Longtime Bijou favorites include his Moroccan salad, shrimp and crab bisque, rack of lamb, roasted duck, crab cakes and shrimp piri-piri. Knaggs, whose early career included time as a cook for the Manasota Beach Club, the Hyatt, Café L’Europe and Euphemia Haye, developed a culinary repertoire that was heavily influenced by his French and South African roots. Opera crowds helped put the Bijou “on the map,” Knaggs says. Knaggs courted opera audiences, sometimes creating special menus inspired by the current opera being performed. Knaggs became active in downtown Sarasota business development and established a close relationship with the neighboring Sarasota Opera. Knaggs and former partner Freddy Matson created the Bijou Café in a then-neglected part of downtown in June 1986, when Sarasota’s summer season was exceptionally slow. “The Bijou is a cherished part of this community, and we intend to keep it as such.”
“It means so much to me to be able to preserve another beautiful historic location, and to continue Chef Knaggs’ tremendous culinary legacy,” says Carole, who co-founded Sage Restaurant and led the restoration of its historic Sarasota Times building. The 4,900-square-foot space and adjoining courtyard seats 134 diners. You know it will be well taken care of.”Īt the corner of First Street and Pineapple Avenue, across from the Sarasota Opera House, the Bijou Café building was built in the 1920s as a gas station. “It’s like having a wonderful antique car and someone buys it who loves it. “I was so happy to sell to Sharon because I know she will continue it,” Knaggs says in the statement. The Realm Group, represented by Sharon Carole, plans to continue normal operations at the Bijou, with some future renovations to maintain the location’s iconic class and appeal. The Knaggs plan to retire once the transfer of ownership is completed.
(Photo is from June 2019.)Ĭhef Jean-Pierre “J.P.” Knaggs, who founded the Bijou with his wife, Shay Knaggs, in 1986, initiated the sale and personally approved the new owners, the release states. Jean-Pierre “J.P.” Knaggs, founded the Bijou Café with his wife, Shay Knaggs, in 1986.
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