Word of the passing of chef Bernard Tordjman has been confirmed by Facebook posted tributes to the owner of his namesake Bernard's Bistro in Henderson.
The septuagenarian chef debuted his first local California-French cuisine restaurant at Lake Las Vegas in 2008, filling the space with design nods to two of his passions, the music of Frank Sinatra and the history of the RMS Titanic. Tordjman's grandfather had worked for the company that supplied the food and wine for the White Star Line fleet that included the ill-fated passenger liner.
Born in Versailles, France, Tordjman's career in the United Sates began with Ma Maison in Boulder, Colo., before a move to California, where he made his mark with Cafe Noir in San Pedro and Spazio in Sherman Oaks.
Encouraged by Thomas and Joseph Keller, then operating Bistro Zinc and Como’s at the Montelago Village, he created his own bistro on the property. In early 2014 he expanded with a second, three-times larger location on Henderson's Sunset Road, adding more Italian dishes to the menu. A year later, the original bistro quietly shuttered at Lake Las Vegas.
A ubiquitous, welcoming presence at his restaurants, Bernard's Bistro remains open for business