Tim Hughes looks forward to a top-class eating extravaganza

Sacré Cordon bleu! For fans of fine dining, there has never been a better time to visit the French capital.

From next Thursday to next Sunday, 18 of Paris’s hottest chefs will be erecting pop-up restaurants under the glass roof of the Grand Palais, in the heart of the City of Light.

The event is called Taste of Paris and brings together the very best of the Parisian food scene, from three-star Michelin restaurants through to young talent, artisans and producers.

This new festival is just one more reason to visit this most romantic of gastronomic centres, which remains unbowed after last year’s terror attacks.

Up to 24,000 festival-goers are expected at this cutting-edge festival; a culinary highlight of the year. As one might expect from a festival in one of the world’s most celebrated foodie cities, Taste of Paris is a celebration of French gastronomy. The line-up of multi-Michelin starred chefs includes: Alain Ducasse and Romain Meder (Alain Ducasse at the Plaza Athénée) Guy Savoy (Guy Savoy),Thierry Marx (Mandarin Oriental) and Frédéric Anton (Le Pré Catelan). They are joined by a host of up-and-coming and international talent.

British cooking is represented by Yorkshireman Daniel Morgan, who picked up his craft at the Ritz, Gordon Ramsay’s and The Square, before spreading his wings in Denmark (Noma), India, Japan and Germany, eventually settling in Paris as head chef at Salt Restaurant.

The festival has afternoon and evening sessions, with chefs offering taster portions of their signature dishes as well as original creations developed especially for the event. With bite-sized starters, main courses and desserts costing from 5€ to 12€, it offers good value, as well as a unique opportunity to meet the culinary stars at the counter of their pop-up restaurants – with no headaches trying to book a seat.

Produce on offer will range from jams and cider to caviar, smoked salmon, olive oil, and Burgundy wines – all hand-picked by the Culinary College of France. Foodies can even buff up their cooking skills with hands-on cooking sessions and a chance to pick up chefs’ secrets at live cooking demos.

Thierry Vincenty, director IMG Taste Festivals France, said: “This new edition of Taste of Paris that promises to be even more festive and prestigious than before.

“Chefs, diners, producers and partners are all eager to be part of this new event in French gastronomy.”

‘For all those who took part in the inaugural edition, Taste of Paris proved to be a great success, bringing together over the four days: 16,000 visitors, 12 of the best Parisian restaurants alongside their chefs in residence, 80 of the finest food artisans and producers, and the opportunity to participate and follow some of world’s leading chefs in a series of interactive cooking demonstrations.

“This month’s event will go further, offering even more opportunities for the public to meet and greet with our star studded line-up of 17 chefs and sample some of their iconic dishes. It will be a true festival for the gourmet.”

THE FACTS

Taste of Paris runs from February 11-14, at Grand Palais, 3 Avenue du Général Eisenhower, Paris
Lunch session: 11.30am to 4pm – 15€
Dinner session: 7-11.30 pm – 18€
Dishes priced between 5€ and 12€
Gourmet Pass 45€ (includes a credit of 35€)
Premium Pass 138€ (includes queue-jump, Laurent-Perrier Champagne Bar and a credit of 45€)
Free access to the Chefs’ Theatre and Chefs’ Secrets events.
Tasteofparis.com

Oxford Mail:

WIN!

A Taste of Paris is offering The Oxford Times readers the chance to dine in style with five pairs of tickets up for grabs.

The Taste of Paris Discovery Passes get you into the festival and allow you to sample the best of French cuisine on a day to suit you, and watch the events.

For a chance to win a pair, simply tell us the name of the famous river running through the centre of Paris.

Email your answers, before midday on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 to tim.hughes@oxfordtimes.co.uk

Usual rules apply and the Editor’s decision is final.

Oxford Mail: