Gourmet Festival - Opening Night

[cec1]

The Opening Night is a glamous — locally speaking — and particularly fun evening. Kind of a symbolic kick-off to the new season. There’s not a lot to be said about it except that there’s enormous, cheerful, good will in the venue (Le Sereno, this year), with impressive shared exchanges of talent & camaraderie among chefs & guests.

Without a lot of commentary, here are some scenes that capture the unsparing, flavorful, big-heartedness of extraordinary chefs & appreciative guests.

Exquisite desserts

. . . happy, crowded guests

Ellen & Rosemond Greaux

L’Esprit’s Tof Laurent in a surprise appearance from Audrey Hepburn

Chef Marcel Ravin (Le Blue Bay, Monaco) with St. Barths lovely hotelier (Fleur de Lune) & former restauranteur (Le Gommier), Maryse Berry . . . with Eddy Lacharme & Gennaro Liguori of the Rosewood Guanahani kitchen

The exquisite Chefs of Le Sereno’s Restaurant Al Mare — Matteo Lascar & Giuseppe di Maggio (fabulous guys who accommodate my nearly daily luncheon requests).

Fabrien Ferré, Chef of L’Hotel & Spa du Castellet — visiting at Cheval Blanc with team members

The fabulous Foodland team of Thomas, Jordan, & Julien with Antoine Dumond, Executive Chef of Nikki Beach SBH — sumptuous caviar, BTW, from this always great crew!

. . . with a sweet vignette of Mother & Child, hangin’ out on the sidelines

 

[davesmom]

That looks like the absolute most fun!!! Exquisite party, amazing food, especially the desserts at "my" Guanahani table!! Ellen and Rosemond are the cutest..they look like a couple of teenagers!!! Thank you for the photos

 

[GramChop]

Wendy, Ellen et Rosie…fantastique! Familiar faces we don’t see often enough. Gros bisous, all.