Apéritif à la française returns to Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina on November 18, 2017, for the fourth edition of the French themed event, uniting thousands of francophiles, culture vultures and foodies as they taste their way around a myriad of French delicacies.
Capitalising on the strong bond France and the UAE enjoy through the countries’ joint cultural, educational and scientific endeavours, Apéritif à la française concludes a year when French exports to the region enjoyed a significant boost, due to growing demand in Saudi Arabia, which imported $1 billion of French food in 2015.
Marking a new era in the relationship, 2017 will conclude with the highly anticipated launch of Louvre Abu Dhabi, setting the scene for 2018 to be another record year for French culture, food and history, in the Middle East.
“Globally, France is the sixth largest exporter of food and beverage products, with goods worth $67 billion exported in 2015. Exports from France to the UAE and wider Middle East have more than doubled in six years, with a 207% increase. The UAE is the second largest market for French food exports in the GCC after Saudi Arabia and is home to 150 French enterprises, further underlining the strong ties,” said Edwina Salvatori, Managing Director, SOPEXA Middle East.
More than 4,000 fans of French food and culture are expected to enjoy the country’s best loved gastronomic exports, as they stroll thought the gardens at the Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina, against the stunning backdrop of the Dubai skyline.
French food aficionados can savour authentic foods from leading exporters, including dairy products from Brittany-based specialist Payson Breton; goats cheese by Soignon; milk products by Régilait and gourmet recipes by Maille the mustard & vinegar expert. For those with a sweet tooth, French Bakery and La Patisserie des Reves will bake traditional pastries, including crêpe suzette, macarons and mille–feuille.
At the live food stations, a mouth-watering menu of French specialties will include cheese platters, oysters, cold cuts and a BBQ all paired with a selection of beverages served by African & Eastern. Newly opened Maisons du Monde, the accessible French home decor shop, will be there to showcase its must-have Apéritif accessories.
“We are delighted to be part of one of Dubai’s premier foodie events and have the opportunity to showcase our 120-year cheese tradition. This is the perfect platform to showcase the distinctive taste that has made Soignon the most sold goat cheese brand in France to a new audience here in the Middle East,” said Christophe Pigre, International Marketing Manager, Soignon.
Complementing the mise en scѐne, guests will be entertained with live music from French bands, while kids have their own dedicated area for fun and games. Helping to capture the moment, a cartoonist will sketch scenes – as well as visitors – live throughout the event.
The Dubai event concludes another sell out tour of France’s primary export markets, following successful events in Tokyo (19 – 21 May), Copenhagen (9 – 10 June), Quebec (6 – 16 July) and Hong Kong (26 – 29 October). In 2016, across all five destinations, Apéritif à la française attracted 500,000 visitors.
“In France we take great pride in our national dishes and ingredients, and the taste and quality of our food as a result is unmatched. We cannot wait to bring these new gourmet experiences to one of our largest export markets, here in the Middle East,” said Salvatori.
“We have developed a reputation for delivering some of the best events in the world, and as part of our growth and expansion plans we’re keen to extend our expertise in the Middle East to other companies and agencies looking to capitalise on the burgeoning food and beverage market in this region,” she added.
Organised by SOPEXA, the International food and lifestyle Marketing Group, and supported by the French Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry, Apéritif à la Française aims to recreate the French lifestyle for international audiences while raising awareness of the diversity of French products. Launched in 2004, Apéritif à la Française takes place in five leading capitals around the world: Tokyo, Copenhagen, Montreal, Hong Kong and Dubai.
Event: Apéritif à la Française
Description: Family-friendly French market with food and grape tastings, live entertainment and the chance to win prizes.
Date: 18th November 2017
Time: Noon to 10pm
Venue: Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina amphitheatre and gardens
How much: Entry is free. Food and drink prices start from AED15. Tokens are purchased on the day and exchanged.
Website: www.aperitifalafrancaise.com
For more event information, please visit the Facebook page
