The Paris 2024 Olympic Games not only aspire to stand out as a sporting celebration. The event will also mark a gastronomic milestone with the opening of the largest restaurant in the world, which will serve a specialized menu with 500 dishes for the more than 15,000 athletes who land in the city. For the first time in the history of the games, the gastronomic offer will be mostly vegetarian and will be made up of a selection of gourmet dishes created by renowned French chefs.
Sodexo Live!, the company in charge of the event’s catering services, will open the Olympic and Paralympic canteen on July 12. The space will have the capacity to seat 3,500 people and will serve food 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “Catering plays an important role: contributing in a modest way to the performance of athletes but at the same time meeting the expectations of more than 200 nationalities, so that everyone feels at home,” said Laurent Pasteur, director of operations of the company. .
The menu includes options such as vegetarian bourguignon, cauliflower and baked potato with turmeric, tomato, pepper and onion scramble, and vegetarian moussaka. 80% of all dishes will be made with local and seasonal products. Additionally, they will be served on reusable plates.
Between the entrance to the villa and the restaurant, a food court-like space will also open. Signature dishes will be offered there, designed by chefs such as Amandine Chaignot, from the Pouliche restaurant, and Alexandre Mazzia, from the three Michelin star establishment, AM. “It is a pride to be able to demonstrate that we are capable of satisfying all the energy and nutritional needs of athletes, with a unique and different culinary style,” said Mazzia, who prepared smoked hake with tapioca in vegetable broth for the occasion.
Chef Amandine Chaignot, for her part, explained why the croissant will be one of the best options on the menu. “When we talk about Paris, the croissant is one of the first things I want to eat, that’s why we will make a croissant with artichokes and truffle.” A vegetarian and “fun” recipe, Chaignot said. “To eat while you walk.”
“60% of the recipes for the general public will be vegetarian,” explained Philipp Würz, head of food and drink for the Paris 2024 committee. “We are convinced that these Games are a unique opportunity to do things differently and show that another model is possible.”
Athletes who wish will also have the option of learning how to prepare one of the most characteristic products of France: the baguette. “We wanted to bake our own baguettes in the villa, so we will also organize workshops where athletes can shape them, put them in and take them out of the oven,” explained Stéphane Chicheri, executive chef of Sodexo Live!.
The organizers of Paris 2024 have reaffirmed their commitment to making these Olympic Games more sustainable and environmentally friendly.