Gout de France 2016
The Park – Cointreau Cream Caramel
Gout de France 2016 – Preview of the Good France Event, Kolkata
 

     On the 21st of March 2016, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development will hold the 2nd Gout de France/Good France event where over 1500 restaurants worldwide will participate and celebrate the wonders of French cuisine. A few of us were invited to a special press preview where 8 restaurants from the city are participating in the event. They had bought in some of their signature dishes inspired by French expertise for it. The meal will comprise of appetizers and canapes, starter, main course, cheese and dessert paired with French wines/champagnes. Let’s take a look at what was in store for us…

Taj Bengal
Gout de France 2016
Pan Seared Scallops, Purple Corn Puree, Mesclun and Quail Eggs
Gout de France 2016
Single Origin Marquise, Fresh Berries, Sabayon and Baileys Ice Cream
The Park
Gout de France 2016
Smoked Salmon, Rocket, Romaine, Caramelized Pears, Feta Crumble, Candied Tomato, Chili Walnuts, Smoked Vinaigrette and Stuffed Piadine
Gout de France 2016
Rocket, Romaine, Caramelized Pears, Feta Crumble, Candied Tomato, Chili Walnuts, Smoked Vinaigrette and Stuffed Piadine
ITC Hotels
Gout de France 2016
Apple Tart
Gout de France 2016
Poached Eggs in Red Wine and Pepper Reduction Sauce 
 
Swissotel
Gout de France 2016
Poached Prawn Avocado and Sour Cream 
Gout de France 2016
Opera 
Gout de France 2016
Marinated Tomatoes, Courgette and Pine Nuts 
Gout de France 2016
French Meringue Tartlet
Hyatt Regency
Gout de France 2016
Bay of Bengal Lobster, Vermouth, Dill Cream and Fish Roe 
Gout de France 2016
Bittersweet Chocolate Mousse


The Oberoi Grand
Gout de France 2016
French Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee with Pistachio Biscotti 
Gout de France 2016
Kolkata Prawn Cocktail


Novotel
Gout de France 2016
Chocolate Sphere, Spicy Poached Pear, Chocolate Soil and French Vanilla Cream 
Gout de France 2016
Compressed Watermelon, Blood Orange, Feta, Aged Balsamic and Basil Coulis
The Lalit Great Eastern
Gout de France 2016
Malted Milk Bavarian, Chocolate Pudding, Peanut Sable and Salted Caramel 
Gout de France 2016
Mille Feuille Granny Smith, Strawberry Chutney and Goat Cheese 
Gout de France 2016
Chicken and Potato Presse, Pickled Plums, Liver Parfait, Bread Tuille
     Usually I dont cover non-veg food on the blog simply for the fact that I have no idea about it in any shape, manner or form. Though I am a vegetarian by choice I have no aversion to the flip side of my preference 🙂 But this time around the food before me were works of art and it would be a shame to not share such beauty with the readers. My absolute favorite in the vegetarian selection was the Mille Feuille Granny Smith, Strawberry Chutney and Goat Cheese by Lalit Great Eastern. The complexity of flavors was amazing and in each spoonful I had a burst of a different one. This was just too good. Even the salad from The Park had these elements especially the walnuts (and I dont even like them) that just were so interesting!     We were completely spoiled for choices when it came to the dessert selection. Some of them made us literally swoon like the Bittersweet Chocolate Mousse from Hyatt Regency…the meringue with the chocolate cream center balanced with the raspberries…oh sweet lord! So good!!! The Single Origin Marquise, Fresh Berries, Sabayon and Baileys Ice Cream from Taj Bengal was decadent. And I really loved the Compressed Watermelon, Blood Orange, Feta, Aged Balsamic and Basil Coulis from Novotel because of the way the different flavor layers came together in it. I actually regret not taking another helping or two of it. There were some amazing things put up by the participating restaurants and I would highly recommend that you check it out for yourselves. Food is one of the best mediums of celebrating a culture and the Gout de France gives you a chance to experience some of the best that France has to offer.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 PS – The author was invited by the PR of the event to try out the menu. Views expressed are genuine and the author’s own.