Goût de/Good France! Chooses DC Chef Franck Loquet for Grand Gastronomic Dinner
Tonight – Thursday, March 19, 2015 – 1300 chefs from around the world will express their love of French cuisine by creating a specially designed one-time dining event.
Organized by noted French chef, Alain Ducasse, and the Ministry of Finance Affairs and International Development, the ‘French dinner’ will be held at iCi Urban Bistro in the beautifully renovated Art Deco era Sofitel Hotel, Washington, DC and presided over by the French General Consul Olivier Serot-Almeras.
Parisian-born Franck Loquet who presides over the kitchen of iCi Urban Bistro and who had once been an instructor at Ecole de Cuisine Alain Ducasse, was chosen from thousands of chefs. He is the only chef in DC to be awarded this notable honor.
The parameters for the lavish seven-course menu were well defined. First, dinner must start with an aperitif. It should then continue with a cold starter, a hot starter, fish or shellfish, meat or poultry, and French cheese – – culminating with a chocolate dessert. Adding to these strict guidelines, the entire meal must be served with French wines and digestifs. The judges felt that the cuisine should be accessible to all – – from casual bistros to high-end restaurants.
For a true reflection of each region the committee required the meal to be based on seasonal and local products. Something we heartily endorse! Another rule of the competition was that the dinner be prepared with lower levels of fat, sugar, salt and protein, making it a fantastic challenge for any chef.
Here’s the menu Chef Loquet designed, and I sampled! All in the name of research, dear readers.
Apéritif – gougères served with Billecart-Salmon Brut Reserve Champagne.
First – Branzino Tartare – with Vanilla, ginger and grapefruit pearls and radish salad.
Second – Woodland Mushroom Tart – topped with truffled goat cheese mousse.
Third – Atlantic Salmon “Mi-Cuit” – with English pea purée, baby Spring vegetable fricassee and leek coulis.
Fourth – Herb Crusted Lamb Loin – with sweet onion mousseline, grilled scallions, pickled pearl onions and olive jus.
Fifth – French cheeses with accouterments.
Dessert – Cremeux Aux Trois Chocolats – served with Le Cèdre Malbec 2011.
iCi Urban Bistro is located one block from the White House – at 806 15th Street, NW, in Washington, DC. For reservations to this once-in-a-lifetime French culinary extravaganza, visit the Good France Eventbrite Page.
