Juliana Goodwin, for the News-Leader 6:04 p.m. CDT August 20, 2015
Original Story click HERE
It’s not every day you find exceptional food and an incredible story. But I found both when I dined recently at Le Stick Nouveau in the basement of the New Orleans Hotel in Eureka Springs. The name translates into “The New Stick,” because the owners previously ran the longstanding Candlestick Inn in Branson, which was devastated by the 2012 Leap Year tornado.
“The building wasn’t completely destroyed,” said Brandon Cox, who ran the restaurant that was owned by his father and dad’s his wife. “By the time we finally settled with insurance, which was one and a half years later, it was 100 percent destroyed. I told people the tornado was bad, but I’d rather go through 10 more than deal with one more insurance company. There was no way to reopen.”
They weren’t left with enough money to reopen either. So Cox sold real estate and his wife managed a Branson resort until the space in Eureka Springs opened.
I’ll get back to the rest of the story in a minute, but first, the food.
Le Stick Nouveau is cutting edge.
The presentation was exceptional. The carpaccio was good, too.
The biggest surprise of the night was the Caesar salad ($9), which blew me away. You don’t usually walk away from a dining experience saying “I’ll never forget that salad,” but that’s how my husband and I both felt.
The atmosphere is elegant, intimate, romantic and fun at the same time. Jake Rogers, who owns the restaurant with Cox and Fontanello, designed it. The “nouveau” in the name has a double meaning: new as in the new restaurant; but the décor is also based on the Art Nouveau movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
And that brings us back to the story.
In 1962, the Campbell family in Branson opened The Candlestick Inn. It went through several owners over the years and in 2007, Jim Cox owned it with 13 partners. He called his son Brandon Cox, who was flipping houses, and asked him to come turn the restaurant around. Cox didn’t want to take over but said his dad “pulled the father card, so I had to.”
Jim Cox bought out his partners, Brandon Cox hired his new girlfriend Donna Fontanello and in December of 2007, they fired everyone and started new. “We wanted to change everything. I mean everything. From the service to the interior design. We changed chefs, the menu, and that is where we met Jake, our partner here. He was the interior designer we had hired to do the Candlestick. We made the place look really beautiful and we forged a friendship,” Cox said.
Brandon and Donna fell in love with each other and the restaurant business. Three years later, they married in Eureka Springs on Monday, celebrated Tuesday, and were back to reopen the Candlestick Inn on Wednesday. “With my wife and I, we became a good team. We realized with the Candlestick, turning it around and running it for 5 years, it’s in our blood. This is what we do and we do it really well,” Cox said. Even when the Candlestick closed, there was no doubt they wanted to reopen; it was just a matter of when and where. As soon as they settled with the insurance company, they moved to Eureka Springs, which was always their favorite getaway.
The result has been even better than they expected, said Fontanello.
They have five stars on Trip Advisor, and many other review websites highly rate the restaurant. They do monthly tasting menus which sell out. Last weekend, they were fully booked. On the weekend, reservations are a must. Fontanello said losing the Candlestick Inn “was like a death. It was devastating.”
But there is new life now in Eureka Springs, and she hopes former customers will try it out.
“Anybody who enjoyed the Candlestick Inn, will enjoy The New Stick,” she said.
Want to go?
Le Stick Nouveau, 63 Spring St. Eureka Springs, Ark. Call: 479-981-3123. Online: www.lestick.com
The mighty Oregon Steelhead. While most would assume I am speaking of the innate native Oregon male’s notable nocturnal prowess. I am not. The Oregon Steelhead is the golden fleece of all flyfisherpersons that dare dip their felt into the roaring Northwestern white water. Think of the only silver screen version of Conan the Barbarian worth watching; Arnold’s. The thin scrawny boy taken from his slaughtered parents fired in the crucible of Herculean physical labor . Pushing against the grinding wheel forging his would be god like physique. Not unlike the meager trout who swims towards the ocean to battle great whites, killer whales and the giant squid triumphantly. Then pushing against the frothing raging current of his home waters to return not as a trout, but as an aquatic Conan of the river. THE OREGON STEELHEAD.
We not dare season this glorious flesh with anything but the purest salt and pepper before pan searing perfectly. He has chosen to accompany the Conan of fish with a locally harvested black trumpet mushroom risotto and fresh grilled zucchini and squash.
We have also chosen to perform his culinary prostration by also preparing OREGON STEELHEAD tar-tare as an appetizer feature this weekend. Prepared with capers, marinated onions and lemon zest to be served with mixed greens.
And why not make it an Oregon night and drink one of our Willamette Valley Pinots with our OREGON STEELHEAD features.
Written, of course, by a current Eureken and native Oregonian.
Eureka Springs Restaurant, eureka springs best restaurant, eureka springs restaurant le stick nouveau
Le Stick Nouveau Restaurant affordable, fine dining EXPERIENCE. Le Stick Nouveau is Eureka Springs’ preeminent fine dining experience. Le Stick Nouveau fine dining restaurant is located below the Historic New Orleans Hotel in the middle of the historic district in the heart of downtown Eureka Springs, AR. Eureka Springs Fine Dining Restaurant
The lounge area commanded by the massive ornate bar flows easily into a main formal dining area with high backed booths giving the illusion of a private dining experience. An alternate veiled area is fitted for private gatherings and parties of 10 to 22 people for a specialized dining experience. Throughout, a balance of light and dark colors provide as much pleasure for the eyes as the food does for the palate.
