The second edition of the Goût de France/ Good France event held across the globe had over 1,500 chefs paying tribute to the excellence of French cuisine by preparing a special menu of recipes inspired by French expertise By Rituparna Chatterjee
Following the success of its first edition last year, the second edition of Goût de France/ Good France event was held on March 21, 2016 across the globe with a view to make it an annual spring event. The Goût de France/ Good France event, organised on the initiative of Chef Alain Ducasse and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development, showcases the French way of life, regional products, and France as a tourist destination. Chef Auguste Escoffier, also called ‘The Chef of Kings and The King of Chefs’ born in the Riviera town of Villeneuve-Loubet, France in 1846, launched the ‘Dîners d Epicure’ (Epicurean Dinners) initiative in 1912 (i.e. creating the same menu on the same day in several world cities for as many guests as possible). The Goût de France/ Good France event is a recreation of Chef Escoffier’s idea by involving restaurants from around the world.
In this second edition, over 1,500 chefs from across the globe paid tribute to the excellence of French cuisine and its emphasis on sharing by preparing a special menu of recipes inspired by French expertise. The participating restaurants were invited to design their menu based on the following sequence : aperitif and canapes, starter, main course(s), cheese, dessert(s), French wines and champagnes. Each recipe was based on a cuisine that uses less fat, sugar and salt, to promote health and environment. The price of the dishes was decided by the restaurant and each participant committed to donating five per cent of the proceeds to a local NGO promoting health and the environment. In addition, French embassies also participated in the event by organising dinners at the residences of its ambassadors prior to March 21. For instance, as a preview to the Goût de France/ Good France event, the consul general of France in Mumbai, Yves Perrin and his wife, Caroline Perrin, hosted a reception at their residence on March 17 wherein the participating chefs from the city were invited to prepare their signature ‘plat du jour’ (a dish that for them represents France). Speaking on this year’s event, Yves Perrin stated, “Last year we received a good response. This year we decided to have it on March 21 and make it an annual event. The aim of Goût de France/Good France event is not only to highlight French cuisine but also the ambiance, wine and other aspects associated with it. We had organised another reception with Indian travel agents before this one to promote French gastronomic tours.”
The chefs who attended the preview presented the following dishes
- Botticino, Trident Bandra Kurla – Chef Ashish Bhasin – Coq au vin
- Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai – Chef Peter Coelho and Chef Zeeshan Memon – Oven Roasted Lamb Rack, Perigord Quinoa and Merlot Jus
- Olive Bar & Kitchen – Chef Rishim Sachdeva – Chicken Liver Pate with Toasted Brioche, Caramelised Fig and Port Wine Reduction and Chef Abhijeet Bitla – Confit Asparagus, Smoked Young Cheese, Sunflower Seeds and Poached Egg Yolk
- The Sassy Spoon – Chef Irfan Pabaney – Cheese Souffle and Apple Walnut Salad
- Trendz, The LaLiT Mumbai – Chef Aungshuman Chakraborty – Chevre Chaud, Petite salade de carpaccio de radis, Tartare de tomate et coulis de fruits rouges
- Sofitel Mumbai BKC – Chef Manav Kaul – Confit de canard et pommes sarladaises.
The participating restaurants from the diplomatic constituency of Mumbai included – Botticino, Trident Bandra Kurla; Artisan, Sofitel Mumbai BKC; Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai; Olive Bar & Kitchen; Ratatouille Diaries; The Sassy Spoon; Trendz, The LaLiT Mumbai; Olio-Italian Bistro, Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach; Vetro, The Oberoi, Mumbai; Olive Bistro, Pune; Le Poisson Rouge, Goa; and Love Restaurant, The Park Calangute Goa.