If you have been to Tersiguel’s French Country Restaurant, then you know how amazing their fabulous cuisine is! In fact, they are celebrating their 40th anniversary of being in business this Saturday! I am thrilled and honored to be photographing this auspicious, sold out, event. We are all so excited about this major milestone and their outstanding accomplishment in Historic Ellicott City.
The founders of Tersiguel’s, Fernand and Odette Tersiguel, are amazing people and I’ve enjoyed getting to know them. They are an incredible example of the benefits of hard work and determination. They came to the United States in 1963. In 1980, they opened Chez Fernand on Main Street. Sadly, the successful Chez Fernand burned to the ground in the fire of 1984. Fernand and Odette persevered and re-opened Chez Fernand in downtown Baltimore. Fortunately for us, they wanted to return to their beloved Ellicott City and Tersiguel’s opened it’s doors, in it’s current location, in October of 1990.
Chef Michel is a 1984 graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in New York. After his time in New York, he worked in Baltimore, with his family, he also worked in France and in California (with Michael Chiarello) and later served as Chef de Cuisine at Left Bank in Larskpur. In 1997, he returned to Ellicott City to take over as Executive Chef and owner of Tersiguel’s.
In addition to valuing and serving magnificent food, they also value family and preserving family history. I had the honor of photographing three generations of Tersiguel’s: Fernand and Odette, their son, Michel and his incredible wife, Angie, and their two beautiful boys; Lucas and Landon. What an fun morning portrait session we had, it was such a glorious day! I was fortunate enough to have Lauren Ward assist me on this sunny day with this very special family. We were inspired by an family photograph of Fernand and Odette taken on their wedding day, in 1963. (They just celebrated 52 years of marriage!) Congratulations! So, we, too, took a family portrait, and used Tersiguel’s as the backdrop. We also created portraits of this beautiful family inside Tersiguel’s, in the Brit dining room. The Brit is short for the Brittany Room. This refers to the region that Fernand and Odette are from. The dishes in this room are called Quimper. That is also the name of the city in which they are made. Angie shared with me that Quimpler is one of the coolest places she’s been (perhaps that could be the location of your next family portrait session…..I travel 😉 ). Be sure to view their story and history via their lovely portraits, as they are displayed throughout their restaurant.
Tersiguel’s French Country Restaurant is located at 8293 Main Street, Ellicott City, MD. Be sure to visit and dine in this delicious restaurant, voted Best French Restaurant in Howard County, Maryland. This is definitely a restaurant that your meal time will become a wonderful dining experience and you’ll leave with delightful memories. Tersiguel’s has been the perfect setting for countless birthday celebrations, weddings, anniversaries, graduation festivities, business functions…..imagine if THOSE walls could talk, what an extraordinary story they would tell.
To Fernand, Odette, Michel, Angie, Lucas and Landon, thank you for allowing me the privilege of spending time with you, to get to know you better, and to document more of your family history, what a great honor. I enjoyed my time with you and look forward to enjoying many more great moments together!
To the entire staff, past and present, of Tersiguel’s, thank you for continuing to strive for the best. You really help provide memorable moments for your dining guests, thank you.
I hope you enjoy these family portraits that we created together.
Until next time, au revoir and bon appetit!
I was so happy to deliver Angie and Michel’s 40″ gallery wrapped canvas of her beautiful family! I, of course, was happy when Landon also approved it! 😉
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Pam Long Photography 
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