Daily Tribune
French Embassy Cultural Attaché Martin Macalintal welcomes the public to the Gout de France French Market at Ayala Triangle Gardens on 1 June with participating chefs (from left) Crepe Glazik’s Neven Charpentier, Gout de France Weekend French Market organizer and Society Lounge Chef Patrice Freuslon; Dr. Wine’s Romain Escande; Lemmy’s Bistro’s Chris Preza; Bistro Le Coude Rouge Florian Villas: Enderun Ecole Ducasse Manila Executive Chef Marc Chalopin; Champagne Room (Manila Hotel)’s Konrad Walter: Oro Plato’s Randel San Juan, Aissa Monticello, and Charlene Biligan; Chef Jessie’s (Rockwell Club)’s Reynato Sincioco and Lawrence Sincioco, and Frenchman accordionist Eric Soulard.
Photograph by TEDDY MONTELIBANO
Enderun Ecole Ducasse executive chef Marc Chalopin, here with Enderun Ecole Ducasse Academic Section Head, Suzette Montinola, was at the Gôut de France’s French Market on Saturday, 1 June 2024, to prepare a special French dish in a cooking demo assisted by students from the school.
Photograph by Teddy Montelibano for the Daily Tribune
Martin Macalintal, Cultural Attaché, Embassy of France and Micronesia, with weightlifting champ Hidilyn Diaz Naranjo, the first Filipino to ever win an Olympic gold medal for the country, at the French Market on Sunday, 2 June 2024.
Photograph by Thenesse Cornelio-Marciano for the Daily Tribune
People at the Goût de France’s weekend French Market, on a stretch of Paseo de Roxas, along Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati.
Photograph by KING RODRIGUEZ for the Daily Tribune
Over the weekend, a portion of Ayala Triangle Gardens along Paseo de Roxas in Makati was transformed into a French Market with such stalls as Paris Delice offering baguette sandwiches and a variety of crepes from Crepe Glazik, and many more, as Manila joined the global celebration of Goût de France (A Taste of France).
The annual celebration of French gastronomy worldwide was launched in 2015 by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with French-born Monegasque chef, Alain Ducasse.
Among France’s best, most successful and most decorated chefs Ducasse is a Lifetime Achievement awardee on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants List. He has earned 21 Michelin stars to his name and holds the distinction of being the first chef to own restaurants awarded three Michelin Stars.
French market
Saturday, 1 June, Cultural Attaché Martin Macalintal of the Embassy of France and Micronesia welcomed the public at the French Market along with some of the participating chefs including Crepe Glazik’s Neven Charpentier; Chef Patrice Freusion from Society Lounge who also organized the weekend French Market, Chef Romain Escande of Dr. Wine; Chef Chris Preza of Lemmy’s Bistro; Chef Florian Villas of Bistro Le Coude Rouge; Enderun Ecole Ducasse Manila Executive Chef Marc Chalopin; Chef Konrad Walter of Champagne Room at the Manila Hotel; Chefs Randel San Juan, Aissa Montecillo and Charlene Biligan from Oro Plato, and Chefs Reynato Sincioco and Lawrence Sincioco from Chef Jessie’s Place, Rockwell.
Chalopin, assisted by Enderun Ecole Ducasse Manila’s Academic section head, Suzette Montinola and students from the school prepared a special French dish in a cooking demo even as French accordionist Eric Soupard strolled through the Market, serenading guests and visitors with his accordion.
On Sunday, 2 June, bikers and runners after a few laps on car-free Ayala Avenue were treated to coffee and croissants in the French Market.
Later in the day, waiters with trays bearing water pitchers were cheered on as they raced through the weekend Market. Messr. Macalintal says the race was a nod to Paris’ hosting of the Summer Olympics and Paralympics in August 2024.
Special menu
Gout de France (Good France) in Manila this year has some 20 French restaurants and major hotels participating, with a special Goût de France menu offered in these establishments for the whole week until 9 June.
For instance, now ongoing at the Manila Hotel’s Champagne Room is a special six-course menu prepared by Chef Konrad Walter featuring classic French cuisine.
Feast on Tartare of Chilled Norwegian Salmon with a Mascarpone Orange sauce; Cream of Scallops infused with Saffron; Roast Lamb Rack Vert Pre Rosemary Jus with Garlic Confit, Gratin of Potato Puree; a selection of French cheese; Gateau au Chocolate Fresh Raspberry with Vanilla Sauce; and macaroons.
At P4,600 nett, the Champagne Room’s Goût de France special set menu is available for lunch and dinner until this Sunday, 9 June.
Likewise on 13 June, there will be a tasting of wines coordinated by the French Chamber of Commerce from the Maison Bukaat the Marketplace Supermarket at EDSA Shangri-La Plaza in Mandaluyong.
