Seven Maltese restaurants will be joining others from all over the world on Thursday in the Goût de France Good France initiative offering more than 1,300 dinners to celebrate France’s gastronomy by inviting the public to share a “French dinner”.

Participating restaurants  will 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.

Photo: Pierre Monetta

The Maltese restaurants taking part are Bacchus Restaurant, De Mondion and Medina in Mdina, Chez Amand in Marsalforn, and Cordial restaurant chez Cyrille, Malata Restaurant  and Pegasus in Valletta.

The initiative, being held for the first time this year, attracted more participants than anticipated.

It is organised by famous chef and restaurant operator Alain Ducasse and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development.

Inspired by French chef, restaurateur and culinary writer Auguste Escoffier, who launched the Dîners d’Épicure Epicurean Dinners initiative – the same menu, the same day, in several world cities and aimed at as many diners as possible – in 1912, Goût de France is aimed at involving restaurants all around the world.

Each chef will offer a “French-style” menu in their restaurant with a traditional French aperitif, a cold starter, a hot starter, fish or shellfish, meat or poultry, a French cheese (or cheeseboard), a chocolate dessert, French wines and digestifs, while remaining free to highlight their own culinary traditions and cultures.

The menu’s price is at the restaurant’s discretion. Restaurants, however, are al encouraged to donate five per cent of the proceeds to a local non-governmental organisation promoting health and the environment.