January 13, 2010
O’s Food and Wine Bar-An Interview with Chef Philippe Corbet
by Christine Gerani
During Long Island Restaurant Week a bunch of friends and I wanted to try this new place called O’s in St. James, NY. What a magnificent surprise! If you are looking for ambience, this place is for you. Stone walls that wrap around two open fireplaces add to the already warm atmosphere of O’s Food and Wine Bar. Once called Oscar’s this restaurant has transitioned itself from an American Style restaurant to a more International Fare with a Tapas Menu that is out of this world. I came back to O’s to meet Executive Chef and Managing Partner Chef Philippe Corbet to find out a little more about his restaurant and culinary style.
Christine – You’re from France. Tell us how you started your culinary career in America.
Chef Philippe – I worked at Georges Blanc Restaurant where I met a lot of friends, and one of my Chef’s moved to America and worked at Stone Creek Inn where I started. He wanted me to come here but I was not ready to come here. I was a Sous Chef at the time.
Christine – You were young?
Chef Philippe – I was 23 or 24 when he called me, I had always wanted to come here but I’d have to sell everything to move here. Then, one Saturday night there was a fire, and I lost all the stuff in my apartment. Two weeks later I called him and said I’m moving in. I originally was coming for a year, maybe a year and a half but I never left.
Christine – This restaurant was once called Oscar’s tell us about your transition into O’s?
Chef Philippe – I was brought here by an old partner that was once in this location and decided that the restaurant was more American. One day he told me I was too French (we laugh) so I said “I’m sorry that’s what I am if you 
want an American Chef… get an American Chef”. He decided to leave and I took over and I decided that I wanted to do what I really wanted to do. So that’s when I started the Tapas Menu. I changed the name, changed the ambience, music and everything else.
Christine – The food here is delicious, what was your inspiration when you created this menu?
Chef Philippe – It’s very seasonal it depends on the weather a lot. If it’s a sunny day you’re going to have a fun dish. I have a lot of fun doing it for it it’s relaxing to cook and I try to do everything myself. For me it’s very important. In my background, I started working at a Michelin star restaurant, but I wanted to learn the best way to do things at this kind of place, but do it right. We started to do the International Tapas every month and that’s something for me that’s very challenging because I’m always learning, always looking to bring more flavor to my food because of new techniques and spices.
Christine – We asked Head Bartender Lara Lowenhar about the favorite cocktails at O’s Food and Wine Bar- The Pink Lemonade, The Very Berry Martini is very popular and of course the Starry Night…
Chef Philippe – And on the Tapas Menu…menu-wise. For me it’s different as it’s simple as you can but it is amazing. The Octopus is really good it’s one of my favorites. It’s tough to answer the question for a favorite. Lots of people ask me what is my signature dish…and I don’t have one, because I’m changing all the time!
Christine – That’s what makes you guys so unique which I think is great. When you are home what does your wife Christine like that you cook?
Chef Philippe – She likes roast chicken, beef stew with a lot of vegetables. Very earthy, very comfy food.
Christine – Does she cook?
Chef Philippe – She makes great grilled cheese!
You can visit O’s Food and Wine Bar at
552 North Country Road St James, NY 11780
tel: (631) 584-4600
Visit them on the web at
http://www.osfoodandwinebar.com/
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