The Elephant Walk

Specialties

We’re frequently misunderstood. Never a fusion restaurant, we’ve always been bi-​cultural, serving both Cambodian and French cuisine — a true reflection of the life experience of our founding family.

Founding chef Longteine «Nyep» de Monteiro — author of The Elephant Walk Cookbook — and her younger daughter Nadsa — now our Executive Chef — are native Cambodians. Nyep was raised in Phnom Penh while Cambodia was still a French Protectorate, part of what was known as «French Indochina.» They attended French schools, grew up enjoying both Cambodian and French food, and traveled extensively once Longteine’s husband Kenthao became a chargé d’affaires and later an ambassador for Cambodia’s government, with overseas posts in Cairo, Belgrade, Manila and Taipei.

It would be fair to say that each one of us in a position of responsibility at The Elephant Walk arrived here by accident. None of us went to school for this or has worked in any other restaurant but our own. The Elephant Walk is us.

History

Established in 1991.

Longteine «Nyep» and Kenthao de Monteiro, the Cambodian founders of The Elephant Walk along with American Bob Perry, former husband of their daughter Nadsa, started their restaurant careers in Bezièrs, France.

When Cambodia fell to the Khmer Rouge in April 1975, Kenthao’s diplomatic career a ended. In 1980, with their money running out and no other viable opportunites before them, Nyep pawned her jewelry and they opened Amrita, a small restaurant in Bezièrs serving Cambodian food along with a few Chinese dishes. — They ran Amrita until 1990 when they moved to Boston to join their newly-​naturalized American daughter Nadsa and her then husband Bob.

Together they founded The Elephant Walk in Somerville in 1991. Nadsa, who had been working as a travel agent, joined the business in 1992. In late1993, Nadsa’s elder sister Launa and her French husband Gérard Lopez immigrated from France and joined the family business.

The Elephant Walk in Cambridge, with Gérard as Chef, opened in 1994.

Meet the Business Owner

Gérard L.

Business Owner

The route to The Elephant Walk’s kitchen was a roundabout one for Gérard Lopez. Today, it seems the most natural place in the world to find this Frenchman who has loved cooking since he was a child.

Gérard was born in Capestang, a small town in the south of France. His father was a native of Madrid, his mother, a French woman raised in North Africa. Cooking, along with soccer, was the family’s passion.

While pursuing a career helping commercial builders finance their operations he married Launa de Monteiro in 1985. Gérard began helping her family out in their restaurant on weekends. Little did he realize that casually assisting his in-​laws would one day lead him to America.

After deciding move to the U.S. Gérard quit his job and enrolled in pastry school. He then apprenticed at the best patisserie in Beziérs for experience. In Boston Gérard first worked in Somerville as pastry chef. He soon became Sous Chef. In 1998 Gérard openedThe Elephant Walk in Cambridge as chef.