It was with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Gwenael Goulet, chef/owner of Buffet de la Gare in Hastings-on-Hudson. Goulet, who died Tuesday, July 19, after a long battle with cancer, is survived by his wife, Annie; son, Gwendal; and daughter, Stephanie.
Buffet de la Gare was opened by the Goulets in 1980, and quickly earned loyal fans and critical acclaim, garnering four stars in Westchester Magazine, an “Excellent” in the New York Times, and high scores in the Zagat survey. Since its debut, Buffet de la Gare has been a Westchester mainstay for excellent brasserie fare served with incomparable warmth by the Goulet family.
From Chef Peter Kelly of X2O Xaviars on the Hudson: “Gwaenel Goulet was not only a dear friend for nearly thirty years, he was a chef that I emulated and had a deep respect for. Gwaenel’s love for the traditional cuisine Française and his treatment of the ‘classiques’ [whether coq au vin or confit de canard] were never dated: they were timeless. He managed to always find a way to reinvigorate a classic dish. But maybe Gwaenel’s greatest legacy will be as a teacher, because that is where he truly excelled. His kitchen will continue to shine because the cooks he personally trained and mentored were not just his employees—they were his extended family and Gwaenel’s spirit will always inspire the kitchen of Buffet de la Gare.”
The Goulet family intends to retain Buffet de la Gare. We will keep you posted regarding any new developments.
