 Meanwhile, he opened Cafe de la Presse and Rouge & Blance Wine Bar, which remain some of San Francisco's most popular dining venues.In 2007, Manrique united with friend and colleague Christopher Condy, to form a joint venture, resulting in the creation of C&L partners, a restaurant development, operating and investment company.Laurent helped guide C&L through the reopening of the Fifth Floor restaurant at the Palomar Hotel for the Kimpton Group in 2008, followed by the opening of the Urban Tavern at the San Francisco Hilton.