Celebration of French gastronomy at The City Palace

On Monday, 21st March 2016, the second annual edition of the great global event, “Goût de France / Good France” will be celebrated. Similar to last year, the idea remains simple: more than 1,500 chefs across 5 continents will dish up, at the same time, a menu featuring gourmet French cuisine (aperitif and canapés, entrée, main course(s), cheese platter, dessert, and French wines and champagnes), making this a must-attend international culinary event.

This initiative – launched by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development under the aegis of celebrated three-star chef Alain Ducasse – aims, over the space of a one-of-a-kind dinner, to salute the excellence of French cuisine, its openness to influences from all over the world (participating chefs are encouraged to blend their own culinary culture with that of France), and the values that it conveys: bringing people together over a shared meal, the pleasure of taste, and the balance between human beings and the products of nature. This second edition will also help recall why the “Gastronomic Meal of the French” was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List, and contribute to promoting French cuisine throughout the world.

Once again this year, the event will be celebrated with particular relish in India, where more than 50 restaurants have been selected across the country by the committee of international chefs headed by Chef Alain Ducasse (48 last year), placing India among the top participating countries. Diners can pick their preferred ambience as they will be spoiled for choice: bistro, coffee bar, contemporary or haute cuisine restaurants.

The complete list of restaurants participating in “Goût de France/ Good France” in India is available on the official Good France website, along with greater details on each eatery, their contact details, and more importantly, the chefs and the French menu they are offering for this grand soirée.

Further, on the occasion of this event, Atout France, the French tourism development agency, is specially organizing a contest with the grand prize of a trip for two in France. Contest details are available on the Atout France website.

This event, which is above all an event celebrating the shared enjoyment of good food and culinary discovery, offers a unique chance to savour, over the space of a dinner, the delectable taste of France in India.

This event can be followed on social media (#GoodFrance)

Facebook: Good France & French Embassy in India;
Twitter: @good_france & @FranceinIndia;
Instagram: @good_france
The official websites – Good France & France in India.

On 9 April 2015, on the occasion of the visit to France of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a partnership agreement was signed between the domaine national de Chambord and the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation, Udaipur.

The domaine national de Chambord, covering 13,440 acres (or the size of Paris), is a shrine to France’s natural heritage. With the chateau’s Renaissance architecture (which may have been inspired by Leonardo da Vinci), its breathtaking views from the terraces to the furnished 18th century apartments, a visitor can traverse five centuries of history in a few hours.

The aim of the partnership is to develop Indian tourism in France as well as preserve and make Indian heritage better known. The Loire Valley in France and Rajasthan share the special trait of being endowed with exceptional heritage tourist sites and being located relatively close to the capitals of the respective countries concerned, which make them top destinations.

The partnership seeks to fulfil four aims:

• Publicity of the two sites and their surrounding region among the respective publics of the two institutions;
• Sharing know-how and experience on heritage conservation;
• Joint promotion of tourism at these destinations;
• Joint organisation of events: it is as part of this aspect that the domain of Chambord is participating in the World Living Heritage Festival in Udaipur.

The 3rd World Living Heritage Festival of Udaipur (19th to 23rd March 2016) is being organized by the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) with the support of UNESCO New Delhi Office and Dronah Foundation, Gurgaon. Under the partnership agreement, the domaine national de Chambord was invited to participate in the festival. Mr Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Trustee of MMCF, has been the signatory to the agreement.

The festival programme, supported by the Embassy of France in India, features:

• A photo exhibition on “Chambord: an architectural genius of the Renaissance”, and the screening of short promotional films at the City Palace Museum, Udaipur;
• Exchange of expertise on preserving and enhancing cultural and natural heritage with papers presented by Mr Jean d’Haussonville, General Manager of the domaine national de Chambord, and Mr Luc Forlivesi, Curator, Château de Chambord, during the International Conference on Living Heritage sessions being held from 20th to 22nd March;
• A classical and Bollywood music concert on 20th March by the French collective “Arties”, which has been holding shows in India for the past eight years and will conduct a music workshop on 19th March for students of Maharana Mewar Public School and will perform on 20th March at the Sabhagaar Conference Hall, The Durbar Hall of Fateh Prakash Palace Convention Centre, Udaipur.

Hailing from a family of restaurateurs, Chef Sébastien Sanjou was just 20 years old when he decided to open his own restaurant in 2002. He notched up his first Michelin star at the age of 31 in 2013, and in March 2014, received the highest of accolades when he was admitted to the Maître Cuisinier de France (Master Chef of France) association, whose chefs are often given the highest classification in restaurant guides.

Trained in the kitchens of culinary greats Christian Willer and Daniel Labarère, Chef Sanjou’s signature trait is his passion for vegetables and locally- and regionally-sourced produce of France. His signature dish features beetroots, ginger and pears.