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Costa Rica Chapitre

Bailliage of Costa Rica
San José, September 8, 2018

The best of traditions: French gastronomy, Costa Rican coffee, stately hotel
" course after course of top-class gastronomy "

Our Bailliage held its 2018 Induction Ceremony and Gala Dinner at the Hotel Grano de Oro in San José - Grano de Oro means “grain of gold” and refers to coffee beans.

Twenty new members were welcomed into the organization with four being promoted and three receiving special honours. Guests of honour were Inducting Officer Ira Falk, Member of the Conseil d’Administration from the USA, and his wife Melissa. John and Sandy Thomas from the Bailliage of Naples (Florida) also joined us.

A rare historic photo was displayed at the entrance to the event from the Taulère family archives. It showed a panoramic view of a dinner in 1956 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York where the Bailliage of USA was conceived. The parents of our Bailli Délégué, Alain Taulere, had accompanied Jean Valby on his trip from France to the USA to promote the Chaîne and were present at the inaugural event.

Our hosts were Ciro de Angelis, Maître Restaurateur and owner of the Hotel de Grano de Oro, with Chef Francis Canal, Maître Rôtisseur. Ira Falk kept members and guests entertained. Furthermore, he teamed up with Bailli Délégué Alain Taulère to make the Induction Ceremony bi-lingual.

During the ensuing gala dinner, Chef Francis appeared between courses to provide the food commentary. He awed guests with his classic and original menu offerings, course after course of top-class gastronomy.

The culinary virtuoso’s menu began with salmon, cured and smoked in house, which was drizzled with Spanish extra virgin olive oil. The course was accompanied by Ladoucette Sauvignon Blanc. Next came tender sautéed red snapper with a trio of tapanades paired with Drouhin ‘la Forêt Bourgogne Chardonnay. Third course was rillettes de lapin: slow braised rabbit with carrot spirals, matched with a Beaujolais Villages.

For the main course, beef tenderloin and foie gras were served with vegetable mousseline and Parisian-style root vegetables in a beef jus with a port reduction. The star wine of the evening, a Chorey-les-Beaune Burgundy was the chosen vinous partner for this course. A dessert tasting capped the evening with special artisan “Sublime” coffee, provided by one of our newest members who owns a coffee plantation.

The event captured the best of traditions: French gastronomy, Costa Rican coffee and a stately hotel location.

Bonnie Taulère
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