Two Cultures Combine at the Good France Event

Two Cultures Combine at the Good France Event

Images courtesy of Thanis Lim

For the third year in a row, the Goût de France (Good France) dinner event held on March 21^st 2017 united over 2,000 chefs around the world to create and serve a gastronomical feast in tribute to the renowned excellence of French cuisine.

Brunei Darussalam is certainly no different, and this year also marks the third year that the sultanate celebrated Good France. Hosted by the French Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Her Excellency Loan Forgeron at the French residence last night in Kota Batu, this year’s event saw the attendance of Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong and spouse along with Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Ser Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof and spouse, and other esteemed guests at a private VIP Gastronomy Dinner featuring both French and Bruneian cuisine as part of the Francophonie Week celebrations.

Preparing French cuisine for the dinner was Chef Edna Boqueo who pampered the guests’ taste buds with French favourites such as the Millefeuille of Vegetables as an appetizer, a cheese platter, Foie Gras with scent of Red Onion Jam as a starter, and Salmon Fillet drizzled in Béarnaise Sauce as a spectacular main course.  Crêpes Suzette and Moist Chocolate Cake was the sweet end to the meal.

Served alongside its French counterpart was Bruneian cuisine prepared by Chef Luqman Hakim of gourmet restaurant URBN Kitchen. Presenting local cuisine elevated to fine dining standards, Chef Luqman brought to the table a Sea Bass Umai as an appetizer, Fried Tripe Coconut Soup as a starter, tender Turmeric Lamb as a main course and the eye-pleasing Kueh Lenggang Regenerate for dessert.

Throughout the meals, guests were treated to Basil Watermelon and Purple Haze beverages.

The Good France event embodies important aspects of both French and Bruneian culture: the importance of promoting our local gastronomy and to also promote the shared values and cultures of the two nations to the world. For more information, visit the Alliance Française de Brunei website here and the Embassy of France in Brunei Darussalam website here.

The Francophonie Week is organized by Alliance Française de Brunei and is supported by the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism.