NEW YORK – On Monday, February 18, thirty notable chefs will battle it out for the distinguished honor of having the top cassoulet dish at the Kimpton Eventi Hotel during D’Artagnan’s Fifth Annual Cassoulet War. Carrying on the rich French tradition in which chefs and villagers compete for the top cassoulet – a rich, slow cooked, bean and meat-based casserole – chefs from across the US will put their own unique twist on the iconic dish. The event encourages guests to bring their appetite for the walk-around tasting, with the battle beginning at 7:00 PM and culminating when only one chef is left standing. The evening will also award one lucky guest with a round trip ticket to France, courtesy of La Compagnie airline, to accompany the winning chef at the legendary Fete du Cassoulet in Castelnaudary in August.
“In its fifth consecutive year, the D’Artagnan Cassoulet War will continue to highlight some of America’s top chefs inviting them to share their spin on a world-class dish with the esteemed panel of judges and food enthusiasts across the city,” said Ariane Daguin, CEO, owner and co-founder of D’Artagnan. “We are excited to partner with Action Against Hunger once again, a global humanitarian organization that takes decisive action against the causes and effects of hunger. We also look forward to welcome five distinguished French chefs who will, all week long, prepare their cassoulet recipe in five Manhattan restaurants.”
The walk-around tasting event showcases thirty different cassoulet dishes from an impressive roster of top chefs. Attendees will be allowed to vote and choose the “Most Popular” cassoulet champion, while an esteemed panel of judges, chefs Elizabeth Falkner, Sara Moulton, Andre Soltner, Christian Constant and more will crown the “Most Authentic” and “Most Daring” cassoulet champions.
A few of the participating chefs and establishments include:
- Dieter Samijn – Bar Boulud – New York, NY
- Kyle Goldstein – Gramercy Tavern – New York, NY
- Andy Knudson – Restaurant Marc Forgione, New York, NY
- Doug Psaltis – RPM Italian / RPM Steak – Chicago, IL
- Jeanie Roland – Ella’s Fine Food & Drink – Westerly, RI
For a full list of participating chefs and establishments, visit:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/5th-annual-dartagnan-cassoulet-war-tickets-54381486490
Cassoulet Weeklong Event
This Monday’s Cassoulet War kicks off a whole week of cassoulet galore: the dish will be featured in a multitude of restaurant menus all around the country. D’Artagnan encourages food enthusiasts to taste the hearty dish for themselves at each of the establishments listed above through February 23. Try them all, and share your feedback with us @dartagnanfoods.
Joining the weeklong celebration are five chefs and champions of cassoulet. They will be flying in from France to cook their own creations available at the following locations:
- Bar Boulud – Chef Christian Constant
- Benoit – Chef Jean-Pierre Xiradakis
- Bistro Pierre Lapin – Chef Erwan Caradec
- Gaby Brasserie Francaise – Chef Christian Fasan
- O’Cabanon – Chef David Campigotto
Cassoulet War event sponsors include La Compagnie, Chateau Peyros, Georges Vigouroux, Chateau de Laubade, and Bragard.
For additional information on the event, or on D’Artagnan, visit http://www.dartagnan.com/.
About D’Artagnan
D’Artagnan is the nation’s leading purveyor of all-natural and organic poultry, game, free-range meat, foie gras, charcuterie, wild mushrooms and truffles. Founded in 1985, D’Artagnan has been redefining the meat industry, distributing organic, antibiotic and hormone-free meats thirty years ahead of consumer demand for “clean label” and farm-to-table offerings. Since its inception, D’Artagnan has grown from a one truck and two employee business to a nationally recognized food brand by developing a network of independent farmers that abide by the strictest standards to deliver the highest quality, best-tasting, conscientiously-raised meat possible. Today, D’Artagnan remains dedicated to putting only the finest meats on the tables of American gastronomes and is widely recognized for its superior quality and uncompromising standards. For more information, visit http://www.dartagnan.com/.
About Action Against Hunger
Action Against Hunger is a global humanitarian organization that takes decisive action against the causes and effects of hunger. The organization saves the lives of malnourished children, ensures families can access clean water, food, training and healthcare, and enables entire communities to be free from hunger. In 2015, the organization reached 14.9 million people in 47 countries. For more information, visit http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/.
