On Thursday 19 March, 20 restaurants around the UK will join over 1,300 chefs from all five continents for a worldwide celebration of French food and drink.
Goût de France/Good France is a global initiative supported by the French Foreign Ministry and three-Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse. The event showcases a cuisine that is dynamic, outward-looking and innovative, whilst remaining true to its values of sharing, enjoyment and respect for good food.
In the UK, chefs at 20 restaurants have devised special French gourmet menus, which will be served to diners on 19 March. Menus include a traditional French aperitif, hot and cold starters, a fish course, a meat course, a cheese course, a chocolate dessert and French wines and liqueurs.
A range of restaurants – from local bistros to fine dining – are taking part, and menus start at £19.50. Menus will be based on fresh, seasonal and local produce with reduced levels of fat, sugar, salt and protein. Dishes already announced include scallops with blood oranges, roast partridge breast, wild seabass with celeriac, and white chocolate and rhubarb soufflé.
The participating UK restaurants are:
Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester (London)
Chef: Jocelyn Herland
Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons (Great Milton)
Chef: Raymond Blanc
Boulestin (London)
Chef : Andrew Woodford
Boundary Restaurant (London)
Chef: Frederick Forster
Brasserie Joel (London)
Chef : Ishizuka Walter
Brasserie Zedel (London)
Chef : Andrew Parkinson
Casse-Croûte (London)
Chef : Sylvain Soulard
Club Gascon (London)
Chef : Pascal Aussignac
Escoffier (London)
Chef : Jonathon Warner
Hutchesons Glasgow (Glasgow)
Chef : Eric Avenier
L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon (London)
Chef: Xavier Boyer
Le Petit Nantais (Hampton Court Village)
Chef : Jean-Philippe Gravier
Marianne (London)
Chef: Marianne Lumb
Mirabelle (Harrogate)
Chef: Lionel Strub
Pollen Street Social (London)
Chef: Jason Atherton
Rivea London (London)
Chef: Alexandre Nicolas
The Balcon (London)
Chef: Vincent Menager
The Grill at the Dorchester (London)
Chef: Christophe Marleix
The Vineyard (Newbury)
Chef: Daniel Galmiche
Pillars Restaurant, University of West London (London)
Chef: The students, led by Chef Coaker
Participating restaurants’ menus on the Good France website: http://www.goodfrance.com. Table bookings should be made directly with the restaurant.
Laurent Fabius, French Foreign Minister, said: “France’s heritage is its cuisine, its wines (…) The gastronomic meal of the French has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 2010, but it is a heritage that should not simply be contemplated, glorified and savoured; it is a heritage that should be built upon and showcased.”
Chef Alain Ducasse said: “The common point of this event is generosity, sharing and the love of what is beautiful and tastes good. It will be a delightful interlude and an opportunity to celebrate French cuisine worldwide.”
