Thursday, January 14, 2016

2nd Annual Award Ceremony for the Académie de l'Art Culinaire du Monde Créole - The Festivities

Last January, I reported on the first award ceremony to celebrate the best of Creole cuisine in the Francophone world. Organized by the Académie de l'Art Culinaire du Monde Créole in December 2014, it was a great step forward in fulfillment of this group's mission to safeguard, promote, and defend Creole gastronomy.

On December 19, 2015, the Academy gathered Creole food lovers at the Espace Reuilly for the second annual Trophées de l’Art Culinaire Créole (Trophies for Creole Culinary Art) award ceremony. This time, I was able to experience it firsthand!

Monique at the 2nd Annual Trophées de l’Art Culinaire Créole ceremony
© Discover Paris!

While we waited to be ushered into the dinner theater, we enjoyed Camille de Riverie Champagne, freshly pressed cane sugar juice, and lovely hors d'oeuvres, including sweet potato mousse and cherry tomatoes dusted with various toppings.

Champagne and cherry tomatoes
© Discover Paris!

Pressing sugar cane
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Sweet potato mousse
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Once seated, we dined on a sumptuous three-course meal created by Chef Gustave Monpierre, who won the Trophée d'Honneur in 2014. The entrée (first course) consisted of puff pastry shells filled with cod and smoked salmon. This was followed by rack of lamb with passion fruit sauce, baby potatoes, carrots, and sweet potatoes. Dessert consisted of a pineapple-coconut cake roll served with a raspberry sauce. All were divine!

Table #1
© Discover Paris!

Puff pastry shells filled with cod and smoked salmon
© Discover Paris!

Lamb with passion fruit sauce
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Pineapple-coconut cake and raspberry sauce
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The award ceremony proceeded as we ate. Jimmy Menage, the engaging Master of Ceremonies, kept the spirit of the evening light and festive as various individuals and groups entertained us with song and dance as awards were given.

Jimmy Menage
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Performers
Images and collage © Discover Paris!

George Pau-Langevin, France’s Minister of Overseas Territories, was called to the stage to talk about her childhood remembrances of Créole food in Guadeloupe and how she preserves that memory in her household today.

Jimmy Menage interviews Minister George Pau-Langevin
© Discover Paris!

The 2015 award categories are as follows:

Trophée Entrepreneurs: Cuisine Traditionnelle (Entrepreneur Trophy)

Trophée “Avenir” (“Future” Trophy)

Trophée “Littérature Gastronomique” (Gastronomic Literature Trophy)

Prix de l'Innovation Economique (Economic Innovation Prize)

Trophée d’Honneur (Trophy of Honor)

Prix Spécial du Jury (Jury's Special Prize)

Grand Prix de l’Art Culinaire Créole (Grand Prize for Creole Culinary Art)

Ceremony attendees
© Discover Paris!

Next week, I'll present the winners!

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