A Taste of France – Bon Appétit!

Once a year UBIFRANCE, the French Trade Commission, plays host to A Taste of France, an event where specialist businesses in the French food trade get to network and exhibit their products. This year’s event was held at the spectacular setting of Kensington Roof Gardens of which I was invited to attend. The opportunity to sample some of the finest produce from France, and in one of London’s top hot spots, well, I wasn’t going to be declining that offer.

There was a wide range of products on display: cheeses, condiments, sweets, chocolates, charcuterie, cakes and more. When I’m in an area faced with such tempting options I tend to gravitate towards the more savoury products first working my up to the sweets, but on this occasion I was drawn to the chocolates above by Comptoir du Cacao and so made a beeline for them.

Oh my, they were good, really good. Silky smooth on the outside with a nutty crunch in the middle. I tried a few different ones from the range, but the two that stood out for me were from their ‘flaky pralines’ line – hazelnut and the salted butter caramel. Both so happened to be winners, 1st and 2nd prize respectively at the Paris Chocolate Show in 2003 and 2006.

Mint and rum macaron by Macarons Gourmands

I stuck with the sweets for my next tasting with a mint and rum flavoured macaron. It was very light and crisp on the outside with a gooey centre, just as it should be. It took me back to when I was in Paris about two years ago, trying them for the first time in the very fancy Ladurée in Champs Elysées, and watching the world go by. This wasn’t Paris, obviously, but the view out to the roof gardens was just as great.

Premium olive oils by Moulin Jean-Marie Cornille

I then went on to try some amazingly good quality olive oils, duck terrine and a smoked filet mignon – which was a revelation. And as if I hadn’t eaten enough, finished the days tasting with a full on hot buffet, with dessert!

Duck terrine by Première Pression Provence

Smoked filet mignon by Rochebillard & Blein

Hot buffet on the roof gardens

I tried so many more things that day, too many to mention, but do take a look here, as there are pictures of some of the other products and also the venue. It was so lovely and insightful to talk to the producers too, who were all very passionate about what they do.

Other businesses in attendance were:
Algues de Bretagne, Aquitaine Spécialités, Atlantique Développement Export, Biscuiterie de Provence, Charbonneaux-Brabant, Charcuterie Bordelaise, Chocogil, Chocolats Zugmeyer, Confitures Octave, Conserverie Au Bec Fin, Fromagerie Beaudé, Fromi, On Plante le Décor Ltd (OPLD), Pat’Fondines and Thés de la Pagode.

For more information on any of the products or event, contact the French Trade Commission, UBIFRANCE: http://www.ubifrance.com/uk/