By Anh-Minh Le
Photographs by Douglas Friedman
Stepping through JouJou’s pink arched door, across striped mosaic floor tiles, diners are transported to the South of France. The design, says interior designer Jon de La Cruz, is “a wonderful mélange of traditional French references like orangeries, treillage, and toile de jouy, twisted with moody jewel tones, art nouveau block prints, and smoky Euro-disco clubs of the ’70s.” de la Cruz was commissioned by Chef and Partner David Barzelay and Managing Partner Colleen Booth, the duo behind the two-Michelin-starred Lazy Bear, to create the atmospheric interiors for their new French culinary venture. “Their approach to cooking and their approach to hospitality really informed how to design for them,” de la Cruz says. For example, “Chef David’s approach to cooking is very detail-oriented. He will rework and refine something until it’s excellent. So I really wanted it to feel that when you walked in, everything was considered.”
While DLC-ID primarily designs residences, JouJou comes on the heels of other high-profile restaurant projects for the firm, like the new location for Tyler Florence’s Wayfare Tavern and the brand-new Via Aurelia from the Che Fico team. As de la Cruz develops his interiors concepts, sampling dishes can be an occupational perk. Among his favorites at JouJou are the black cod à l’ananas, steak aux poivre exotiques and creamed kale callaloo. “While in art school, I worked in restaurants at night,” he says. “Three things I love to do: draw, shop and cook. Working on restaurants, I get to tap into all three!” 
