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Authentic French Food Is Coming To Your City
Enjoy Goût de France on March 21 with the world
When well-known British chef and television presenter James Martin was once asked in an interview what makes French food special, this is what he had to say: “France always has and always will have this love affair with food and drink – both aspects are so ingrained in the French psyche that it will be impossible to completely change that.” I recently visited some amazing provinces in France, and I can understand exactly what Martin meant. The cuisines differed in different regions. And, whether it was Michelin star restaurants I ate at or the ubiquitous bistros and cafés I visited, every meal was delectable and a feast for the eyes.
French food culture (two-hour lunch breaks here are quite common) as well as their cooking techniques are famous. No wonder then Goût de France/Good France—an initiative by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs in collaboration with French Embassies worldwide and Atout France – France Tourism Development Agency—has been gaining popularity since its launch in 2015.
This mammoth event that pays homage to France’s world renowned gastronomy finds place of pride on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List since 2010. The 4th edition of this culinary extravaganza, which takes place on March 21st, will showcase the best of French wines and spirits, the cuisine paying tribute to legendary chef Paul Bocuse (participating chefs will be invited to present a dish from his repertoire or an inspired creation) who was symbolic to French cuisine for half a century. In the 1960s, a new way of cooking helmed by chef Bocuse and others apparently emphasised freshness, lightness, and clarity of flavour in a movement known as nouvelle cuisine. Today, French cuisine balances a fine line between haute and nouvelle styles.
I recently got a taste of this fine dining (the highlight for me was the Bouillabaisse—this classic Provençal seafood stew loaded with clams, lobster and fish in a broth delicately flavoured with fennel and pastis, a licorice-flavored aperitif) as well as the much-talked about French hospitality at the Consul General of France and his wife, Caroline Perrin, at their home in Mumbai, giving us a peek into the festivities that will take place worldwide on Wednesday, March 21. This year 3,300 restaurants in 150 countries, (including 63 restaurants in India, find one in your city here) and five continents will serve French-styled menus to its customers, each participating restaurant will donate five per cent of the proceeds towards a local NGO.
