Hôtel de Bernard Magrez – Joël Robuchon le Restaurant
Bordeaux (Aquitaine)
Opening: September 2014
Website: TBD
Famous French chef Joël Robuchon, who has held as many as 28 Michelin stars at one time (a world record) is joining forces with wine baron Bernard Magrez, owner of 40 wine estates, including four of Bordeaux's best. Their combination hotel and restaurant will have only six suites and a gourmet restaurant with a cozy 50 tables, as well as a more relaxed and affordable food "lounge" area.
Château la Dominique
Saint Emilion (Aquitaine)
Opening: Spring, 2014
www.chateau-ladominique.com
Soon-to-be-unveiled brand-new tourism facilities attached to this grand cru classé wine include a new winery, a panoramic restaurant and a shop. World-renowned architect Jean Nouvel oversaw the project. In parallel with the new facilities are three new types of wine visits: a one-hour classic tour, a 75- to 90-minute tailor-made private tour, and a private tour followed by a wine tasting and lunch at the new Terrasse Rouge restaurant.
Bordeaux Aquitaine Wine Trip App
www.bordeaux-aquitaine-wine-trip.fr
In an attempt to help visitors make sense of the wealth and breadth of the Bordeaux vineyards both before and during their travels, tourism and wine professionals created a multipurpose application that facilitates the identification and selection of services and activities in the area. The multilingual app comes complete with information about seven areas: wine estates, restaurants, accommodation, information centers, monuments and museums, events and wine experiences. It covers all the vineyards of Aquitaine, notably including Bergerac, Duras and Jurançon Irouleguy.
La Saint-Vincent Tournante
Saint-Aubin (Burgundy)
January 25 and 26, 2014
www.saint-aubin2014.fr
The Saint-Vincent Tournante is one of the finest wine festivals in the world, organized by the famous Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin, a brotherhood of 12,000 "knights" promoting the wines and cuisine of Burgundy. The festival – a mass, procession, tastings and feasts – pays tribute to St. Vincent, the patron saint of winegrowers. This year, for the first time ever, 80 statues of St-Vincent companies were carried through the village of Saint-Aubin and environs.
Crémant and Tape-Chaudrons Festivals (Fête du Crémant et du Tape-Chaudrons)
Châtillon-sur-Seine (Burgundy)
March 15, 2014
www.mairie-chatillon-sur-seine.fr
More than 5,000 visitors join the fun each year for wine tasting and a parade in honor of the crémant, the white and rosé sparkling wines of Burgundy. On this day long ago – and symbolically still today – locals banged on pots (chaudrons) to chase away the winter and hurry the arrival of spring.
Gourmet Days (Journées Gourmandes)
Marsannay-la-Côte (Burgundy)
March 15 and 16, 2014
www.ot-marsannay.com
This 31st annual event comprises an exhibition, wine tastings and the sale of edible delicacies, wine and crafts. This wine and food Tour de France always promises to be rich in flavor, so it's a good thing you can eat on site.
International Gastronomy Exhibition Centre (Cité de la Gastronomie)
Dijon (Burgundy)
Opening: Spring 2016
www.citedelagastronomie-dijon.fr
Burgundy is known worldwide for it wines, food, heritage and preserved environment, so what better way than this to showcase its flavors and expertise? Along with Paris-Rungis, Lyon and Tours, Dijon has joined a network of gastronomic cities to promote gourmet eating in France. Given its key location, Dijon plays a critical role in collaborating with the wine industry.
“Fantastic Picnic” Rendezvous
Burgundy
September 26 to 28, 2014
www.bourgogne-tourisme.com
Your "Fantastic Picnic" could be the 60s revisited, Manet's famous 'Luncheon on the Grass' reenacted, or maybe just a treasure hunt in the vineyards. Whatever the case, it will all be about good cheer. After its two previous successes, Burgundy is once again letting "Fantastic Picnic" spread its blanket throughout the region though its tourism offices.
