On 16 April, Gotham Hall on Broadway hosted the second edition of the Dîner des Grands Chefs Relais & Châteaux. Again this year, 45 of the Associations Grands Chefs continued this Culinary World Tour which started a year ago in France at the Château de Versailles. This time, tribute was paid to the American terroir.
The theme “Springtime in New York” attracted 45 renowned Chefs who shared the top billing. 10 different nationalities were represented from all over the world: France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, South Africa, Germany, Singapore and Taiwan as well as 45 different career paths: from legendary chefs like Daniel Boulud or Patrick O’Connell to future leaders like César Troisgros and Christopher Kostow, including the most recent three-star chefs Thomas Bühner and Emmanuel Renaut and a new generation perfectly represented by Lan-Shu Chen. 45 different cuisines were showcased as well: regionalist with Marc Meneau or Annie Féolde, fusion with Jean-Georges Vongerichten, just to name a few.
45 passionate personalities came together to create a culinary score live in open pop-up kitchens, only a few metres from the guests. Every chef worked with a star ingredient “Made in the USA”: asparagus, morels, Maine scallops, sea bass from Montauk, rack of lamb… Every table enjoyed its own customised menu; altogether 15 different exceptional menus. The dinner was accompanied by the Maison de Champagne Pommery with its famous Cuvées Louise 1989, 1990 served in jeroboams, and Cuvée Louise Rosé 2000 to round out this exceptional gustatory experience.
This celebration was orchestrated by 42 maîtres d’hôtel, 12 sommeliers…in a naturally decorated Gotham Hall covered by vegetation with the colours of spring from the floor to the ceiling.
A perfect setting to awaken all the senses of the 400 guests, including celebrities and public figures like actress Elizabeth Olsen, model Coco Rocha, Frédéric Lefèbvre, French Secretary of State for Trade and François Delattre, Ambassador of France to the Unites States. All discerning gourmets, who were visibly delighted to have the opportunity to celebrate this art de vivre by Relais & Châteaux. The Association has also been happy to offer others the conviviality of a good meal, by supporting Citymeals-on-Wheels.
The co-founders of the Zagat Survey, Tim and Nina Zagat, were presented by the Grands Chefs with the Art de Vivre Award, “a recognition created exclusively for the Dîner des Grands Chefs to reward the many years of relentless work and commitment of Tim and Nina for the benefit of the culinary arts and restaurant industry”, said Chairman of the Board Jaume Tàpies.
London is to be the host of the 2013 Dîner des Grand Chefs.