The owners of Table Culture Provisions (TCP) will open a new French-inspired restaurant, Bijou, at the former Easy Rider in downtown Petaluma after plans to take over the former Quinua Cocina Peruana (500 Petaluma Blvd. S.) stalled.
“It’s our little jewel,” said Table Culture Provisions executive chef and co-owner Stéphane Saint Louis of the contemporary California-French restaurant slated to open in May. Saint Louis will head the kitchen while business partners Marta Saint Louis and chef de cuisine Steven Vargas remain at Table Culture Provisions.
Easy Rider, a 60-seat restaurant in the heart of Petaluma’s restaurant and entertainment district, closed Dec. 31 amid speculation that a new owner was taking over the space. At the time, Easy Rider co-owner Jared Rogers said he was legally bound not to disclose details but hinted that a Sonoma County restaurateur might take over the location.

While Table Culture Provision’s tiny 10-table restaurant at 312 Petaluma Blvd. S. will continue its focus on multicourse fine dining, Bijou will offer a more casual experience Saint Louis likens to TCP’s social hour menu.
Offered from 4-6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, the paired down à la carte social hour menu includes larger entrées like a Della Fattoria rosemary boule stuffed with Red Hawk cheese from Cowgirl Creamery, Flannery Steak & Frites with a black peppercorn sauce or daily fresh made pasta, most under $40. The seven-course tasting menu at TCP is $135 per person.
“Bijou is Social Hour on steroids,” said Saint Louis.
Though the menu is still in development, Saint Louis offered up Beef Wellington, seasonal stuffed Caramelle pasta or colossal Prawns à la Provençale and desserts from TCP executive pastry chef Sylvain Parsy, including opera cake and rum baba, as potential dishes.

“It’s French technique creating a Sonoma County farm-to-table, seasonal dining,” said Saint Louis. The restaurant will also offer brunch and coffee and pastries on weekends, he said.
While Sonoma County has seen a renaissance of French cuisine, with the openings of nearby Brigitte Bistro, Augie’s in Santa Rosa and Maison Porcella in Windsor, Saint Louis is clear that Bijou isn’t a bistro but “Bistronomy” — serving approachable dishes with high-end cooking techniques.
Saint Louis said the 60-seat Bijou will also have cocktail and wine programs and some late-night hours on the weekend.
Stay tuned for more details.
You can reach Dining Editor Heather Irwin at heather.irwin@pressdemocrat.com. Follow Heather on Instagram @biteclubeats.