‘French Gastronomy Day’ celebrated

Islamabad
The French people love the food, respect it and celebrate it. And while at the dining table the French host or hostess will always sit in the middle of the table because they love to be surrounded by their guests.
“I want people around the world to know France through its food,” said Ambassador of France to Pakistan, Martine Dorance, who invited a small group of journalists to her residence in the Diplomatic Enclave to give a presentation as to how to use the cutlery to eat while at a dining table laid down by a French host or hostess. And one must say she turned out to be a very good teacher as she made the things, which may appear so confusing to many, look so absurdly simple!
“Just follow this pattern (she made a presentation by herself as to how to select the cutlery laid on the table and the purpose of glasses and tumblers) and you will be a good guest for a French host,” she said with a broad grin. I learnt my lesson and am not going to forget it for the rest of my life!
“I hope the French envoy will not take it as an offence because I know they are very sensitive to gender issues, but if I may be allowed to say, then it was the female part of the experienced lady diplomat, the first female to be appointed as an Ambassador to Pakistan by France, that she used Thursday evening to promote France!
No matter if the usual argument is put forth that those are the men all around the world who are working as ‘Chefs’ in hotels, restaurants or any kind of eatery, but it is the woman who cooks at home. And homes outnumber the hotels, restaurants and eateries by hundreds and hundreds of millions!
While briefing the journalists the French envoy, Martine Dorance, said that today restaurants all over the world will offer more than 1,300 dinners to celebrate France’s gastronomy by inviting the public to share a ‘French dinner’.
“The Gout de/Good France’ initiative is being organised by Alain Ducasse and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development,” the French embassy in Islamabad stated.
She said that a big majority of tourists coming to France come only to taste the French food. “We render homage to a vibrant, open and innovative cuisine, while remaining true to its values of ‘sharing, pleasure, and respect for good food, and for the planet. The first ‘Gout de France/Good France’ event has already proved successful, with more participants than anticipated,” she said.
Ambassador Mrs Martine Dorance said that during his brief interaction with the local food, as it is less than 6 months that she is in Pakistan, she has found out so many good things about the rich Pakistani food. “You use little salt and that is to the like of the French people. We have been careful about the food that we feed to our children, use less sugar, less salt, less fat and that way we grow a healthy generation and that also helps towards a better world and better environment,” the French envoy said.
She expressed optimism that with the situation improving in the region there are bright chances of more and more French investors and entrepreneurs coming to Pakistan and increasing the trade and even industrial collaboration and cooperation between the two countries.
“There are French companies, which are very interested in having business with Pakistan. I hope if they don’t send in their own people, they still can operate through their Pakistani friends. There are so many Pakistani students studying in France and many have returned to Pakistan after completing their studies. These companies can take advantage of these people and can launch their business and trade activities in Pakistan through these young men and women who have studied or are still studying in France,” said Martine Dorance.