PAST EVENT HIGHLIGHTS DINER DES CHEFS AT
BELMOND LE MANOIR AUX QUAT’SAISONS Chamber members were treated to an evening of the Michelin-starred cooking of Raymond Blanc OBE Philharmonic and a return to the Chelsea Flower Show to reprise his Jardin Blanc hospitality garden. One particular initiative includes a gardening school, run by Head Gardener AnneMarie Owens. Students will have the chance to work alongside the thirty-year veteran of the Manoir kitchen gardens, amongst two-acres of vegetables, herbs and fruit trees. Courses will include Seasonal Vegetable Growing, Micro Greens, Orchard Summer Pruning, Mushroom Growing, Understanding Your Soil and Growing Organic. The fantastic event featured a close affinity between Blanc and Gomez, whose fun and amiable repartee
B
eetroot terrine with horseradish
stars for more than 30 years,’ said
created a memorable mood. The food
sorbet; Cornish turbot with scallop,
Gomez. ‘It is surrounded by not one
and wine were perfectly paired and the
oyster and caviar; roast squab pigeon
but 11 gardens, including a French
conversation flowed just as seemlessly.
with celeriac and truffle chicory; exotic
potager, a Japanese garden, a vallée aux
fruit ravioli. These were the delicious
champignons sauvages, all inspired by
enjoyed their Cognac, coffee and
dishes on offer at the Chamber’s
his travels and the people he met.’
petit fours, Gomez thanked the
exclusive Diner des Chef, hosted by
Blanc, one of the UK’s best known
Before the assembled guests
event partners: Caviar Petrossian,
Raymond Blanc OBE at Belmond le
chefs, spoke about his deep passion
represented by Bruno Gils, Export
Manoir aux Quat’Saisons for the sixth
for food, which was nurtured from
Director; Les Crus Classés de Graves,
consecutive year.
a young age by his mother, whose
represented by Adrien Bernard, Sales
lessons in traditional French cooking
and Marketing Director at Domaine de
booked crowd to his picturesque
continue to influence his cuisine.
Chevalier for the wine. She thanked
restaurant, nestled in the Oxfordshire
Under his stewardship, the Manoir has
Pernod Ricard, a faithful partner since
countryside. The delightful evening
become one of the most popular foodie
the very first diner des Chefs in 2010,
began with an exlcusive tour of the
destinations in the country, and has
who provided the Champagne Perrier
gardens, led by Blanc himself. At dinner,
successfully branched out into other
Jouët Blason Rose and Cognac Martell;
the chef was feted in a speech by his
areas of hospitality, lifestyle, and art and
and Groupe Renault, represented
long-time friend Florence Gomez,
culture.
by Vincent Tourette, UK Managing
Blanc warmly welcomed a fully-
Managing Director of the French Chamber.
Since the result of the EU Referendum, Blanc reported a forty
Director, for providing transportation in a fleet of new Renault KOLEOS SUVs.
‘[Raymond] fulfilled a personal
percent drop in staff applications –
dream and bought a 13th century
which is particularly notable as the
their waiting cars at the end of the night,
Manor, where he opened Le Manoir
Manoir is enjoying continued growth.
many were already anticipating a return
aux Quat'Saisons, the only restaurant in the UK to have retained two Michelin
Current projects include a partnership with the Oxford
As the assembled guests piled into
to le Manoir, for more good food and great company. I
Raymond fulfilled a personal dream and bought a 13th century Manor, where he opened Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, the only restaurant in the UK to have retained two Michelin stars for more than 30 years info
- november / december 2017 - 57