Goût De France Brings French Cuisine To Atlantic Canada
MONCTON — Fans of authentic French cuisine can sink their teeth into original creations with the Goût de France food festival this week.
Running from June 23 to July 4, the festival will bring together restaurants and food producers from across Atlantic Canada to create dishes and recipes inspired by the French gastronomic dinner.
Johan Schitterer, the general consul of France for Atlantic Canada, said that dinner is based on four main courses, shared in the company of family and friends. Most spreads involve salad appetizers, a main dish, a variety of cheese, a dessert and dedicated alcohols like wine throughout the dinner.
The festival was created six years ago to promote France as a destination for tourism through its culinary heritage.
“You [create] the atmosphere through using specific dishes and decorations, for instance,” said Schitterer. “That’s all a part of that kind of French dinner, so it’s kind of ceremonial as well.”
Each menu will showcase a cuisine that adheres to eating well by using less fat, sugar, salt and respectful of the environment. Schitterer said that is accomplished through using local products to create each dish.
“If you import food from 12,000 kilometres, it has an impact on the environment because it will use plane transportation, packaging, etc.,” he said. “When you … visit local markets, you will directly buy local products, so you save time, energy and it’s environmentally safe.”
Schitterer says the event has received global recognition in the last several years. In 2019, the festival saw more than 120 countries and 4,000 take part. This year’s event will involve 20 Atlantic Canadian restaurants, including Moncton’s own Le Clos, Monk10 Taproom & Fine Eatery and Les Brumes du Coude.
A complete list of participating restaurants is available through the festival’s Facebook page, and every venue promotes a French-style menu on its channels.
Schitterer said it was easy to get restaurants on board since there has been an emphasis throughout the Covid-19 pandemic to use locally sourced products. Continuing that goal with the festival brings more visibility to that idea and encourages residents to do the same.
Overall, Schitterer is looking forward to celebrating French culture through cuisine. Because of the region’s strong ties to its own French heritage, he says it’s special to see in Atlantic Canada.
“You could see people staying at the table from two hours up to five hours or even the whole evening,” said Schitterer.
“People will remember that they shared something special and maybe at the end of the day, they will decide to travel to our country.”
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Aaron Sousa is a summer intern for Huddle. Send him story suggestions: [email protected].