WICHITA — Jason-Paul Febres is expanding his Taste & See Everyday Gourmet in a couple of ways.
The business, which is in Office This at 3825 E. Harry, is part restaurant and part cooking school. Now, it’s going to have a small retail area as well.
“It’s like a market … to sell our signature products,” Febres says. He says customers “keep asking repeatedly (so) we decided to do it.”
For instance, Febres says, customers go crazy for his cilantro lime aioli.
“The way people react when they eat it is very funny,” he says. “They make noises. … It’s ridiculous.”
The products will be made fresh daily, and Febres says if they don’t immediately sell, he’ll use them at the restaurant.
Febres says other businesses have approached him about selling his products as well, but he’s not ready to announce anything.
The market will feature a type of cart that Febres compares to an old-style European market cart. The market area also will have a refrigerator for perishables.
Febres says he’ll lose a couple of tables to make room for the market. He says he’s already running out of space as it is, so he’s expanding with another 1,500 square feet.
“It’s not a smart move to open the market without more space.”
The new room, which Febres hopes to use for some of his exotic dinners, will have a fireplace and a television to be able to show him and others cooking in the main restaurant area.
Febres also is considering adding a lounge area that would be open later than the restaurant and serve tapas.
Look for the market to open within about a month and the expanded dining area after that.