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Fanny and Patrick Panella at Bin 152; below, they share a few of their favorite things, from creeping fig to miniature portraits. Photographs (6) by Rachel Doblin & (coffee) courtesy of illy
July 16, 2015
15 Minutes with Patrick & Fanny Panella
This couple de cuisine have poured themselves into their wine and cheese bar, Bin 152, and popular restaurant, Chez Nous. We sat down to learn what fills them up (hint: it’s not alcohol)
written by Allston McCrady
CM: What’s it like working together?
PP: We’ve always worked well together. We have really complementary skill sets. In a lot of situations where people argue over who does what, we argue to do more. Fanny’s the best business partner I could ever hope for.
CM: Ever too much togetherness?
PP: After we opened Chez Nous, one of us would be at the restaurant, one of us at the wine bar, then we would get off and do nothing but talk about work. It was terrible. So we had to make rules. Now, we only talk about work during meetings, and when we’re off, we’re off. At home, we’re married, not business partners.
CM: How did you meet?
FP: I’m from Nice in the South of France. When I came to the U.S. in ’99, I thought I was going to stay only three months. I went to San Francisco, met this guy, and never left.
PP: Fanny worked around the corner from my wine bar and used to come in. I was persistent. She finally went out with me. And that was it.
CM: Why Charleston?
PP: After living in Brooklyn for two years, we were kind of burned out on the New York thing. Then we got the opportunity to open a bakery here on East Bay. Driving to work the first weekend, I remember saying, “They’re going to have to drag me kicking and screaming out of here.”
FP: I love Charleston’s balance. In New York, it’s work, work, work. Here, people work hard, but they play hard, too. And I never want to take for granted that people say, “Hi,” on the street.
CM: When Bin 152 and Chez Nous first opened, some complained the menus were too limited, but both are thriving.
FP: We believe in simplicity. It’s better to do one thing really well than many things average.
CM: Chez Nous is off the beaten path, not an obvious location for a restaurant. How did you choose that building?
PP: Sometimes I look at property just to see what’s there. I found this place three years ago. First, we thought we’d live there, then I suggested opening a restaurant. She said it was ridiculous!
FP: He just plants a seed in my brain and lets it grow. Two or three months later, I woke up and said, “How about we try a restaurant?”
CM: Chez Nous turned one this spring. Any lessons learned?
PP: Many lessons, but in the end, we stayed true to our concept—a small menu that changes daily, which is not uncommon in Europe. It’s been well received and creates a really fun and engaging
environment for guests and staff.
CM: You own a wine bar, yet you don’t drink. Tell us about that.
PP: Yeah, it’s kind of ironic. We quit drinking almost 13 years ago. A few months into dating, Fanny said, “I think I need to take a break from drinking.” And I was like, “OK.” We never had a drink again. I taste all the wine, but I don’t consume any of it. And I love wine!
CM: How do you unwind?
PP: I could walk South of Broad every day and never get sick of it. I’m obsessed with the architecture and plants around town.
FP: Our life is pretty social, so when we want to unwind, we hang out together at home with our pug, Armando. Our next project is renovating our 1880s house in Harleston Village.
CM: Have any summer plans?
PP: We shut the restaurant down for two weeks earlier this month, giving our chefs a break and flying to Nice, where Fanny grew up. I’ve been wanting to go there forever.
CM: Any new ventures on the horizon?
FP: I compare businesses to babies. Chez Nous is a one-year-old that needs lots of care. Bin is older—we don’t worry about it as much. Maybe a few years down the line.
PP: And not unless we feel that it really contributes to the overall restaurant scene in Charleston. We want our businesses to be institutions—we never want them to go away.
Five of the Panellas’ Favorite Things (shown above)
Worthwhile: “Whenever Fanny goes into Worthwhile, we’re in trouble!” Leather jacket, Worthwhile, $2,195
Creeping Fig: “I love the plants around town, especially this one,” says Patrick. Hyams Garden Center, $20
Illy Coffee: Every day, Patrick makes a pour-over single brew for himself and a café au lait for Fanny. Whole Foods, $15
Miniature Portraits: Fanny collects them, feeling drawn to their personal nature. Charleston Antiques, $50 and up
Marius, Fanny, and César: Fanny was named for a character in this 1930s trilogy. eBay, $67-$300
For more on Chez Nous, visit cheznouschs.com and Bin 152, visit bin152.com.
To read more articles on eating and drinking in Charleston, click here.
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