2008

NOVEMBER

November 21, 2008
2008 Beaujolais Nouveau

FICS members and guests welcomed the 2008 Beaujolais Nouveau during a gourmet event at The Washington Club — which featured tastings of this year’s harvest, plus other wines and French vodka, with food selections from Washington D.C.’s leading chefs.

SEPTEMBER

September 28, 2008
“La Fête du Cochon” picnic

This year’s “La Fête du Cochon” picnic brought together more than 300 FICS members and guests for an afternoon of gourmet cuisine prepared by many of the top chefs in the Washington, D.C. area – including the event’s special host, Chef Michel Richard.

JULY

July 10, 2008
Bastille Day event and cooking demo at La Ferme

Chevy Chase, Maryland’s La Ferme restaurant was the site of the FICS’s pre-Bastille Day festivities, which included a cooking demonstration by Chef Alain Roussel, champagne and wine cocktail and special three-course menu.

JUNE

June 25, 2008
Dinner on the "Terrasse"

The FICS marked the arrival of summer with its traditional outside dinner on the terrace of Alexandria’s Bastille restaurant, where they were welcomed by Chefs Christophe Poteaux and Michelle Garbee.

APRIL

April 29, 2008
Dinner Provençal

Members of the FICS came together at the Lavandou restaurant on April 29 for an evening of wonderful wines and authentic Provençal cuisine, skillfully prepared by Chef Samuel Lepetz.

April 17, 2008
Rhône Renaissance

Restaurant members of the FICS shined at a French Wine Society-organized event, showcasing a selection of French-inspired dishes and desserts, which were complimented by wines from the Rhône region of France.

MARCH

March 16, 2008
The Annual Gala Des Chefs and Formal Awards Dinner

The FICS’s gala evening honored the best in French cuisine, with a dinner prepared by Master Chef Gaël Cruchet and the awarding of France’s “Merite Agricole” award to Francois Dionot of L’Academie de Cuisine.

FEBRUARY

February 25, 2008
Alsatian Rendez-Vous

Montsouris restaurant brought the flavors of eastern France to Dupont Circle for the FICS’ February 25 Alsatian Rendez-Vous, which included such traditional courses as presskopf and baeckeoff.

JANUARY

January 22, 2008
Dinner of the Cochon

Our annual dinner at Georgetown's La Chaumière was once again hosted by Chef Patrick Orange, with a four-course degustation menu showcasing winter specialties that included a Gascogne-inspired chowder.

2007

DECEMBER

December 31, 2007
New Year's Eve Gala - "Nights in White Satin"

The nation capital's most elegant – and fun – New Year's eve gala included a masked cocktail party, a gourmet five-course dinner by The Washington Club's Chef de Cuisine Frank Simu, and dancing into 2008 to the sounds of the Retrospect band.

NOVEMBER

November 15, 2007
Food and Wine Celebration - "Beaujolais Nouveau"

Approximately 400 guests celebrated the arrival of the 2007 Beaujolais Nouveau at the French Embassy’s elegant Maison Française.

OCTOBER

October 7, 2007
“Le Grand Picnic”

A gourmet Mediterranean buffet, topped off by cheeses and European desserts, were enjoyed by nearly 100 guestsat Three Fox Vineyard in Delaplane, Virginia on one of the final summer-like Sundays of 2007.

JULY

July 12, 2007
“Techniques of Chocolate Couverture”

Master Pastry Chef Frank Vollkommer of Cargill Cocoa and Chocolate provided a step-by-step presentation on preparing a cocoa-crème fraiche sponge with milk chocolate mousse dessert, and a chocolate-covered passion bon bon.

MAY

May 8, 2007
“Springtime on a Parisian Bistro Terrace”

FICS members officially welcomed the arrival of Spring at Bastille, the new Alexandria restaurant of Christophe Poteaux and Michelle Garbee. Their five-course menu for the May 8 event included a mini foie-gras burger and breast of veal.

APRIL

April 19, 2007
Food and Wine Celebration - “April in Loire”

Loire Valley wines and a large selection of fish and seafood signature dishes from acclaimed Washington, D.C.-area chefs delighted a sell-out crowd at the FICS/French Wine Society “April in Loire” event on April 19.

MARCH

March 25, 2007
Gala Dinner – “Merci, François”

French Embassy, Washington, D.C.

The sold-out annual gala, organized by the French International Culinary Society in cooperation with l’Academie de Cuisine, brought together 280 guests to honor François Haeringer, owner of L’Auberge Chez François.

FEBRUARY

February 18, 2007
Theme Reception & Dinner – “Mardi Gras"

Bistro 123, McLean, Virginia

The tastes and sounds of New Orleans came alive during the French International Culinary Society’s Mardi Gras theme reception and dinner at Bistro 123.

JANUARY

January 29, 2007
Theme Dinner – “La Chandeleur and other Winter Specialties”

La Chaumière, Georgetown, D.C.

The French International Culinary Society’s 2007 kickoff theme dinner at La Chaumière restaurant in Georgetown marked France’s traditional mid-winter celebration called “la Chandeleur.”