Goût de France turned Makati into a Parisian street fair
For two evenings in May, Makati traded the usual rush of office crowds and traffic for something softer, slower, and unmistakably French.
There were accordions playing in the background, the aroma of butter and warm bread drifting through the air, chefs plating elegant dishes before curious onlookers, and moviegoers settling onto the grass at Ayala Triangle Gardens for open-air screenings under the night sky.
This was this year’s Goût de France (Good France), the annual celebration of French gastronomy organized by the Embassy of France to the Philippines — a festival that briefly transformed the heart of Makati into a lively Parisian street fair from May 16 to 17.
The event opened with remarks from French Ambassador Marie Fontanel, who reflected on how the global celebration began in 2014 through the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and renowned chef Alain Ducasse.
“The project was of course, an immediate success in the Philippines because of course, Filipinos, like French, have a passion for food,” Ambassador Fontanel said.
That shared passion was evident throughout the festival.
Crowds gathered around live cooking demonstrations where French chefs from culinary schools prepared dishes that balanced sophistication with playfulness. At the Enderun École Ducasse station, Chef Marc Chalopin served “Scrambled Eggs in an Eggshell, Smoked Salmon & Salmon Roe,” while Chef Nicolas Pasdeloup prepared a “Rum Baba with Tropical Fruits” that brought together rich pastry and bright tropical flavors.
Nearby, Le Cordon Bleu Ateneo chefs Cyrille Soenen and Regis Dore offered a French take on a Filipino comfort food favorite through “Hotdog Sisig” tucked into soft potato bread — a dish that drew smiles from guests curious enough to try the unusual combination. Chef Julien Bispo added a sweeter note to the evening with verrines layered with ricotta, amaretto, coconut, roasted pineapple, and dacquoise.
But what made Goût de France memorable was not simply the food.
The festival captured the easy charm often associated with French street life, where meals stretch into conversations, music spills into public spaces, and dining becomes part of the atmosphere itself. Accordionist Eric Soulard and the Didactic Doodling Guitar Trio filled the streets with lively melodies as visitors wandered between booths, wine glasses in hand.
As night fell, the celebration shifted into cinema mode with outdoor screenings of Ratatouille and The Taste of Things at Ayala Triangle Gardens, giving the evening the relaxed elegance of a miniature Cannes-inspired gathering in the middle of Manila.
For many visitors, Goût de France became more than a food event. It was a brief escape — two nights when Makati felt less hurried, more romantic, and deliciously European. ANDREA B. RAMOS
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