Le Crocodile hosts Goût de France dinner in Vancouver

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      On March 19, diners at Vancouver’s Le Crocodile (909 Burrard Street) will be amongst thousands around the world participating in the first Goût de France (Good France). The celebration of French gastronomy includes over 1,300 restaurants from 150 countries across five continents.

      Organized by French chef Alain Ducasse and France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development, Goût de France was inspired by a similar event that took place over a century ago.

      In 1912, legendary chef Auguste Escoffier launched Dîners d’Épicure (Epicurean Dinners), where French restaurants around the world cooked the same menu on the same day. For Goût de France, participating restaurants will create their own menus showcasing French culinary traditions.

      Participating restaurants were selected by a committee of chefs chaired by Ducasse including Paul Bocuse and Joël Robuchon in France, Thomas Keller in the U.S., Raymond Blanc in the UK, Kiyomi Mikuni in Japan, and Nadia Santini in Italy. Restaurants were evaluated based on their proposed menus.

      A total of 18 restaurants will represent Canada in Goût de France—the majority of them based in Quebec. In Vancouver, Le Crocodile will be the sole participant. Chef and owner Michel Jacob, who hails from Alsace, recently celebrated his fine-dining establishment’s 30th anniversary.

      Jacob’s Goût de France menu includes four savoury courses, plus a cheese course and two desserts. Diners will start with foie gras brûlée and a creamy lobster bisque soup. The next courses include an Alsatian-style fish followed by a duo of duck confit and veal topped with truffles. A selection of cheese from France precedes two dessert courses: pear sorbet and Crêpe Suzette.

      The Goût de France meal, including a glass of bubbly and wine pairings, is $120 per person. The event begins at 7 p.m. To reserve tickets, call the restaurant at 604-669-4298.

      You can follow Michelle da Silva on Twitter at twitter.com/michdas.

      Comments

      4 Comments

      Dandee dee

      Mar 12, 2015 at 12:46pm

      Really horrific that this restaurant chooses to serve foie gras, the diseased liver of a tortured duck. Compassion apparently has no place in restaurants such as this.

      Dave Riopel

      Mar 12, 2015 at 1:39pm

      Goût de France = Taste of France, not good France.

      Dave Riopel

      Mar 12, 2015 at 2:09pm

      Interesting. Thanks for the info.