ChefStable Group Taking Over Carafe Bistro

Image of Carafe Bistro courtesy official site

ChefStable will soon add another spot to its ever-growing restaurant portfolio: Empire builder Kurt Huffman confirms that his group will soon take over downtown's Carafe Bistro, with plans to completely revamp the space and concept. Among the changes: Installing a new chef in the form of Troy Furuta, an alumnus of Clyde Common, to update the French bistro menu — or perhaps take Carafe into a different direction entirely. Furuta comes to Portland with a lengthy resume in California, including executive chef stints at Costa Mesa "global cuisine" restaurant Aire and Newport Beach French spot Pascal.

Carafe Bistro opened in 2003 as a partnership between then-couple Julie Hunter and chef Pascal Sauton. Sauton left the restaurant last year and has since opened Milwaukie Kitchen & Wine; longtime Carafe sous chef Brad Ryder has been executive chef for the past year. ChefStable, meanwhile, currently operates seven restaurants within city limits, with several more — including the upcoming Ox and Corazon — in the works.

More information as it becomes available.
· Carafe Bistro [Official site]
· All Previous Carafe Bistro Coverage [Eater PDX]
· All Previous ChefStable Coverage [Eater PDX]