The French have given us a lot - antibiotics, raincoats, the hairdryer - but arguably their biggest contribution to the world has been in the form of food. What would our days be like without croissants, baguettes, brie, the odd quiche? If you feel like celebrating this fact, the largest French-style dinner in the world is taking place across the globe on Wednesday 21st March, and several Dublin restaurants are signed up.
Organised by the French government, the idea is to celebrate French gastronomy, but restaurants are encouraged to use local ingredients. Piglet in Temple Bar are doing a 5 course meal featuring dishes like 'Baked Clarenbridge Oyster, Parmesan, Organic Gubben farm Lardo', 'Irish Spring Lamb, Bayaldie de Légumes, Jus Tranché a la Menthe', and 'Irish Goat's Cheese, Organic Honey and Pollen'. Dinner costs €65, or €105 with matching wines, which include a Loire Muscadet, a Pinot Blanc from Alsace and a red Bordeaux. You can book by emailing or calling them on 01 7079786.
Piglet
Other restaurants taking part are Cliff Townhouse, which will be serving oysters or crab, followed by sole meunière, and ending with a French cheese plate, and Aqua in Howth, who'll be serving duck foie gras, sole in mornay sauce and cheese to finish. Unfortunately no-one is organised enough to have their full menus online yet but keep an eye on their websites or get in touch via email or phone.
You can read more about the event and where to celebrate it on the French Embassy's website here. And if you don't want to go out, this is as good an excuse as any to have some friends over and break out the Beaujolais and baked Camenbert.