Festivities for the 154th Hospices de Beaune Wine Auction
Beaune (Burgundy)
November 14 to 16, 2014
www.beaune-tourisme.fr
During this three-day festival, merchant houses and family wine estates open their cellars and their bottles. Popular entertainment, both free and for a fee, fill the days, from a half marathon to street theater, wine tastings, bottle-opening contests and a carnival. The high point is the most famous charity wine sale in the world.
Truffle Market
Leuglay (Burgundy)
Early December
www.maison-foret.com
The 4th truffle festival of Burgundy takes place at the Maison de la Forêt (Forest House) of Leuglay. On the program: truffle-sorting demonstrations and a gourmet market that includes the sale of truffles, truffle plants and products made from truffles.
Langley Resort Fort Royal
Bas Vent (Guadeloupe)
www.fortroyal.eu
Langley Resort Fort Royal hired a new Head-Chef, award-winning Belgian chef, Monsieur Alain TRENOYE who previously worked in Sweden and at the Royal Windsor in Brussels as Executive Chef. The charming and family friendly resort renovated Le Royal, the main restaurant, adding a modern, Swedish styled, open kitchen and buffet area. The property will be undergoing accommodations renovation during the off season.
Auberge de la Vieille Tour
Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe)
auberge-vieille-tour.hotel-rn.com
Auberge de la Vieille Tour-an MGallery-hired renowned Chef and culinary Ambassador of Guadeloupean French-Creole Cuisine, Joël Kichenin, as its new Head Chef. Built around an 18th century windmill with breathtaking ocean views throughout the property, Auberge de la Vieille Tour is renowned for its gourmet dining experience.
Vitiloire, the Loire Wine Festival
Tours (Loire Valley)
May 31 and June 1
www.toursfetelesvins.fr
This weekend event transforms the city into a friendly showcase for the 68 Loire vineyard appellations, like Vouvray, Chinon, Saumur and Sancerre. More than a hundred wine growers will converge on downtown Tours to share their expertise with visitors, along with a glass of their best vintages. Live cooking demonstrations with the area's top chefs will focus on local products.
Sainte Marie Culinary Week
Martinique
May
www.martinique.org
Martinique shares, with distinctive panache, mainland France’s love for gastronomy. One of the best expressions of this passion occurs each year during Sainte-Marie Culinary Week, a weeklong festival celebrating Martinique’s unique gastronomic heritage and traditions. At the center of the festivities is a cooking competition. Each year, several local food products are chosen for competing chefs to use as the centerpiece of their culinary creations. The competition extends throughout the week, with special dinners, cooking demonstrations, a street fair and more providing an in-depth introduction to Martinique’s culinary scene.
Opening of the Route des Vins d’Aveyron
Midi-Pyrénées
Press Kit
Aveyron has created a brand new Route des Vins exploring four very different terroirs where four AOCs are grown: Marcillac, Côtes de Millau, Entraygues-le-Fel and Estaing. The participating wine growers have signed a quality charter guaranteeing the best wine-tasting welcome for visitors exploring the area. This new itinerary is another addition to Aveyron's well-loved range of food-themed attractions such as the unmissable Roquefort cheese cellars.
Opening: Restaurant Isabelle Auguy
Rodez (Midi-Pyrénées)
www.restaurantisabelleauguy.fr
Following her tremendous success running the family restaurant in Laguiole, obtaining one star in the Michelin Guide in 2001, Isabelle Auguy has now moved to Rodez, bringing her history, origins and generous cuisine, from filet de boeuf to aligot and including her delicious porcini mushroom salad.
AOC Festival
Cambremer (Normandy)
May 3 & 4, 2014
www.lesrencontresdecambremer.fr
This gastronomic festival celebrates Normandy’s renowned AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée) products with a market, stands, tastings and “gourmet tours.”
Apple Festival
Vimoutiers (Normandy)
Mid-October (Exact Date TBC)
www.vimoutiers.fr
In the heart of the Pays d’Auge, celebrated for its multitide of apple orchards, the Apple Festival celebrates this fruit in all of its forms with apple pie contests, AOC cider contests, folkloric celebrations and more.
