“Little France” is what Laurent Gabrel calls the stretch of Madison Valley that is home to Rover’s, Gabrel’s own Voilà! Bistrot, and La Côte Crêperie, which he created but has since sold.

Now, the gregarious Gaul is expanding his empire to 3515 NE 45th Street, where he’ll open a new restaurant called Chloe Bistrot this summer. Gabrel says Chloe will be a lot like Voilà! from a price perspective, but with a more seafood-focused menu. There will be a bouillabaisse, tripe a la Normande, and mussels, another other oceanic options. On the appetizer menu: salmon rillettes, oysters, and escargots.

Voilà’s! beloved Kobe beef burger will be among les viandes, and Gabrel spoke of a flank steak and shallot dish too.

I asked Gabrel if he would have half-price wine bottles on Sundays as he does at Voilà! He laughed at me and said he hadn’t gotten that far. Then he whipped his scarf around his neck with a flick of the wrist and sped off towards Laurelhurst in his red Mercedes C300. Okay that last bit didn’t really happen, but he does have a red C300. I have that on good authority.