The Taste of Paris culinary festival is back this year, after an absence in 2024 due to the Olympic Games. Until May 11th, lovers of French gastronomy could stroll through the aisles of the Nouveau Grand Palais to discover the current French culinary scene (restaurants, artisans, and producers). Created in London in 2004, the 'Taste of...' festival arrived in Paris just 10 years ago, giving visitors the chance to sample the emblematic dishes of the greatest Parisian chefs during a festival that lasts four days.
Star chef Mathieu Pérou from Nantes prepares the famous Red Label and PGI potato
This is the first time that the famous Noirmoutier potato, which has both the Red Label and PGI certification, has taken part in the Taste of Paris festival. "It is a good seasonal product that is eagerly awaited by consumers. This time, we wanted chefs to present it to an audience of experts and enthusiasts," explains Nicolas Paille, director of the cooperative. Michelin-starred chef Mathieu Pérou, from the Manoir de la Régate restaurant in Nantes, is the one who brought the Noirmoutier potato to life. "The chef created several gastronomic variations on the early Noirmoutier potato and gave a masterclass in front of influencers and journalists," explains the director. "The idea was to promote the best of the Noirmoutier region to consumers on social networks."
The Noirmoutier Cooperative also wanted to take part in this year's culinary festival to celebrate its 80th anniversary. "The life of the cooperative has been marked by a number of emblematic events," explains Nicolas Paille. "Thirty years ago, we organized an auction of a basket of Bonnotte to mark the revival of this old variety. The Bonnotte will be available throughout the region from this week. In 2020, Noirmoutier producers set up shop at the Canal de l'Ourcq-Saint Martin to meet Parisian consumers. We regularly try to create something different in terms of communication to remind people that we have a seasonal product with high eating value, flesh that melts in the mouth, and a sweet taste. This year, the Taste of Paris festival is a reminder that simple, seasonal, high-quality products like the early Noirmoutier potato have their place in French high cuisine."