Jan 17, 2011

Meet downtown Columbus’ big cheesesBy Garthia Elena BurnettCDispatch.com

If you call, the voice on the other end of the phone may answer, “Cheese shop.” But a trip to Le Gourmet offers much more than exotic and gourmet cheeses. Soft music and scented candles beckon you, ushering you into the bistro and gourmet foods store, where cheeses are imported from all over the world. A menu, complete with items like shrimpacado salad and smoked salmon wrap, is distinctively different from traditional local fare. Upstairs is a bed-and-breakfast, catering to “discerning adults.”

And if you happen in during one of the rare moments when the mother-daughter duo at the head of the business are in together, it’s quite a sight to witness. Shannon Borchers, owner of the Le Gourmet and Le Dolce Vita Bistro, is quiet, the visionary behind the cheese and gift shop, restaurant and bed-and-breakfast. The tranquil setting reflects her personality. She doesn’t mind steering from the background, as her daughter, Dana Borchers, takes the spotlight as manager, welcoming visitors with a smile and adding her own special touch to menu offerings with daily “chef’s creations” soups, salads and quiche.

It’s a dynamic that’s both worked for the business and brought the two closer together.

“She’s really a people person,” Shannon said of her daughter, Saturday, reaching out for her hand. “That’s why I’ve got her out front.”

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