Metropole Hanoi hosts Vietnam’s premier food festival, Les Arômes

This autumn, boutique Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi will take guests on a gastronomic journey where they can indulge their palates with masterful creations, designed by some of the world’s top chefs, and pamper themselves with some of the finest wines at Les Arômes Festival 2017.

Vietnam’s premier wine and food festival – from October 26 to December 7 – features a slew of epicurean experiences, from guest chef-prepared meals and cheese samplings to exclusive wine tastings.

Headlining this year’s event with an intimate five-course dinner at L’Orangerie on November 9 is Thierry Drapeau, chef and owner of the two-Michelin-star restaurant La Chabotterie in western France.

Known for his cooking theme “food from Mother Earth”, Drapeau’s signature dishes are inspired by the seasonal produce of the Vendée, where he grew up.

Chef Drapeau nurtured his dream of becoming a famous chef while helping his father in the kitchen as a child.

At the age of 21, he was appointed head chef de partie at Le Bateau Ivre, a two-Michelin-star rated restaurant. He went on to work for other Michelin-starred restaurants including Courchevel and L’Escale before returning to the Vendée in 1996 to open his first restaurant.

Guests can also look forward to chef Drapeau’s authentic French fare on November 10 at Le Beaulieu, where he will join forces with the Metropole’s executive sous-chef Olivier Genique for a special wine-dinner pairing.

“The Metropole’s annual Les Arômes Festival is the premier culinary event in Vietnam,” said William J. Haandrikman, general manager of Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. “This year, as with every year, we’re pulling out all the stops to provide guests with the best gastronomic experience, while celebrating fine food, wine, and community.”

Metropole’s 11th annual Les Arômes kicked off October 26 at Le Beaulieu with a private dinner featuring French celebrity chef Christophe Grilo.

Grilo, who has cooked for such Hollywood stars as Brad Pitt, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Barbra Streisand, will team up with the Metropole’s executive sous-chef Olivier Genique for an evening of delicious French cuisine.

Chef Daniel Chavez of OLA Cocina del Mar Singapore is set to delight guests at the San Pellegrino dinner at Le Beaulieu on November 2 with his Peruvian-Spanish inspired cuisine.

Originally from Peru, chef Chavez trained under the legendary Catalan chef Santi Santamaria at El Raco de Can Fabes, before going on to open Ossiano in Dubai and Santi in Singapore for chef Santamaria.

Guests will have the opportunity to savour brilliant red and white wines at the Grand Crus Bordeaux Festival at L’Orangerie on November 30.

More than 14 esteemed estates in France’s largest wine-growing region, including Château Beau-Séjour Bécot, Château Paveil de Luze, and Château Lanessan, are expected to take part.

Les Arômes 2017 concludes December 7 with a private dinner at L’Orangerie, featuring a selection of wines from the renowned French winery Andre Lurton in Pessac-Léognan – the northern part of the Graves region of Bordeaux and the birthplace of the Grands Vins de Bordeaux.