Ooh La La! Who Does It Better Than The French?

with Martha Chapman

If you were hosting a couple of hundred of your nearest and dearest friends to dinner, wouldn’t you choose the Four Seasons?

Lucky us to be invited to a swell soirée hosted by Atout France (the French tourism development agency) and its partner at the Four Seasons in Toronto’s tony Yorkville.  The dinner capped off a delightful evening of networking with over 40 suppliers from every corner of the country, from rail and rental car firms to hotels and tour operators.

As in past years, agents from across the GTA appreciated the opportunity to meet face to face with the suppliers and it was clear there was a lot of business being written. I especially enjoyed chatting with Isabelle-Blanche Pinpin of Europ Auto (am I the only person in the world who didn’t know that the benefit of their legendary Achat-Rachat program is that each renter gets an absolutely brand new car?). And Jacque Daoulas of Midi-Pyrénées who told me that the Pyrenees mountains are becoming an increasing draw thanks to their many spas.

But especially interesting was Laurence at the Meeting the French table. This imaginative company gives visitors a chance to discover the French lifestyle, culture, gastronomy, arts and accommodation. They offer hotels and apartment rentals, but also cool outings such as Dinner with an (English-speaking) French Family, Gourmet Walking Tours, Paris by Helicopter, and Cooking Classes (move over Julia Child!)  www.meetingthefrench.com.

But all this was a mere appetizer to the main dish: a delightful 4-course meal starting with baby beet salad and finishing with apple Breton tart. Beautifully presented and served with charm. 

As Chef Guy Savoy told us via a video, “A good meal is…prepared by people who give it their time and all their heart.” And as the Consul General of France told us from the podium, “France is a bit special. I have to say that.” And I’d have to agree!