Charlotte’s top dining destinations: Lumiere

The Chef: Chef Tom Condron

Lumiere co-owner and chef Tom Condron has been cooking all of his life. He received his culinary training from London, England before continuing to France. He then went to New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Florida, the Caribbean, Atlanta and Boston before arriving in Charlotte. Inspired by his grandma, who he calls a great cook, Condron loved working with his hands and fresh ingredients while in the kitchen. He continuously strives to do better every day and looks forward to the constant day to day changes. His menu is based on his experiences and career in France and in French restaurants. It’s also about the availability of products seasonally for fresh ingredients.

On why he loves working at his restaurant, Condron says, “It’s like a theatre every day. You’re on stage and you get to perform for your guests. You can have a good day or a bad day, but you know the next day is always new, it’s always another shift.”

The Look: Modern Elegance

When guests walk in Lumiere, they get a French feel. With light greens, blues and mustard yellow decorating the room, the ambiance is a sleek elegance. Once someone walks into the room they know it is elegant, but it is also a casual place. Maybe guests want to get dressed up to come and dine, whereas other guests may wear jeans or slacks. Regardless, everyone will be completely welcomed. All of the elements of the restaurant—the pictures on the walls, flooring, and colors—are supposed to come together and give those dining the experience of being taken out of Charlotte and straight to Paris, France for a pleasant, one of a kind experience with modern, French cuisine.

The Dish: Duck à l’Orange

The duck à l’orange has been on the Lumiere menu since the restaurant opened two years ago. Putting a very modern interpretation on the classic French dish, the duck à l’orange is prepared using modern technology. It is a lighter, healthier dish than the original while containing all of the integrity of the original. While it is the signature, Lumiere did not set out to make it so, it just happened to become popular being that it is a dish most people do not see in the Charlotte area. Duck à l’orange is one of the most classic dishes at French restaurants and became the signature dish on its own.

Lumiere: 1039 Providence Road, Charlotte.

This story was originally published April 22, 2016 at 1:20 AM.