New Luncheon Event Series At Greenwich's Orienta Restaurant Begins Dec. 1

GREENWICH, CT — Orienta Restaurant, located at 55 Lewis St. next to sister restaurant Le Penguin, is introducing a luncheon event series this winter.

The series will include shopping and feature meet-and-greet opportunities with local artisans, fashion and accessory designers along with other inspirational business owners. The first event is scheduled for Dec. 1 at noon with renowned artist Simone Kestelman of Scarsdale, N.Y.

Reservations are required, and a two-course prix-fixe lunch is included for the price of $35.

Kestelman is a sculptor and multi-media artist working in glass, ceramics, and photography. Her work speaks to archetypal themes of life, death, love, violence, and ambition. She began working in ceramics in her hometown of Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil when she was only 7 years old.

Kestelman has exhibited her work internationally in solo exhibitions and has been cited in The Brooklyn Rail, Nyack News & Views, Scarsdale Inquirer, WAG Magazine, Westchester Magazine, and Cottages & Gardens to name a few. Her work can be found in the permanent collection of the Newark Museum of Art and private collections in Brazil, the United States, and Europe.

Kestelman lives and works in Westchester County, N.Y.

"I'm a huge fan of what the Blech family is doing at Orienta and their other restaurants, I'm a longtime customer and I look forward to launching this event series with them," Kestelman said in a news release. "I will have my new collection of ceramic jewelry for sale at the event with pieces inspired by the camellia flower."

Kestelman will speak to guests about her experience while they enjoy lunch items from Orienta's one-of-a-kind French and Asian-inspired menu.

New menu items include the Chin-Chin Paillard and Vietnamese Savory Crepe.

"Operating a restaurant is a lot like producing a Broadway show,” said restaurant owner Suzanne Blech, a former model, and film executive, in a news release.

"The entire team works together for the production to be successful and our goal with this event series is to create a memorable experience for our guests. An experience that will make a bigger impact," she added.

Through this program, the restaurant will share the stage with people, brands, and artists that appeal to its customer base. Each event collaborator is hand-selected by Blech and the Maitre d', her daughter-in-law, Kate.

The idea to add special events to weekday lunch is a response to the restaurant’s exciting story and interesting cast of characters.

Orienta first opened in the Upper East Side in 1995 as a result of Blech’s husband, Antoine, working at two iconic NYC restaurants, Le Bilboquet and Le Colonial.

Back then, Antoine Blech was a Westchester County-based husband and father with two small children. He decided to open his first New York City restaurant and combined a cozy bistro ambiance with Asian flavors that resulted in a distinct space and captured rave reviews.

A decade ago, he closed its doors and transitioned his focus to Connecticut with the opening of Le Penguin in Greenwich, and later Le Fat Poodle in Old Greenwich. Once the right space opened nearby, the Blechs decided to reopen Orienta and bring the beloved restaurant's magic to Fairfield County, now with Suzanne at the helm.

Known for welcoming guests who are more like family and friends to the restaurant, Blech’s son, Adrien, is the talented executive chef leading the kitchen.

Since opening the restaurant in the spring of 2020, Blech has hosted several shopping events with local fashion retailers.

"Structuring an event series with a storytelling angle allows our guests to enjoy Chef's delicious food while they are entertained and make new connections. We will also emphasize an opportunity to shop for really unique items as this is something our customers will love," she said in a news release.

Blech is a dedicated businesswoman with a passion for cultivating a space that is inspiring and memorable. "We designed the restaurant to be an escape. When guests dine at Orienta they feel like they're traveling," said Blech.

The restaurant's French and Asian cuisine has a heavy Vietnamese influence and is just as "instagrammable" as the restaurant's interiors. It was recently used for a couple of fashion and accessory photoshoots.

The juxtaposition of a unique menu and whimsical interior sets this restaurant far apart from anywhere else in the area. And the personality that comes with it adds a charismatic charm that is hard to find. Blech jokes that a successful restaurant owner can always find a pair of reading glasses or an umbrella, as these items are often left behind by satisfied customers.

"I'm excited to welcome new faces to the restaurant and expand our reach further into Fairfield and Westchester County with this new lunch program. I believe it will be a win-win-win for everyone," said Blech.

Orienta is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday, and only for dinner on Sunday.

Visit Orienta online to learn more or book a reservation (orientarestaurant.com).