2024 Paris Olympics: French Chefs Serve Sustainable Meals to Athletes

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, a team of French chefs led by Charles Guilloy and Stéphane Chicheri will undertake the monumental task of serving 45,000 meals daily to 15,000 athletes. The dining hall, a converted power plant in the Olympic Village, will feature a sustainable menu of 500 dishes, excluding French fries, foie gras, and avocados because of fire-hazard, animal welfare, and environmental concerns.

The menu will showcase a diverse array of dishes, including vegetarian shawarma, grilled eggplant, beetroot falafel, vegetarian hot dogs, and quinoa muesli. Approximately 80% of the ingredients will be sourced from France, with about a quarter coming from within 155 miles of Paris. This approach aims to reduce the carbon impact by half compared to the Tokyo and London Olympics.

French fries have been excluded from the menu because of fire-hazard concerns over deep-fat fryers. Charles Guilloy explained, "French fries are too risky because of fire-hazard concerns over deep-fat fryers." Additionally, foie gras and avocados have been omitted on account of animal welfare and environmental concerns, respectively. Guilloy stated, "No to foie gras because animal well-being is on everyone's mind, and no to avocados because they are imported from a great distance and consume a lot of water."

The dining experience will also feature French cuisine with a modern twist. Athletes will have access to two on-site French restaurants and six 'grab-and-go' stations offering cuisines from Asia, Afro-Caribbean meals, burgers, Middle Eastern fare, and halal dishes. French cheeses, blanquette of veal with a lightened sauce, and baguettes will be available, though traditional French dishes like steak tartare and wine will be absent.

Three acclaimed French chefs—Alexandre Mazzia, Akrame Benallal, and Amandine Chaignot—will serve as guest chefs, preparing dishes at the Olympic Village for a few days each week. Athletes will also have the opportunity to learn bread-making from a master baker.

Sustainability efforts extend beyond the menu. Single-use utensils and dishware have been banned to create a zero-waste environment. Sodexo Live, the French company responsible for catering, plans to hire 6,000 people to support food services during the event. The company aims to balance athletes' nutritional needs with gastronomic pleasure.

The 2024 Paris Olympics aim to set a new standard for sustainable dining, emphasizing local sourcing, waste reduction, and innovative culinary experiences. As Charles Guilloy put it, "French cuisine is sometimes seen as boring. It's not boring. It's singular. My restaurant is a cabinet full of curiosities, and that is what I will bring to the Games."

To recap, the Paris Olympics' approach to dining highlights a commitment to sustainability and culinary excellence. By providing a diverse and environmentally conscious menu, the organizers aim to offer athletes a memorable and responsible dining experience.

Key Takeaways

• 45,000 meals/day to be served to 15,000 athletes at 2024 Paris Olympics.
• Menu features 500 dishes, 80% sourced from France, with a focus on sustainability.
• French fries, foie gras, and avocados excluded due to fire-hazard, animal welfare, and environmental concerns.
• Dining experience includes French cuisine with a modern twist, plus international options.
• Sustainability efforts include zero-waste environment, local sourcing, and reduced carbon impact.