Goût de France event will be celebrated in 9 Seychelles restaurants

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alain etn_22
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Written by Linda Hohnholz

La semaine de la francophonie 2015 will kick start on March 19 with the introduction of the Goût de France event in Seychelles.

La semaine de la francophonie 2015 will kick start on March 19 with the introduction of the Goût de France event in Seychelles.

As stated in the Goût de France logo, “1000 chefs, 1000 menus, 5 continents,” restaurants from around the world will celebrate France’s gastronomy by inviting the public to share a French dinner.

Seychelles, despite being a tiny dot on the world map, is not one to be left behind, and for the first time since the event came into existence, 9 restaurants will be participating and offering set menus to their clients. Fish abundantly available and a staple in the Seychellois diet will feature as the key ingredient that makes Seychelles stand out in this French affair.

Food designer, sommelier, and owner of Botanica restaurant, Christelle Verheyden, had learned about the “Good France” event from the Internet. Well before, she was contacted by a Seychelles Tourism Board representative to get on board to participate. She was in fact among the first to confirm her involvement and come up with a menu.

This talented chef will be adding her own twist not only to the menu but also to the dates for which she will be providing this French dining experience to patrons. Considering International Women’s Day was celebrated just yesterday, she will be raising the flag high for female chefs in the male-dominated culinary world. For her, a woman’s touch in the kitchen represents “sensibility and finesse.”

From March 17-21, the newly-opened “haut de gamme” restaurant located between the St. Louis hills, will be providing guests with a French dining experience using organic local ingredients and the chef’s own signature style while at the same time respecting the strong guidelines set out by the organizers.

Praslin, Seychelles’ second largest island, will not be missing out on this event either. Luxury hotel Constance Lémuria states on its website that “Constance philosophy of food embraces nature’s diversity and serves beautifully-crafted food through fresh produces, innovative techniques, and a harmony of flavors.” In line with that, French Chef Alex Voisin will be whipping out a menu which will include foie gras terrine with Cognac, figs compote, and toasted brioche as starter. The main course will be comprised of French veal tenderloin and sweetbread with Jerusalem artichoke with a purple mash potato with black truffle sauce. For dessert, the Seahorse restaurant will offer chocolate fondant and vanilla crème brûlée ice cream.

Guests at Banyan Tree Seychelles have a wide variety of dining locations to choose from, be it in the hushed privacy of the personal villa, having a table set up exclusively for them on the beach, or at the La Varangue, Au Jardin D’epices restaurants. But it is in the Chez Lamar restaurant that diners will get the change to savor the delights of exquisite French cuisine and Executive Chef Allan Limmer’s expertise. Fish will feature in the restaurant’s warm starter soup. And as part of the main course he will be serving popular local tuna steak with sun-dried tomato, black olives, and baby potatoes dressed in virgin olive oil. Chef Limmer commends the event’s France organizer, Alain Ducasse, for doing a fantastic job at putting French cuisine back on the world map.

Hilton Worldwide brands include two locations in Seychelles: the Hilton Labriz Resort & Spa on Silhouette island and the Hilton Northholme resort & spa at Glacis, on the island of Mahé. Both will be participating and offering the same set menu on the same night in the Portobello (Silhouette) and Les Cocotiers (Glacis) restaurants. Chef Edward Sharkey with his contemporary style has managed to come up with a menu which consists of foie gras, onion soup, fish with a mushroom sauce, French cheese, and Suzette pancakes.

Sainte Anne Resort & Spa made headlines in February for hosting the popular French TV game Koh-Lanta’s “Beachcomber Adventure” game. They will once again be attracting press, as well as promoting the French culture in Seychelles, through their confirmed participation in the Good France event. Clients of the “Le Mont Fleuri” restaurant will be served with a delicious à-la-carte menu composed of dishes with exotic names and flavors.

Sheldon Fonseka, Executive Chef at Kempinski, says that it a pleasure and honor for him to be part of this big event which he described as a celebration of French gastronomy. With his classical training and having worked under the expert guidance of one of TV’s most popular chef, Gordon Ramsay in London, Chef Fonseka is excited about adding a French twist to local ingredients through his menu.

As hinted in its name, Le Meridien Fisherman’s Cove “Le Bourgeois” restaurant offers mainly seafood dishes. The menu will, therefore, be a reflection of this restaurant’s trademark ingredient but at that the same time aligning with the event’s concept.

Residents of Eden Island, as well as usual customers of La Belle époque restaurant, will be delighted to know that the event’s only Seychellois Chef, Neville Labaleine ,has already prepared a fine menu as well.

For each chef participating in the event, they will surely be hoping not only to promote a worldwide French cultural event, but also to deliver to their patrons a quality experience that heightens the senses, delights the taste buds, and imprints into their memory – surely, lasting impressions that will make them want to come back for more.

For the 7 hotels and 2 restaurants, this event will also increase their establishment’s reputation and Seychelles’ visibility on the global map through the Goût de France official website and extensive coverage in the local and international media.

PHOTO: Isabelle Le Gac, Press and Social Media Coordinator – Constance Lemuria; FONSECA, Hansel Sheldon – L`Indochine Restaurant- Kempinski Seychelles Resort; VERHEYDEN Christelle – Botanica Restaurant; LIMMER Allan – Banyan Tree Seychelles – Chef Executive

Seychelles is a founding member of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) .

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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