Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi’s modern French fine dining restaurant Le Beaulieu will welcome the legendary 400-year-old Parisian dining establishment La Tour d’Argent for a series of highly exclusive meals in October.
La Tour d’Argent, a national landmark that has stood on the banks of the River Seine since 1582, is a pillar of French gastronomic heritage. Helmed by Executive Chef Yannick Franques, awarded the Meilleurs Ouvriers de France (the country’s most prestigious honor for craftsmanship), the Michelin-starred restaurant is renowned for its classic yet contemporary style of French cuisine, along with a remarkable wine cellar that houses more than 300,000 of the finest vintages.
The French epicurean icon will stage a unique culinary takeover at Le Beaulieu from Wednesday, Oct. 23 through Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, offering guests and local diners an extraordinary 8-course dinner menu and 5-course lunch menu that showcase La Tour d’Argent’s celebrated cuisine and Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi’s acclaimed spirit of hospitality.
From the cutting of duck on the fly to the flambéing of Mademoiselle crepes, this immersive dining experience will transport French savoir-faire and the art of gastronomy from the center of Paris to the heart of Vietnam’s vibrant capital city. One highlight will be “Caneton Frédéric Delair,” a signature dish that pays tribute to Charlie Chaplin, who famously spent his honeymoon at the Metropole Hanoi in 1936. The hotel today has a suite that bears his name.
“With our rich history and that of Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, it’s easy to bring this unique experience to life, nourished by this encounter and supported by the expertise of our teams. The beauty and refinement of the setting particularly appealed to us, and echoed that of our Parisian home. It’s a promise for customers of a unique and grandiose experience,” said André Terrail, owner of La Tour d’Argent.
George Koumendakos, the General Manager of Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi, added: “We are delighted to welcome La Tour d’Argent, a legend of French gastronomy, to our hotel for this singular dining experience, as we continue to elevate Metropole Hanoi’s fine dining to new heights. It is also a truly special way for Sofitel to mark our 60-year Diamond Jubilee this year.”
Le Beaulieu, operating in its current space since 1901, is believed to be the oldest continually operating restaurant in Vietnam. It is renowned for serving modern French cuisine with nods to classical French flavors and an emphasis on seasonality and superior ingredients. While there are some traditional French touches, the presentation is stylish, with well-balanced portions and fresh produce from France, Vietnam and elsewhere. Le Beaulieu was recently listed in the prestigious MICHELIN Guide 2024.
The restaurant’s Chef de Cuisine Charles Degrendele was born and raised in Marseille, France, and has been on a remarkable culinary odyssey from the serene countryside of Provence to Michelin-starred kitchens and the vibrant streets of Tokyo. He even trained at La Tour d’Argent.
Le Beaulieu boasts one of the most extensive wine collections in Hanoi, featuring more than 600 references and 1,600 bottles, including over 100 Grand Cru Classés and wines from leading chateaux, vintners and wineries from France and around the world.
The restaurant and its refined al fresco extension La Terrasse underwent an extensive seven-month refurbishment in 2021-22 that resulted in an elegant and sophisticated new interior that ties together the hotel’s storied past with a contemporary new look that melds the opulent, the classical and the modern in a single scheme.
In May, Le Beaulieu launched a new quarterly dining series, “Rendez-vous,” that brings together Metropole’s award-winning culinary team with some of the best chefs from around the world. The series kicked off with two exclusive dinners with French Chef Arnaud Sauthier, who holds 1 Michelin star for his Maison Dunand in Bangkok.
Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi has held a Five-Star rating – the top level of recognition – from Forbes Travel Guide for five consecutive years.
The hotel’s historic Heritage Wing, with 103 guest rooms and suites, reopened to guests in December 2023 after being meticulously restored and renovated under a 21-month construction project. The comprehensive reconstruction work was centered on the original wing of the hotel, which was established in 1901 and has played host over the decades to numerous heads of state and royalty, along with world-famous actors, writers, musicians and others.
