"We were worried about putting the word 'French' in our name because relations between France and America aren't going so well right now," said Dominique Faury, who with his wife, Eileen, operates the new cafe on Campbell Avenue. "But it wasn't a problem. People here have really been wonderful and inviting since we've opened."

His Twist Cafe: American Cuisine with a French Twist occupies the spot on E. Campbell Avenue that once was home to Urban Ice Cream. Twist celebrated its grand opening on Dec. 10, making it one of the newest businesses in historic downtown.

Faury, a graduate of College Albert De Mun and Chamber of Commerce of Paris, has a culinary career that spans more than 20 years.

Born and raised in Paris, he worked at a handful of prestigious restaurants in France as well as the Noga Hilton in Geneva before coming to the United States. In America, he continued his experience as sous chef in New York City; Washington, D.C.; San Juan (Puerto Rico); and at the Drake Hotel in Chicago.

In the Bay Area, he served as chef garde manager at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose and executive chef at the Westin Palo Alto. He's also hosted a live cooking show twice a month on NBC 3.

But this newest endeavor, his first storefront business, is not a one-man show. His wife is every bit as important, he said.

A graduate of fine arts, Eileen is responsible for decorating the cafe and creating a friendly ambient atmosphere for everyone who comes in, both children and adults.

The idea for the wall decor she got from the home accessories store Crate and Barrel. On the walls hang large, rectangular-shaped wooden panels painted in solid colors.

Though the panels themselves are plain, she said, their simplicity is easily changed for any occasion with minimal effort. For Christmas, for example, she tied red ribbons around them. For the New Year's celebration, she has party decorations.

And in one corner, she's set up a play area for children. It isn't much, merely a small area with tiny chairs and tables bolted to the ground. It's supplied with chalkboard, chalks, coloring books, blank sheets of paper and crayons.

"Since we opened, we've had 15 to 20 kids come in here with their families," she said. "The kids go right to the play area. They're like little magnets."

Despite the family-friendly atmosphere, the main attraction for the cafe is, of course, the food.

Dominique does something personal with everything he makes, he said.

Take the classic Italian sandwich, for example.

"It's just two pieces of bread with salami and bruschetta in between," Faury said. "But I put in things like balsamic vinegar and olive oil, which gives it a French twist."

It also softens the bread and gives it a different texture, which he hopes his clientele will like.

And he's put his own little French twist on everything on his menu—from the rotisserie chicken to the Niçoise salad to the rock shrimp cilantro wrap, the dish of which he's most proud.

For more information, visit Faury's website at http://www.chefcater.com or call 408.374.8982. The cafe is located at 247 E. Campbell Ave.