Director’s Note

French cuisine is an amalgamation of a strong regional identity, an endless repertoire of dishes that reflect the local terroir and the French preference of showcasing local produce. It is no surprise then that the “Gastronomic meal of the French” and its rituals have earned a UNESCO classification on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. France’s world-renowned cuisine has been a continual pursuit of excellence from the traditional recipes of the Mères Lyonnaises—a slew of women chefs of the mid-1700s whose exemplary efforts put Lyon under the gastronomic spotlight—to the modern-day concept of bistronomy to incoporating sustainability practices. The farm-to-fork movement has gained steady momentum in France, and organic produce has found its rightful place in reformist French culinary practices. The creations of revered French chefs such as Paul Bocuse, Alain Ducasse, Alain Passard, Joël Robouchon and many others have contributed to the evolution of this cuisine, which has shown a remarkable flexibility to adaptation, inclusion, diversity and reinvention over the years. We invite you to embark on a delectable journey across France’s iconic destinations and explore different facets of French cuisine and oenology through many sensory experiences. The gourmand road map covers the emblematic cities of Paris, Lyon, Nice and Dijon; the oenological and gastronomic heartland of Provence and Bordeaux, the glamorous and sophisticated St Tropez for a tryst with vegan ventures, and the mythical effervescence of Champagne! Don’t just take our word for it. Read on as our food and wine connoisseurs and ambassadors share their passionate love affair with France through their epicurean experiences. We hope that these flavourful insights and memoirs will work up an appetite for a sumptuous sojourn in France in the near future!