The Fête de la Gastronomie (an event I have been covering since the very first edition) will take place this year on Friday the 26th, Saturday the 27th, and Sunday the 28th of September 2014.
The theme of this 4th edition, “The love of gestures and know-how,” honors the importance of passing on traditions, training, and learning the gastronomic trades, which represent nearly 62 billion euros in turnover and stand as the 5th largest job-providing sector.
For the first year, the Fête de la Gastronomie has received the patronage of the French National Commission for UNESCO, which recognizes the missions of transmission, safeguarding, and promotion carried out by the event, significantly contributing to the reach of French gastronomy abroad.
It is now the turn of Guillaume Gomez, Best Craftsman of France (Meilleur Ouvrier de France) in 2005 and currently Head Chef at the Élysée Palace, to be the patron of this new edition.
More than 6,600 events are planned throughout France and abroad, including 25 banquets and 42 picnics!
The program features a wonderful diversity of events across the country: popular banquets, picnics, tastings, special menus in restaurants and school canteens, company or farm visits, exhibitions, conferences, and even street entertainment.
Melle Bon Plan’s selection:
- 24 talented chefs have created simple and gourmet recipes, for under €7 per person, to highlight the flavors and authentic products of our regions. Two chef recipes will be posted online each day on the website, leading up to the launch of the Festival.
- The grand public aperitif by the F.F.V.A: on Friday, September 26th at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., as a preamble to the Fête de la Gastronomie, the French Federation of Aperitif Wines innovates and pays tribute to the Languedoc region and the talents of the Pays de Thau, during a giant aperitif open to the public by invitation, in the Parc Gaujal garden in Marseillan.
On the program: food and wine pairings in harmony with partners from the selected region, a choice of talents, venues, and products stemming from the living expertise of the territories.
Table of Contents
5 p.m.: Exhibition and educational trail in the Parc Gaujal garden – Marseillan
6 p.m.: Launch of the 1st edition “Aperitif Wines: Heritage & Gastronomy”
By invitation or entry at the door: €10
Parc Gaujal – Boulevard Pasteur – Marseillan town
- Go behind the scenes to discover manufacturing secrets from food artisans such as at the Chocolaterie Janin in Val de Marne, or with the Charcutiers Traiteurs (caterers and pork butchers) supported by their National Confederation.
Discover the finest tables in France with Tous au Restaurant (Everyone at the Restaurant) from September 22nd to 28th, taking advantage of the “Your Guest is our Guest” special offer.
- Visit food and tableware companies, such as the Moutarderie Fallot in Beaune and the cristallerie de Bayel in the Aube region.
- Taste fresh and local products at markets with the National Federation of Market Traders of France, who will distribute soups in mugs branded with the Fête de la Gastronomie, in Norman restaurants focusing on cider with the Regional Institute for Agri-food Quality, or in Châteaux Hôtels & Collection restaurants focusing on garden vegetables.
- Meet the chefs who are mobilizing to share their passion and benefit from cooking classes for young people, as championed by Relais & Châteaux.
- Celebrate quality products and demanding craftsmanship of the sector’s trades through demonstrations and tastings with professional unions (National Union of Hoteliers, Restaurateurs, Cafetiers and Caterers; Union of Hotel Industry Trades and Industries).
- Participate in seminars and round tables on table art and the history of French cuisine at the Paris Libraries or the Ferrandi School.
- Visit breeders, farmers, and market gardeners who will explain their work, such as with the Guillestre Tourist Office and its “Consom’acteurs” (Consumer-actor) workshops where the public is invited to participate in milking and harvesting.
- Discover regions, products, and producers through rallies, games, and gourmet walks in the heart of the Bay of Saint-Brieuc, at “Annecy celebrates Gastronomy” organized by the FAGHIT, or with the Cité de la Gastronomie of Tours and Champagne-Ardenne Tourisme.
- Become an expert on wine and spirits with Nicolas and the French Federation of Aperitif Wines, thanks to the participation of winemakers, wine merchants, and sommeliers who will explain everything about pruning, harvesting, grape varieties, length on the palate, and the qualities of wines, aperitifs, and liqueurs.
- Participate in Master Classes and cooking classes with the Atelier de Cuisine Gourmande in the Midi-Pyrénées region.
I also advise you to take a close look at the program for the event to make the most of these days.
