Carlos Farina, the face of Bistrot du Bœuf Rouge
Today, as manager of the establishment, Carlos Farina works alongside his wife and a small, loyal team to keep this restaurant of Lyonnais specialities running smoothly. In all humility, Carlos gives us his portrait, surely a little embarrassed by the journalistic exercise. Born to a Spanish father and a Swiss-German mother, he arrived in the beautiful city of Calvin at the age of 32 to work alongside his father at the Bistrot du Bœuf Rouge. And although the restaurant is now a family affair, Carlos’ initial career path did not predestine him for the restaurant business.
Passion above all else
Successively tennis instructor, computer programmer at SwissAir and commercial apprentice in Lucerne, it was in 2004 that he obtained his licence to take over the restaurant then run by his father. Far removed from his original field, it’s passion that drives him today. “It’s a pleasure to meet new people and recognize familiar faces, and every day is different! It’s a tough job, but a lively one, where time flies by faster than behind a computer.” From Monday to Friday, Carlos and his clan of seven work in symbiosis. Every role is important and vital to the smooth running of the restaurant. At the Bistrot du Bœuf Rouge, it’s desire that dominates! And in this team, which has been working together for over 15 years, trust reigns supreme, something Carlos values highly.
In his restaurant, everything is homemade. The cuisine is warm and welcoming, reminiscent of bourgeois, gourmet, family-style cooking. “Our house exudes tradition. Perhaps guests come to us to rediscover the warmth of family meals,” he humbly confides. And that’s what he wants to convey in his service. He wants his customers to feel at ease, at home. “We don’t wait for a customer to notice a mistake, we try to anticipate it so that we can avoid it. Nobody’s perfect, but we do our best to get there. Dear epicureans, you’ll be able to see for yourself when you visit Carlos Farina at the Bistrot du Bœuf rouge in the near future.