Chef Donny Cummings has created a menu lined with French main staples and is very passionate about it. Donna mentions with pride, “He’s completely self-taught, it blows you away. All he does is read and learn constantly.”
There has been nothing but high praise for Chef Cummings, who is treating patrons to a menu temporarily limited in choice, but not in flavor. Patrons should come hungry and ready for their palates to be flattered. Delicious in both visual and culinary aspects, Le Stick Nouveau delights the senses from your first cocktail to your last savored bite. Beginning Oct. 11 patrons will enjoy a full menu in traditional French preparation, including the former Candlestick’s famous steaks, lobster, shrimp, chicken and beef dishes with desserts du jour.
Dinner service will begin for each seating at 45 after.
Le Stick’s 6 Course Tasting Menu
No Substitutions
$64/Guest
Call 479.981.3123 for reservations
Eureka Springs Restaurant, eureka springs best restaurant, eureka springs restaurant le stick nouveau
Le Stick Nouveau Restaurant affordable, fine dining EXPERIENCE. Le Stick Nouveau is Eureka Springs’ preeminent fine dining experience. Le Stick Nouveau fine dining restaurant is located below the Historic New Orleans Hotel in the middle of the historic district in the heart of downtown Eureka Springs, AR. Eureka Springs Fine Dining Restaurant
The lounge area commanded by the massive ornate bar flows easily into a main formal dining area with high backed booths giving the illusion of a private dining experience. An alternate veiled area is fitted for private gatherings and parties of 10 to 22 people for a specialized dining experience. Throughout, a balance of light and dark colors provide as much pleasure for the eyes as the food does for the palate.
Chef Brandon Cox has created a menu lined with French main staples and is very passionate about it. Donna mentions with pride, “He’s completely self-taught, it blows you away. All he does is read and learn constantly.”
There has been nothing but high praise for Nigel Esser, who is treating patrons to a menu temporarily limited in choice, but not in flavor. Patrons should come hungry and ready for their palates to be flattered. Delicious in both visual and culinary aspects, Le Stick Nouveau delights the senses from your first cocktail to your last savored bite. Beginning Oct. 11 patrons will enjoy a full menu in traditional French preparation, including the former Candlestick’s famous steaks, lobster, shrimp, chicken and beef dishes with desserts du jour.
Le Stick Eureka Springs, AR Fine Dining Restaurant Feature for June 5 & 6
Feature Salad: mixed greens, tri colored quinoa, citrus sesame dressing
and pickled blackberries
We aren’t for everyone. This weekend’s feature: Beef cheek burgundy with a marsala demi
served with honey & peppercorn carrots, grilled squash and parsnip risotto, and topped with
pickled pan seared bamboo shoots. We are for some.
Call 479-981-3123 for Reservations
Eureka Springs Restaurant, eureka springs best restaurant, eureka springs restaurant le stick nouveau
Le Stick Nouveau Restaurant affordable, fine dining EXPERIENCE. Le Stick Nouveau is Eureka Springs’ preeminent fine dining experience. Le Stick Nouveau fine dining restaurant is located below the Historic New Orleans Hotel in the middle of the historic district in the heart of downtown Eureka Springs, AR. Eureka Springs Fine Dining Restaurant
The lounge area commanded by the massive ornate bar flows easily into a main formal dining area with high backed booths giving the illusion of a private dining experience. An alternate veiled area is fitted for private gatherings and parties of 10 to 22 people for a specialized dining experience. Throughout, a balance of light and dark colors provide as much pleasure for the eyes as the food does for the palate.
Chef Donny Cummings has created a menu lined with French main staples and is very passionate about it. Donna mentions with pride, “He’s completely self-taught, it blows you away. All he does is read and learn constantly.”
There has been nothing but high praise for Chef Cummings, who is treating patrons to a menu temporarily limited in choice, but not in flavor. Patrons should come hungry and ready for their palates to be flattered. Delicious in both visual and culinary aspects, Le Stick Nouveau delights the senses from your first cocktail to your last savored bite. Beginning Oct. 11 patrons will enjoy a full menu in traditional French preparation, including the former Candlestick’s famous steaks, lobster, shrimp, chicken and beef dishes with desserts du jour.
So, It doesn’t just make itself right? This evening’s feature is a lovely Lobster Ravioli. This fine dining food porn was born from this;
locally sourced oyster mushrooms found in the Ozark mountains just outside Eureka Springs, AR.
We here at Le Stick Nouveau, stuffed heaps, 1/2 l.b. of just pure lobster claw meat into his house made pasta.
We unilaterally pan seared the oyster mushroom morsels, topped the ravioli with lobster broth, honey carrots and a bit of parsley coulis. I’m telling you, this is good.
Eureka Springs, AR Fine Dining Restaurant. Eureka Springs Restaurants. Eureka Springs Fine Dining. Eureka Springs best restaurant. Eureka Springs AR Steak Seafood. Delicately prepared appetizers, salads and entrees brought to your table with the utmost emphasis on the fine dining service. Creative cocktail menu crafted to enhance your dining experience.
Donna & Brandon are going back to doing what they do best, & that is fine dining dinner service. None of us are morning people. Which one of us is the least of a morning person is contentious, but Donna is probably in the lead. We come to this choice VERY mutually when leaving the restaurant several times after a busy Saturday night in the wee hours of Sunday morning; and then waking up a few hours later to head back and set up for Brunch. So, thank you to those of you who supported our Sunday Brunch, and we ask that you come see us doing what we do best; Fine Dining Dinner Service – in a much more awake, if not better, mood.
Cheers,
Donna & Brandon
