The 4th edition of Goût de/ Good France took place on March 21. A global event organized on the initiative of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs with Chef Alain Ducasse, Goût de France is a unique culinary festival that takes place across five continents in over 150 countries. 2018 was the fourth consecutive year, seeing chefs mobilized internationally in celebration of French gastronomy during the month of “Francophonie.”
Wednesday saw some 3000+ restaurants worldwide participate in the festival, offering a unique range of French menus to guests. And for the first time, a region of France was put under the spotlight: Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
From November 2017, restaurants around the globe were invited to propose a menu that puts traditional French cooking in the spotlight: a strictly sequenced dinner with multiple courses, paired with the appropriate wines. An international committee of chefs, with the support of French embassies, selected the participants according to criteria defined by quality and coherence. The official list of restaurants was revealed by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Chef Alain Ducasse, and the following restaurants in Georgia made that prestigious list: Le Marais, Cafe Littera, The Kitchen, Metis, Tartine, Pur Pur, Café Muséum, La Bohème and Barbarestan in Tbilisi; as well as the 360 degree Sky Bar and the Pelion Restaurant in Batumi. In fact, Barbarestan and its menu Barbare Jorjadze — George Sand, two feminists and knowledgeable gourmets of the 19th century, was cited this year by Paris among the eight most original Goût de France initiatives in the world. A proud moment for the Georgian restaurant industry no doubt.
Naturally, as a die-hard life-long foodie, I found myself participating in this wonderful celebration of French cuisine on the behalf of GEORGIA TODAY. What can I say? It was absolutely incredible, taking me on a trip down memory lane of my university years in France. While I may never have had the chance to travel to Nouvelle Aquintaine, this year’s Goût de / Good France as the region of honor, the out-of-body gastronomical experience that I had at Cafe Littera surely made up for that. With this region being the crucible of excellence of French wines, rich in culinary and oenological expertise, it proved a more than fitting selection to showcase the art of French cuisine to the world. In fact, the region was also given the honor of having a menu crafted entirely out of its products for a dinner at the Residence of the French Ambassador on Thursday night.
Alain Ducasse wanted this year’s event to be an homage to late great French chef, Paul Bocuse. And what an homage it was, with 2018’s edition offering the Tbiliselebi and people of Batumi an exquisite sampling of the delights of French cuisine. If only I’d had Hermione Granger’s time turner and been able to get myself a seat at the table of every single participating restaurant in Georgia…
By Máté Földi