An Authentic French Food Market Is Coming To Auckland

It has been a long time coming, but we are excited to announce the eagerly awaited return of Le Chef’s French Festival. The annual Rendez-Vous is the event of the year for foodies and epicureans. This will be the fourth edition of the event and we are among many French enthusiasts that have been counting down the days. Make sure that your calendars are clear for June 11th and 12th.

Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, the French Festival kicks off at 9am on both days; the Saturday will see festivities rage on until 10 pm, and the Sunday will close out at 4 pm. Head on down to Queens Wharf; the event will take place at Shed 10. While you can peruse the stalls and sample the best French cuisine in town, there are also other smaller events taking place throughout the festival. Participate in the most anticipated dining experiences of the year, including One night in France.

The French Festival has one mission in mind; bringing life back to the city!

If you have not had the pleasure of taking a tour of the French Festival, we can walk you through it. The two-day extravaganza includes a delicious variety of French cuisine, exciting entertainment and Art de Vivre a la Française. The family-friendly event has something for everyone, whether you enjoy a sophisticated tasting of cheese and wine, a sugar-coated crepe, a kid’s craft corner, magic shows or cotton candy.

Our list of must-try French snacks includes the ever-elegant macarons in every colour of the rainbow, crepes loaded with chocolate and fresh fruit, warm baguettes and croissants dripping with melted butter, and so much more. There will be sweet and savoury, carb-heavy and fruity, and everything in-between.

The French Festival will also see the likes of a pop-up French bistro by Veuve Du Vernay. The luxurious experience will include a four-course menu expertly crafted by Le Chef; alongside a glass of Veuve Du Vernay on arrival. Tickets are going for $99 per person; this will also secure diners’ free entry to the French Festival before or after the booking.

Treat yourself to One night in France; this is the biggest French dinner in New Zealand; you and 699 other French lovers will enjoy a five-course menu; cooked and prepared by Le Chef. Embrace a night of French culture as you sip on the finest French wine and listen to the smoothest French music. The cuisine will be fresh, seasonal and authentically French.

On Le Chef’s restaurant menu is the infamous escargots; we are praying these beauties make an appearance at One night in France. For those of you who have not tried escargots, it is an acquired taste, these are snails in herbs and garlic butter served with a baguette.

Then there are the main courses, we love the risotto Florentine is to-die-for; the risotto comes with a spinach-Florentine sauce, pecorino and toasted pine nuts. Our fingers and toes are crossed that the incredible crème brûlée will be part of the menu. While there is no guarantee these delicious dishes will be part of the menu at One night in France, we know that Le Chef make beautiful and delectable cuisine.

The French Festival is like a mini holiday for two whole days, be submerged into the French culture, and you can experience a European getaway without leaving the city. Break out your beret and brush up on your French; with less than a month to go, let the countdown begin!

Find out all the information here!