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Esplanade 1925 lounge & coctail bar

Gourmet Gala Celebration in Marseille

Chef Ana Grgić honored to cook at the International Women’s Day celebration at luxury Marseille InterContinental hotel, along with two other world-class female chefs

Ana was invited by renowned Michelin-starred chef Lionel Levy, the man behind the idea to gather and pay homage to the women of haute cuisine

On International Women’s Day, celebrated on Wednesday, 8 March 2017, chef Ana Grgić was invited, alongside world-renowned French Head Chefs Flora Mikula (Auberge Flora à Paris) and Béatrice Gonzalez  (Bistrot Coretta i Neva Cuisine, Paris), to cook for guests of Brasserie les Fenêtres, of Marseille luxury hotel InterContinental.

Famed Michelin-starred chef Lionel Levy, who was a guest at the Esplanade’s traditional champagne dinner recently, as well as the Taste the Mediterranean festival, temporarily gave his kitchen over to his three colleagues, in celebration of International Women’s Day. For this occasion, Ana, Flora and Beatrice composed appetizing menus for both lunch and dinner. They included exciting Mediterranean dishes paired with wines chosen by yet another woman – sommelier Sophie Cerciello of the Château Barbanau vinery from the French region of Bandol. For lunch, Ana prepared the appetizer – zucchini flower stuffed with goat’s cheese cream with truffles and kadaif, while for the main course at dinner she whipped up a slowly cooked lamb shank with crispy potatoes and smoked eggplant in za’atar. ‘Lionel’s invitation to come cook for guests of his restaurant made me very happy, and I was especially taken with the wonderful idea to gather the women of haute cuisine on this special day, and furthermore through this project show respect for all women. I am glad to have met so many successful female chefs. This proved to be a wonderful event and a lovely exchange of experiences, and what’s most important – the guests enjoyed our creations. I think these guest appearances are an excellent means of promoting Zagreb and Croatia.’ stated chef Ana Grgić upon returning from Marseille.

This initiative grew from a vision Lionel Levy has always held with regard to women in haute cuisine. Female chefs are an exception within that world, of which they make up only ten percent, and this Michelin-starred chef from Marseille has always expressed the utmost respect for the women in his successful teams. As such, l’InterContinental Marseille – Hôtel-Dieu, as the hotel in which he works, has women holding three key positions – Camille Gandolfo and Jade Helitiana Ramnantsoavina are Sous-Chef and Chef at the Brasserie Les Fenêtres restaurant, while Myriam Arab is Head Pastry Chef. Arab also prepared appetizers and desserts for the March 8th celebration. ‘On occasion of International Women’s Day, it seemed important to step back a little, and in a pleasant and visible way present these women, whose food is truly exceptional’, explained chef Lionel Levy.

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ABOUT CHEF ANA GRGIĆ

This charming and seasoned chef is the first lady of Esplanade’s cuisine and has been at the head of Zinfandel’s, one of Croatia’s best restaurants, for almost five years, as well as the charming French Le Bistro and Esplanade Catering. Ana has carried on the tradition of the Esplanade’s cuisine, while also keeping step with global trends in top gastronomy. In recent years, her creative and innovative menus have impressed endless guests and celebrities from show business, as well as royal families such as the Swedish King and Queen, Japanese Prince and Princess, the Saudi Arabian Prince, Denmark and the UK’s royal couple, as well as many others who certainly weren’t indifferent to Ana’s culinary ingenuity.

For its culinary excellence, Zinfandel’s has on numerous occasions been presented with prestigious awards such as the Great Rail Journeys Gold Food Award, inclusion in the Guida Gallo book of the world’s 101 best risottos, the Tripadvisor Hall of Fame, the Certificate of Excellence, as well as many others. Most valued, however, is recognition based on the experiences and reviews of the guests themselves, who place this restaurant among the world’s best. The start of 2017 saw Zinfandel’s receive a special Michelin recommendation.

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Hotel Esplanade contact:
Sanda Sokol, PR & Marketing Manager
T. +385 1 4566036, E. [email protected]

Hotel InterContinental Marseille, France contact:
Marion SARDOU, Marketing & Communications Manager
1, Place Daviel, 13002 Marseille, France
T: +33 (0)4 13 42 42 42
D: +33 (0)4 13 42 42 48
marseille.intercontinental.com

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