Canine haute cuisine: the American restaurant caters to canine gourmets

King Charles spaniels and English bulldogs face a breeding ban in Norway – Copyright Sputnik/AFP Alexey NIKOLSKY

Jenn CAIN

Does your dog love food? Does your pooch like fancy food? Then an American restaurant has exactly what you need.

At Dogue in San Francisco, four-legged friends have their pick of the finest foods available, with a menu designed to please even the most discerning canine palate.

During the week, that means a huge selection of impeccably crafted pastries (from the “pawtisserie,” naturally) washed down with one of three “dogguchinos”—creamy creations infused with spirulina or charcoal.

On Sundays, Dogue transforms into Bone Appetite Cafe, where puppy patrons can enjoy a three-course tasting menu for $75.

“The visual aspect of something is incredibly important,” owner and chef Rahmi Massarweh told AFP.

“We make baked goods inspired by some of the best chefs, some of my favorite chefs in the world.

“You know, we have the saying, ‘You eat with your eyes first, before you even take a bite.’ And when it comes to dog food specifically, my goal has always been to look like I wanted to eat it,” Massarweh said.

During the AFP visit, the offerings included the pulled chicken and pasture cream cupcake, the red rose with the heart of wild antelope and the golden pastry cake with organic coconut and honey. unfiltered raw.

Massarweh, a classically trained chef who cut his teeth at a top San Francisco restaurant, said star pastries were only a small part of the business.

“The essence of Dogue is fresh whole dog food” with tailored menus available for pet owners to take home.

– Classic French cuisine –

The inspiration for the new venture came from an English Mastiff that Massarweh and his wife had in 2010, who didn’t like store-bought food.

Using his culinary expertise, he began making artisanal dishes in small batches, using fresh, seasonal foods.

The new restaurant – “dogue” is French for “mastiff” – is “kind of a tribute to my roots in classic French cuisine, and at the same time a sweet nod and almost a tribute to dogs, English Mastiffs that my wife and I have and love so much.

The establishment of a fancy dog ​​restaurant in San Francisco, where locals say there are more pets than children, has raised eyebrows in some neighborhoods.

Critics said it was emblematic of the skewed priorities of a city with rampant homelessness and rising levels of drug addiction.

“San Francisco’s eye-rolling power remains unmatched,” tweeted journalist Jeremy B. White.

But what about four-legged customers?

Massarweh says they are impressed.

“Dogs are amazing, because what you see is what you get, right? There’s no facade,” he said.

“If they like it, they like it. If they don’t, there’s nothing you can do. They won’t eat it.