Le Chene French Cuisine from “Sharp Objects”

I am a very black and white person.  Opinions typically come to me immediately and tend to swing towards either loving or hating something.  I don’t deal much in grey.  For some reason, though, I cannot decide if I like Sharp Objects.  I thoroughly enjoyed the Gillian Flynn novel on which the new HBO series is based (it is my favorite out of all of her books) and could not have been more excited to watch, especially when I heard it being referred to as “the next Big Little Lies.”  But five episodes in and I’m still on the fence.  The show’s acting is indisputably top-notch and its storyline gripping, but I also find it slow-moving, bleak, and all-around odd.  I was thrilled to learn, though, that while set in the fictional town of Wind Gap, Missouri, filming largely took place in Southern California.  I was also thrilled to recognize one spot that I stalked a few years ago, but never blogged about – Le Chene French Cuisine.  The Grim Cheaper and I happened by the Santa Clarita eatery way back in March 2013 while doing some stalking nearby and I recalled its unique exterior from its many appearances in film location books and websites chronicling its cameo in 1971’s Duel.  So we promptly pulled over to snap some pics.  Though the place went right out of my mind and into my stalking backlog, as soon as it showed up on Sharp Objects, I knew I had to dedicate a post to it.

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Le Chene French Cuisine was originally established as the Oaks Garage gas station by mechanic William A. Dodrill and his wife, Rachel Swanson, in 1917.  The initial structure that stood on the premises was not much more than a small wooden shack with an adjacent concession stand that offered cold sodas to passersby.  You can check out a photo of what it looked like at the time here.

In 1923, the couple decided to broaden their budding enterprise by adding an eatery to the site.  Boulders were brought in from Big Rock Creek in Palmdale to cover the new restaurant’s exterior.  The unique façade earned the place the nickname “rock house,” as well as “Castle Oaks Garage and Café” thanks to its castle-like appearance.

During the 1940s, the business was acquired by Chester and Marie Lamar and became a hotbed of celebrity activity.  Just a few of the well-knowns who popped in while filming in the area or passing by on their way to local attractions include Gregory Peck, Lee Marvin, Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Wallace Beery, William Boyd, Jane Wyman, Keenan Wynn, Mickey Cohan, and Clark Gable (who was not the best customer, reportedly).

Since the Lamars’ tenure ended in 1957, the property has been bought and sold several times.  It was finally leased by Juan Alonso in 1980.  The Spanish-born chef transformed the site into upscale French eatery Le Chene, which translates to “the oak.”

Despite the fact that it is located pretty much in the middle of nowhere, the restaurant quickly became a popular dining spot and Alonso purchased it in 1981.  Years later, when the need to expand arose, he gutted the former garage and turned it into a banquet room.  He has since enlarged the kitchen and main dining room, remodeled the bar, and added a large garden and a 6-acre vineyard.  Today, the eatery boasts a whopping 8,900 square feet.

Le Chene popped up in the fourth episode of Sharp Objects, titled “Ripe,” as the supposed Wind Gap restaurant La Mere, where Camille Preaker (Amy Adams) meets with some of her mother’s friends including Jackie O’Neill (Elizabeth Perkins) and Annie B (Beth Broderick).  Both the exterior . . .

. . . and interior of the site appear in the episode.  Sadly, Le Chene was closed when we dropped by, so I did not get to see the inside, but you can check out some photos of it here.

In the television movie Duel, which has the distinction of being Steven Spielberg’s first foray into full-length film directing, Le Chene portrays Chuck’s Café, where David Mann (Dennis Weaver) crashes his car after being chased by a menacing truck driver (played by Carey Loftin).

After the collision, David ventures into the restaurant (which looked much different at the time the flick was lensed in 1971) to clean himself up and soon discovers that the truck driver has followed him inside to terrorize him further.

Though an old LoopNet listing for the property suggests that additional filming has taken place the premises, I have been unable to dig up any other productions the place has appeared in.

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Until next time, Happy Stalking! 

Stalk It: Le Chene French Cuisine, aka La Mere from Sharp Objects, is located at 12625 Sierra Highway in Santa Clarita.  You can visit the restaurant’s official website here.  The eatery is only open for dinner most days (on Sunday, brunch is served), so plan accordingly.