Taste of Paris 2018: Star Spangled Chefs Strut their Stuff at Le Grand Palais

Launched at Somerset House, London, in 2004, Taste of Paris is now an annual event to tickle foodista tastebuds. Today, Taste Of… is pretty much global; read, 24 events/festivals in diverse destinations from Milan to Dubai via Auckland, Chicago, Cape Town. The concept (by Alain Ducasse, bien sûr) showcases the best restaurants, products, trends and influences in each participating city, not to mention exciting and extraordinary amuse bouches.    The 4th French version– a gigantic gastronomic Food Court located beneath the Art Nouveau dome of Le Grand Palais– showcases the talent of 27 chefs, including your favorites: Alain Ducasse & Romain Meder at Le Plaza Athénée, Frenchie’s Greg Marchand, Kei Kobayashi of Restaurant Kei, Nicolas Haelewyn, Karamel pâtisserie, Pierre Sang (Oberkampf), Balagan’s Dan Yosha, and Tomy Gousset of Tomy & Co. Chefs and pastry chefs prepare a signature dish in mini portions (not more than 12€ a plate). And, appearing for the first time, Nicolas Sale of The Ritz Paris will present line caught sea bass, fennel and ground olive kernel seeds (good idea !). “Three ingredients at the most – a game of textures, simplicity and emotion,” says Sale. And, meet and greet top women cheffes at TOP Nina Métayer (Pushkin Café), Christelle Brua (Le Pré Catelan), Jessica Prealpato (Alain Ducasse at the Plaza Athenée), Adeline Grattard (Yam’Tcha ), Stéphanie Le Quellec (La Scene, Princes des Galles), Beatriz Gonzalez (Neva Cuisine), Amandine Chaignot (The Rosewood, London), Mikaela Helena Liaroutsos (Etsi), Gloria Kabé (Abattoir Végetale) and Saori Odoi (Foucade). Anne-Sophie Pic’s savory Berlingot is filled with slightly smoked Banon goat’s cheese, aromatic watercress consommé infused with ginger and bergamote. “Berlingots are symbolic of my cuisine, and change according to the seasons; the dough’s inspired by the puffs of Romans ravioli,” says cheffe Pic. In partnership with Electrolux and brands such as Chateaux & Hôtels Collection, Ferrandi Cookery Schoo, Mairie de Paris, Elle A Table, Laurent Perrier, Le Grand Palais tranforms into 18 pop-up bistrots and brasseries, sharing culinary know-how via free demonstrations in the ephemeral Théatre des Chefs, Laurent Perrier, workshops and lively discussions. Book ahead – entry is 20€ or at the Grand Palais 25€ – you can buy “tasting” credits in advance – go to:  https://paris.tastefestivals.com/en/ Rock n’Roll you can eat! Taste of Paris, 21-24 May 2015, Le Grand Palais, 3, Avenue du Général Eisenhower, 75008. Metro: Champs Elysées Clémenceau