French Food Festival returns this weekend with more chefs in the kitchen

Six well-known Richmond chefs will join master chef Paul Elbling at Little Sisters of the Poor this Saturday.

April 24, 2015; 9:05 AM • by Trevor Dickerson

The RVA French Food Festival is back for its seventh year at the Little Sisters of the Poor this weekend, serving up delicious French food, authentic culture, and plenty of live entertainment.

A wide variety of sweet and savory French dishes will be prepared by well known local chefs including master chef Paul Elbling (former owner and Executive Chef La Petite France), Sean Murphy (Executive Chef at The Savory Grain) and Sara Ayyash (Pastry Chef at Lemaire), along with other noted chefs, the menus of which are listed below.

Live music will take place throughout the day and kids will be kept occupied by plenty of family-friendly activities. A marketplace featuring local artisans and craftsmen will be on site as well.

The festival is free and open to the public with a suggested $2 donation to the Little Sisters of the Poor, an organization that serves the elderly in 30 nations around the globe.

The event takes place at Little Sisters of the Poor, located at 1503 Michaels Road (off Three Chopt near Freeman High School) on Saturday, April 25th from 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM.

Free parking is available in the Forest Office Park lots along Three Chopt Road, between Michaels Road and Forest Avenue.

All proceeds will benefit the elderly poor of Little Sisters of the Poor. For more information, visit the RVA French Food Festival website or call 804.288.6245.

A sampling of chef menus is below; for a complete menu visit the event website.

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Master Chef Paul – regional entrée specialites (all $12)

Normandie: Coulibiac de Saumon au Coulis de homard – Crusty filet of salmon coulibiac with spinach, lobster sauce
Bourgogne: Boeuf Bourguignon aux Nouilles – savory beef burgundy with vegetables and noodles
Bretagne: Coquille St. Jacques– Creamed scallops, shrimp, and crabmeat served in a French pastry crust
Lyon: Bouchee a la Reine – veal, chicken, and mushroom served in a puff pastry with creamed veloute sauce

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Chef Sean – The Savory Grain

Gumbo Ya Ya $8.00 – Cajun style gumbo made with a dark roux, Andouille sausage, hot smoked sausage, and braised chicken. Served with rice.
Shrimp and grits $10.00 – shrimp simmered in Louisiana gravy over grits o Beignets $5.00 – French donut

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Chef Mike – Balliceaux

Cheese puffs $5.00 – light cheese pastry
Ratatouille $8.00 – sautéed eggplant, bell peppers, zucchini, onion, and garlic in a tomato sauce
Coq Au Vin – braised chicken cooked in red wine, served over rice $10.00

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Chef Michael – Patina

Poutine-Duck Confit – $8.00
French fries topped with cheese sauce, pork belly, duck confit, and gravy
Charcuterie tartin $10.00 – open faced sandwich with charcuterie meats and Pâté Provençal
Crème brulee $5.00 with bananas – $6.00

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Chef Xavier – Brux’l

Stoemp – $10.00
Bratwurst served with mashed carrot potatoes and served with rosemary reduction

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Chef Kevin – Pomegranate

Poitrine de porcelet – $10: pork belly stuffed with pork sausage, ham, spinach, garlic and herbs, rolled and smoked

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Chef Sara – The Jefferson

Croque Monsieur with petit salad Frisée aux Lardons – a modified Croque Monsieur with Southern ingredients like Shaved Smithfield Ham, Semolina Bread, Everona Dairy Piedmont cheese and Hardywood Singel spiked Mornay served with a petit salad Frisée aux Lardons – $10
Raspberry Almond sponge cake – $5.00
Triple Chocolate Cake – $5.00
Lemon Meringue Chiffon – $5.00

Photo: RVA French Food Festival