KARACHI: Alliance Française de Karachi, with the support of the Embassy of France in Pakistan, has inaugurated the Karachi edition of Good France / Goût de France 2026, bringing a celebration of French cuisine to the city from October 31 to November 8.
The opening ceremony took place at Avari Towers and featured a press conference followed by a gala dinner prepared by visiting French chef Maxime Delaboudinière.
French Officials and Restaurant Representatives Attend Launch
The press conference began at 5:30 pm with opening remarks by Marc Piton, Head of the Cultural Department at the French Embassy in Pakistan.
Philippe Duclerc, Head of Avari Towers Karachi, introduced the hotel before Emmanuel Breurec, Director of Alliance Française de Karachi, presented the Good France initiative and its international significance.
Representatives of the five participating restaurants also introduced their French-inspired menus, which will be available during French Gastronomy Week.
Good France / Goût de France is a global celebration of French cuisine launched in 2015 by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and renowned chef Alain Ducasse.
Visiting Chef Praises Pakistani Ingredients
Chef Maxime Delaboudinière, the visiting French chef leading this year’s Karachi programme, shared his experiences during his first visit to Pakistan.
He praised the Pakistani chefs he had worked with and expressed particular appreciation for the quality of locally available vegetables, describing them as more colourful and flavourful. He also said he had enjoyed exploring new food during his stay.
Speaking about his cooking philosophy, Delaboudinière said love was the most important ingredient he brought to his dishes. He hoped guests would leave the gala dinner feeling more loved than when they arrived.
Following the press conference, the chef prepared a five-course gala dinner for guests at Avari Towers. The dinner was priced at PKR 17,000 per person.
Five Karachi Restaurants Join French Gastronomy Week
From November 1 to 8, five restaurants across Karachi are partnering with Alliance Française de Karachi to offer special French-inspired menus.
The participating restaurants are:
- Côte Rôtie
- PAUL Bakery & Café
- Feyaa
- Okra
- Olive Tree Bistro
The initiative aims to introduce Karachi’s diners to French culinary traditions while creating opportunities for cultural exchange through food.
Chef Maxime Delaboudinière: Nearly Two Decades in the Restaurant Industry
Chef Delaboudinière brings nearly 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry. His professional journey includes leading kitchens at Le Bon Georges, Le Cochon Gaulois and Le Métropolitain in Paris.
Since June 2024, he has served as Executive Chef and Director of Restaurant Duvin, a high-end Parisian bistro.
His culinary approach centres on French bistronomie, combining generous and authentic cooking with careful preparation, traditional foundations and openness to new influences.
During his Karachi visit, the chef also explored Empress Market and the city’s local fish market. His programme included a live cooking show on Hum Masala TV and a culinary workshop at the Pakistan Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management.
About Good France / Goût de France
Launched in 2015 by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and chef Alain Ducasse, Good France celebrates French gastronomy across the world.
The initiative draws inspiration from Auguste Escoffier’s Dîners d’Épicure of 1912, when restaurants across the globe served the same menu on the same evening.
For its inaugural edition on March 19, 2015, more than 1,300 restaurants in approximately 150 countries across five continents presented French-inspired menus. The event also highlighted the inscription of the French gastronomic meal on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
Since then, French embassies and Alliances Françaises have organised annual local editions, bringing together chefs, restaurants and cultural institutions to celebrate French cuisine in cities around the world.
About Alliance Française de Karachi
Alliance Française de Karachi is the official French cultural institute in Karachi and part of a global network of more than 850 institutes operating in over 130 countries.
Based in Clifton, the institute offers French language courses from beginner to advanced levels, official DELF and DALF certifications, corporate language training, children’s programmes, translation services and a wide-ranging cultural events calendar.
The institute is led by Director Emmanuel Breurec, with Bina Shah serving as President.
