The event, dubbed as ‘Goût de France/Good France,’ honours the excellence of French cuisine, its capacity for innovation, and the values that it conveys: sharing, enjoyment, and respect for peers, the planet, and the art of eating well, according to a statement from the embassy.
“The highlight this year will be on the fact that high gastronomy in France could go also with healthy food,” French ambassador Eric Chevallier told a press conference at his residence in Doha.
While some people believe that gastronomy cannot go together with healthy food, the envoy said that Goût de France will give emphasis on doing it amazingly tasty but at the same time, healthy.
Goût de France started in 2015 by France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with a very famous chef, Alain Ducasse, according to Chevallier.
Added to the Unesco List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, the event is an opportunity for chefs and restaurateurs to showcase recipes inspired by French expertise.
This year, more than 70 culinary schools and more than 150 embassies worldwide will organise this special dinner on March 21.
Chevallier said Qatar residents will have the opportunity to savour “the best in the world” in 10 restaurants in Doha, or travel to France to experience what he described as a one-of-a-kind French gastronomy.
Participating restaurants in Doha are Al Dirwandi (Adagio), La Mer Bistrot (Ritz Carlton Doha), La Varenne, La Villa (Mercure Grand Hotel), Liquidity (Crowne Plaza Doha – The Business Park), Market by Jean-Georges (W Hotel), Rpime (Intercontinental Doha The City), Trader Vic’s (Hilton), and Yum Yum (K108). Dinner will be served on March 22 at Idam by Alain Ducasse (Museum of Islamic Art).
“What we do in France has always been healthy, and if you don’t eat too much, it is healthy,” said Crowne Plaza Doha executive chef Dominique Morin, who plans to cook fish with grilled bread, and create a mixed salad.
“I will have a nice cut of beef, cook it for five to six hours, slowly cooked, it will be brazed with a nice sauce and it will be amazing and delicious,” he added. “It will have cheese with herb salad, because cheese is always healthy.”
For Mercure Grand Hotel Doha chef Lahcen Bimadarne, “French food is for everybody.” “It has its own unique touch, it doesn’t have lots of spices, you will find just light food with butter and cheese, and cooked with wine.”
Like other chefs participating in the event, he said he will cook a variety of healthy and exquisite French dishes for guests to enjoy.
“Some of the renowned chefs of Doha will, in their own ways, give live to the words of Ducasse, according to which “French cuisine is the interpreter of a cuisine that has evolved towards lightness in harmony with its environment…” the statement added.
French ambassador Eric Chevallier (fifth, right) with hotel officials and chefs who will take part at ‘Gou00fbt de France/Good France celebration on March 21. PICTURE: Thajudheen
More than 2,000 chefs across five continents and 10 restaurants in Qatar, will take part in “a very special dinner” on March 21 dedicated to French gastronomy, the French embassy announced.
