Bastille Day sure didn’t taste like the Gallic affairs of yore
They’ve given us Michelin stars for culinary excellence and couture as the pinnacle of fashion, so I was expecting a chic gastronomic feast after landing an invite to celebrate France’s national day.
And with Bastille Day this year also marking the swansong of the outgoing ambassador, Christophe Farnaud, it was set to be a special occasion.
Held last Friday at the ambassador’s Pretoria residence, it drew a crowd of mostly French-speaking folk, Francophiles and diplomats. Among them were businesswoman Judi Nwokedi with her “business associate” Kevin Kaseya, Trace TV CEO Olivier Laouchez and one of the most dashing foreign diplomats, Lebanese ambassador Kabalan Frangieh.
In the crowd I spotted Nandipha
Mntambo, an artist making waves internationally who will soon be exhibiting in Paris. Keep an eye out for her new Kensington studio, co-designed with architect Kate Otten, which will be unveiled during the upcoming Joburg Art Fair.
Then it’s hello to Carolyn Steyn, who gives me a look of quelle horreur when I innocently ask if the massive rock on her finger is a piece of costume jewellery.
“Costume!” exclaims the chief 67 Blankets for Mandela knitwit after taking a pregnant pause for effect.
After a thumping performance by the Bambanani Brass Band the ambassador welcomes us, recounting achievements over the past three years of his term and beaming with pride when he points out that French champagne hit the one million sales mark in SA last year.
The day also saw our national treasure, Esther Mahlangu, bestowed the French Order of Arts and Letters. Poignantly, it was Johnny Clegg, who passed away this week, who was the first South African to receive the honour back in 1991.
On to the grub and I’m afraid it was less a
and more an eww affair after spying the platters of cheese and paté served with baguettes that were suntanning before we were invited to tuck in. Needless to say, I opted not to join the ensuing queue.
Here’s hoping the incoming Gallic number one re-enlists the talents of caterer Marie Christine Giblot Ducray, who made French receptions a culinary feast many years ago.