All French for the festivities

The Bonjour French Fair 2017 – the biggest French trade fair in Thailand and also one of the most popular – returns to the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre later this month with a new theme, “Oh La La! Christmas Market!” 
It’s being held from December 14 to 17, making it an ideal venue to pick up festive goodies and gifts.
“The fair has been organised for the last 15 consecutive years with an outdoor Christmas market ambience and more than 90 booths of goods, food and premium products from top French brands as well as from other European countries such as Italy and Germany,” Thomas Sanchez, vice president of Franco-Thai Chamber of Commerce, told the recent press conference.

“Visitors can shop, taste and sample a wide variety of goods from perfumes, cosmetics, accessories and home decor items to several premium delicacies including cheese, ham, bakery goods, foie gras, tea and wine as well as the Christmas specials like roasted turkey and Yule Log cakes”.
“We even designed today’s press conference with the French atmosphere of giving. For us Noel is a happy time. French families traditionally gather on December 24 for a Christmas Eve celebration, unwrapping gifts and enjoying a special dinner. This year, the fair will follow the tradition with a special Zone of Giving for donations of stationery, kids’ books, toilet paper, soaps, shampoos, talcum powder, body lotion and more which will be given Kids Home Development Network Foundation for distribution across the country,” added director Sukanya Uerchuchai.

The press event was attended by tennis stars, athletes and celebrities, among them Nontakarn Dapparungsi, Purit Darakorn Na Ayuthaya and Noppawan Lertcheewakarn and they thoroughly enjoyed nibbling a festive seafood platter on ice prepared by young chef Paramed Veraswatkul from  EI Mercado Restaurant. The treasures of the sea were paired French Mayonnaise Sauce made from egg yolk, vinegar and mustard, and Shallot Sauce made with shallot, red wine and balsamic vinegar. 
Also on the menu was Tartiflette, a dish consisting of potato and bacon topped with France’s famous Reblochon cheese.
The meal was served with French winter warmer mulled wine made by boiling red wine seasoned with sugar, lemon, orange and several spices, as demonstrated by wine expert Benjawan Wisitsorakrai.

Tea enthusiasts enjoyed three scented teas brewed by Onjira Sriphaiboon from Pinnacle Gastro. Winter Fairytale is a quality Ceylon black tea from Sri Lanka with a mixture of cinnamon, orange peel, rose, clove and pistachio essence; Almond Dreams is a fragrant tea with fruits and flowers from temperate climates including apple, hibiscus, cinnamon and almond; while Wild Berries is a mix of apple, hibiscus, rose and grape. All three are caffeine free, making them ideal for tea lovers of any age.
And the media also received an update the –110-degree C therapy innovation as know as Ice Lab, an alternative medicine used as therapy for internal injuries in Europe.
Find all these and more at the Bonjour French Fair 2017.