Shellfish and Crustacean Festival
Granville (Normandy)
October 4 & 5, 2014
www.ville-granville.fr
The most important shellfish port in France, the village of Granville fêtes the twelfth edition of this festival with tastings of scallops and other shellfish prepared by some of the region’s most renowned chefs. Around 35,000 visitors flock to Granville per year to participate in the festival.
Opening of Restaurant Lazare
Paris
September 2013
lazare-paris.fr
Eric Frechon, the Michelin three-starred chef behind Le Bristol’s acclaimed restaurants, opened this brasserie in September, which is the first restaurant of a 'grand chef' in a train station in Europe.
Valrhona Chocolate's Cité du Chocolat
Tain l’Hermitage (Rhône-Alps)
Opened: October 24, 2013
www.valrhona-chocolate.com
Valrhona is a purveyor of exceptional chocolates to the most prestigious gastronomy professionals and to gourmet enthusiasts. In keeping with its mission to promote artisanal talent and showcase amazing chocolate, it has opened a Cité du Chocolat where visitors enjoy interactive experiences along a seven-part trail including a sensory studio, recipe bar, cocoa farm, chocolate factory, chef's kitchen lab and artists exhibition.
Truffle Festival
Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux (Rhône-Alpes)
www.drometourisme.com
February 9 & 10, 2014
Visitors learn everything they need to know about truffles, featuring a truffle market and tastings.
Les Sarmentelles (Beaujolais Nouveau launch)
Beaujeu (Rhône-Alpes)
www.beaujolais.com
November 20th, 2014
Every year, tasting of the new Beaujolais wine takes place on the third Thursday in November in the bars and restaurants of Lyon and the Beaujolais region. In Beaujeu, capital of the region, the most popular of all the celebrations takes place - les Sarmentelles. There is dancing and singing, a night of fun and frolics! At midnight the new barrels are opened and there is a torch procession through the streets of Beaujeu.
SIRHA (International Restaurant, Hotel and Food Show)
Lyon (Rhône-Alpes)
www.sirha.com
2015
The biggest professional restaurant and hotel show in the world attracting more than 2,000 exhibitors (20% foreigners) as well as 10,000 chefs from 136 countries. The SIRHA organizes the world chef competition to win the prestigious Bocuse d’Or.
Les Glorieuses de Bresse
Bourg-en-Bresse, Montrevel-en-Bresse, Pont-de-Vaux (Rhône-Alpes)
www.glorieusesdebresse.com
Mid-December
In the month of December four towns in the region compete against each other in the ‘Quatre Glorieuses’ - a competition for producers of fine poultry – chicken, capons, turkey…judged by a jury
Hard Rock Cafe
Nice (Riviera)
Opened: November 2013
www.hardrock.com
France's second Hard Rock Cafe is now open on the Promenade des Anglais.
Gourmet Tour on Bike
Riviera
www.azurbiketour.com
The Gourmet Tour on Bike is a perfect way to experience the best of the Cote d’Azur’s gastronomy coupled with burning off those calories while cycling. Ideal for cyclists of all levels, visitors can choose from a variety of three-day routes while sampling specialties such as olive oil, local cheeses and tapenade.
Wine Tastings – featuring the wines produced by the monks of Lérins
Riviera
www.abbayedelerins.com
Visitors are invited to go wine-tasting on Saint Honorat Island, located only fifteen minutes away from Cannes. Different wine-tasting options in the vineyard are proposed, all of them including presentation with commentaries from the in-house sommelier and food-pairing information.
Publication of the iBook Nice Cuisine and the Art of Living, by François Millo and Viktorija Todorovska
Riviera
vimeo.com
itunes.apple.com
Dedicated to the cuisine of Nice and its surroundings, this book features information on chefs, traditional recipes and information on the area. For sale on iTunes.
