What's happened
The 2024 Paris Olympics will feature the world's largest restaurant in the Olympic Village, serving 40,000 meals daily to athletes from 200 countries. French food services company Sodexo Live! has created 500 recipes, including vegetarian options, with a focus on showcasing French cuisine. Renowned French chefs will prepare gourmet dishes, such as croissants with a twist, for athletes and visitors, highlighting the sustainable food programme of the Games.
Why it matters
The emphasis on French cuisine and vegetarian options at the Paris 2024 Olympics marks a significant shift in showcasing plant-based foods and rebranding French gastronomy. With the world's largest restaurant serving 40,000 meals daily, the event promotes sustainable and diverse food choices, impacting the perception of French culinary traditions and influencing dietary preferences globally.
What the papers say
According to The Guardian, the Paris Olympics will offer the greatest amount of vegetarian cuisine in history, with one-third of the 500 recipes being vegetarian. The Independent highlights that French food services company Sodexo Live! has created 500 recipes for the Olympic Village, including gourmet dishes by renowned French chefs. South China Morning Post reports that the 2024 Paris Olympics will feature the 'world's largest restaurant' in the Olympic Village, serving 40,000 meals daily to athletes and visitors.
How we got here
Traditionally known for its meat-centric dishes, France is shifting towards plant-based foods at the Paris 2024 Olympics to promote sustainability and offer diverse culinary experiences. The focus on vegetarian options aligns with global trends towards healthier and environmentally friendly diets, showcasing French cuisine in a new light and catering to the diverse dietary preferences of athletes and visitors.
More on these topics
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Amandine Chaignot is a French chef.
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Sodexo is a French food services and facilities management company headquartered in the Paris suburb of Issy-les-Moulineaux. It has 428,237 employees as of 2019 and a presence in 80 countries.
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French cuisine consists of the cooking traditions and practices from France.
French cuisine developed throughout the centuries influenced by the many surrounding cultures of Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Belgium, in addition to its own food tradi