Jul 6, 2008

French native serves up cuisine

Star Box specializes in lunches on the run

By Christine Morente / Bay Area News Group

Fabrice Boutringain is far away from his childhood home of Tours, nestled in the Loire Valley in France, but he's just as content behind the counter of his cafe at 33 Visitacion Ave.

The 33-year-old chef began living his dream April 1 with the opening of Star Box Food, which specializes in a box lunch of French cuisine.
It's a business plan that is unique in the area, and he is targeting the local biotech and high-tech companies that surround Brisbane and South San Francisco. Boutringain is currently in talks with some of them.

Boutringain said it has taken him years to get to this place.
"This is a kid's dream," said Boutringain as he sat outside his cafe, which sat in the former location of The Happy Hoagie. "And it's very sentimental. My mom believed I'd make it happen."

Andrew Adams, a handyman who has lived in Brisbane for 25 years, is a regular at The Star Box.

"It's the best coffee in town," the 61-year-old said. "It's better than the other coffee places in town."

Boutringain went to the Saint Anne Culinary School in the west coast of France. When he graduated, he started working with his mom Marie at their family restaurant, L'Ecuelle.

He moved to San Francisco 13 years ago and worked at various restaurants. Boutringain also lived in Hawaii and made candy.

He'd wanted his own business for some time, but struggled with the idea of opening a bistro in the city. Then he set the idea aside.

"I wasn't ready," Boutringain said. "You can push it and make some mistakes."

A friend suggested looking at Brisbane. Boutringain had never heard of it. Then everything started to fall into place.

"This fell from the sky," Boutringain said recently. "It was meant to be. That's the way I look at it."

Though his mother died in 1997, Boutringain is proud that he's been able to replicate her tomato tart, a bestselling item at his cafe.

And then there are the desserts, freshly baked every day. Other items on the menu include several types of quiches, baguette sandwiches and salads. Everything except for the bread and gelato are made in-house.

His "Star All in the Box" is a full meal. People have a choice of any sandwich or quiche, a salad, dessert and either soda or water for $10.95.

Boutringain is already planning on duplicating his business in two other locations.

Another project is to start a food truck that will go to the large companies. It will have the majority of what is currently in his shop.

"I'm keeping it good," Boutringain said. "I would never sell something I'd never eat ever."