authentic French cuisine, and Chef Pierre is carrying on.”
ABOUT SANCAP CHAMBER
The SanCap Chamber is dedicated to promoting the prosperity of its members and preserving the quality of life of our community. The Chamber plays a key role in facilitating communication and cooperation between business, residents, and government to enhance the economic health of the islands. Its website, sanibel-captiva.org, receives over 1.3 million visits per year. For more information about the chamber, visit sanibel-captiva.org or contact John Lai, president and CEO, at 239-472-2348 or [email protected].
