Food & Music in Dijon at the first 4-14 Festival

America’s Independence Day, July 4, and France’s Bastille Day, July 14, were jointly and joyously celebrated in Dijon, capital of Burgundy, this year – the first annual “4-14” Festival of the city, showcasing the music and cuisines of both great countries.
And not only food and music brought these two cultures together, but a real desire on on both sides of the Atlantic to share and discover at first hand who are the French and who are the Americans, and what they have to offer each other.
Why music and food you may ask? Because Americans don’t realize that the French can play music! And the French don’t know that Americans can cook!
The great steel and glass central market, built by Gustav Eiffel, Dijon’s native son, in 1870, housed 60 stands with regional products, and 20 stands where top chefs from France and America offered exquisite tastings for only 3 Euros each. The organizers had hoped for 5,000 visitors but were overwhelmed when 15,000 happy people eager to discover new tastes and sounds thronged the events.
All the three star chefs from Burgundy were present, Lameloise, Lorain and Bertron,as well as other starred chefs from Dijon and the region. The State of Vermont was this year’s American partner, with Amy Chamberlain and Michael Gunyan showcasing their fine farm foods from home. The festival welcomed the renowned Chicagoan chef, Martial Noguier, from the Sofitel Water Tower. He was joined by Chicago native, Daniel Rose, chef/owner of Restaurant Spring in Paris. Daniel came to France 10 years ago, transforming himself from an art history and philosophy major into a fine cook, whose restaurant waiting list is the longest in all Paris. And from Washington, DC, Bill Yosses, pastry chef of the White House, graced the festival with his prized desserts.
The music was a real triumph of Franco-American entente. Americans Kirk Lightsey, one time pianist with Chet Baker, and Sarah Morrow, former trombonist with Ray Charles, enchanted the large audience and finished the soirée with jam sessions accompanied by their newfound French friends on stage, Eric Prost and Daniel Fernandez.
Alex Miles, the American initiator of The 4-14 Festival, resident of Dijon and French citizen since 2004, developed the concept with a small team of enthusiastic folks from Dijon and the States. The 4-14 instantly became the biggest event of the summer in the Burgundian capital. Many companies with international interests happily sponsored the festival which was also supported by the U.S. Embassy in Paris, the Burgundy Region, and the City of Dijon. Check out their site www.4-14-festival.org
The organizers are setting their sights on the City of Chicago for their next American partner for the 2010 edition. They plan to meld The 4-14 Festival with The Taste of Chicago and attract even more curious music and food lovers next year.