Page 3NEWSOctober 1, 2012

The French Bulldog opened in early September in Dundee. Owners Anne Cavanaugh and Phil Anania have been in the restaurant business for years. The

two also own Amsterdam Falfel & Kabob, a nearby haunt that happens to be located on the very same block. Bryce Coulton is the restaurant’s cook.

Coulton is not an Omaha native, but like Cavanaugh and Anania, he is no stranger to the restaurant business. After serving in the military, Coulton decided to pursue a second career in the culinary arts, attending a culinary school in Ireland. He started at The Boiler Room, a ritzy restau-rant in Omaha, where he met Cavanaugh and Anania.

They had always talked about running a restaurant together, and when the space became avail-able, it was hard for them to turn down the opportunity.

Before The French Bulldog opened, they encountered obstacles. The previous establishment, Subway, had left them with nothing but four walls, so they had to do some major renovation. This was frustrating because the group wanted to open as soon as possible. Construction began in Janu-ary, and it wasn’t finished until the last week of August.

When one walks into the building now, it is almost impossible to tell that it was ever a Subway.The décor in the restaurant is quite unique. The walls are covered in barn wood, which Anania

and Coulton obtained after a tornado occurred in a small town in Nebraska. They also have a dis-play case a variety of meats.

Most of the food at The French Bulldog does happen to be meat, but you still can find a few vegetarian options on the menu.

The French Bulldog got its name from Anania’s wife Kate. They chose this name because it is cute and quirky.

Although Anania and Cavanaugh also own Amsterdam, The French Bulldog differs from it

in many ways. The French Bulldog strives to make simple foods extraordinary, while Amsterdam makes very complex dishes.

For instance, most people have heard of the rueben sandwich. The French Bulldog tries to make it extraordinary; that is their goal: to make simple foods taste complex. Coulton says they don’t try to do things too fancy. “We like to cook the foods we enjoy,” he said.

Inspiration for the menu comes from their travels, and also what they have always liked. For example, Cavanaugh once tried a cheese sandwich in Madison, Wisc. and liked it so much that they decided to put a similar version on the menu call the Ploughman’s sandwich. It has white cheddar cheese, granny smith apples and greens on two pieces of sourdough bread.

The restaurant itself specializes in charcuterie, which is a broad French term that means cold-cut meats, including sausages and salami. They also have a large amount of different types of cheeses such as bleu, goat, soft and hard. Some of these cheeses are even local, although there do happen to be a couple imported cheeses. The cheeses, like many of the dishes on the menu, are the types of cheeses Coulton, Cavanaugh and Anania enjoy.

Dundee is a very lively place. The reason behind them opening in Dundee is simple. “Phil and Anne already own Amsterdam, so it was a natural decision,” said Coulton.

“We really wanted to create something that would complement the neighborhood.” The French Bulldog is a locally owned business, just like every business on that block now (the locally owned businesses on Underwood include eCreamery, the Dundee Dell, the Dundee Bank, Pitch, Scout, Dario’s, Mark’s and Blueline).

Dundee prides itself on this fact--all of these businesses really benefit the local economy and brings the community together. Not to mention it’s a fun and unique outing on a weekend where you have nothing to do.

The French Bulldog, located at 5003 Underwood Avenue, is open Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight.

Owners of Amsterdam Falafel & Kabob open new eatery

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MAYA DURFEE O’BRIENStaff Writer

1. A server at the French Bulldog’s bar pours a glass of wine. Along with meats and cheeses, the establishment also offers fine wines. 2. The French Bulldog’s sign hangs proudly in Dundee. This new restaurant supplements all of the other locally owned places on the block at 50th and Underwood. 3. A window display shows off meats and cheeses, the restaurant’s specialty. 4. The French Bulldog is fashioned with with an image of industrial modern.

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