Bonj(o)u(r) 1

Bonj(o)u(r) The news magazine on France and Malta

March 2015 F R A N C E I N M A L T A

EDITORIAL

Ambassador

Mrs le Fraper

du Hellen

welcomes you

on board this

new Bonj(o)u(r)

Page 2

RADIO / TV

Partnership

RFI-France24 /

PBS

Francophonie

on Maltese

airwaves

Page 8

DOSSIER

SPECIAL

French Cuisine

Gastronomic

meal of the

French is

Cultural heritage

on Unesco’s list

Page 3

DOSSIER

SPECIAL

French Cuisine

Michelin Guide

2015 edition

was unveiled by

French MFA in

order to

promote the

French cuisine

Page 4

DOSSIER

SPECIAL

French Cuisine

Operation

GoodFrance on

March 19: chefs

and gourmets

around the

world celebrate

French cuisine

Page 5

DOSSIER

SPECIAL

French Cuisine

Operation Good

France in Malta

Where will you

dine on March

19?

Page 6

IN THE NAVY

Call of French

ship Adroit in

Malta.

Defense and

citizenship Day

for French

youngsters

Page 10

CALENDAR

What to do in

Malta and

France in the

coming weeks

Page 13

EDUCATION

Visit of Saint

Clare College

by the

Ambassador.

French books

for the library.

Page 7

ECONOMICS

The first

incubator in the

world

specializing in

tourism.

It’s in Paris

Page 11-12

CULTURE

Week of

Francophonie

in Malta

Program, from

March 18 till 26

Page 9

Fort Vauban, Longwy

Vilhena Gate, Mdina

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Dear friends,

It is a great pleasure to introduce this new issue of Bonj(o)u(r). New Ambassador of France to Malta, I

know I can rely on the great work of my predecessors, but also on your dynamism - Maltese in love or

just curious of France, compatriots settled on the archipelago and French speaking communities - to

further enhance the richness of our common culture, this Mediterranean culture that is dear to me.

Over the last few weeks I have met, French companies already established or starting to work in

Malta, teachers animating various partnerships between the University of Malta and France, Maltese

schoolchildren who explained to me that Paris is "the city of love", young Maltese of the Malta Tourism

Institute paired with French hotel schools, French dancers in the Maltese national troupe Zfin, volunteers

mobilized for the reception of French people settling in Malta, and determined promoters of our

gastronomy ... Bravo!

The staff of the Embassy will always be available to listen to your ideas, support your projects and

contribute to enhance the cooperation areas and exchanges between our two countries.

This month of March 2015 is particularly suitable as the traditional week of the Francophonie will

be added this year to an exceptional event: the day of French gastronomy. Celebrated around the world

as part of "Operation Goût de France / Good France", on March 19, it will highlight the French cuisine and

fine dining which symbolize France, both reflections of ancient traditions and expression of our

adaptability and openness to the world.

Dear friends, in the difficult times our country had

gone through in January, the Maltese showed an unwavering

solidarity with France : it is a privilege for me to serve in this

friendly, European and Mediterranean country.

Important deadlines are ahead of us : the Paris Conference

on Climate Change in December 2015, of which the success is

essential for both our countries, the Maltese presidency of

the European Union in

2017, the year 2018

when Valletta will be the European Capital of culture .... All these

events will be opportunities to enhance and further strengthen our

ties, to address common challenges and work together to develop

sustainable solutions.

On the 5th of February, at the Presidential Palace in Valletta, H.E. Ms. Béatrice le

Fraper du Hellen - Ambassador of the Republic of France presented her credentials

to the President of Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca.

F R A N C E I N M A L T A

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The “gastronomic meal of the French”, with its rituals and its presentation, has been inscribed in

2010 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO, a category

introduced in 2003 with the aim of protecting cultures and popular traditions.

Unlike concrete world heritage – which

includes sites and monuments – intangible

heritage refers to practices, representations,

expressions, knowledge and know-how which

communities recognise as being part of their

cultural heritage, passed down from one

generation to the next, and that bring them a

feeling of identity and continuity. This

intangible heritage thus contributes to promote

respect of cultural diversity and creativity.

UNESCO has not singled out any particular French recipe. It was more about recognising the

identity ritual of the meal, a customary social practice for celebrating important moments in the lives of

individuals and groups (such as births, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, achievements and reunions),

that has been saluted. An original blend of conviviality and gastronomy where the French gather around

a dressed table to share quality dishes accompanied by an appropriate wine.

The idea of the French candidacy had been launched at the end of 2006 by a group of gastronomes

and Chefs convinced that “cookery is culture”. The support committee had collected 300 to 400

signatures of Chefs, including the renowned Paul Bocuse, Alain Ducasse, Pierre Troisgros, Marc Veyrat

and Michel Guérard.

France now has twelve cultural traditions on the UNESCO

list, the latest being Gwoka: music, song, dance and cultural

practice representative of Guadeloupean identity inscribed in

2014.

For more information, please consult www.unesco.org

D O S S I E R S P E C I A L

The “gastronomic meal of the French”,

On the list of intangible cultural heritage of UNESCO

“The gastronomic meal of the French plays an active social role within its community and is transmitted from generation to generation as part of its identity” UNESCO

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With an already well-established reputation, the Michelin

Guide’s annual media publication causes its fair share of joys and

disappointments within France and the ninety other countries where

the "Red Guide" is distributed.

Through the use of a ‘one, two, or three-star’ classifying

system, Michelin is able to identify the best culinary, hotel and catering locations in France and abroad (notably

New York, Tokyo and the major European cities), acting as the global benchmark in terms of reputation and

recognition of these professions.

Since the guide’s first publication in 1900, the Michelin brothers began their venture by providing

practical information to motorists (on tire repairs, fuel depots, hotels, city maps) but over time the guide has

become a mark of excellence for French cuisine and is today endorsed by Laurent Fabius.

The 2015 edition has been unveiled at the Quai d'Orsay with the term "Gastrono-diplomacy" becoming

a key asset for foreign trade and tourism promotion, two fields which have been newly introduced under the

responsibility of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and International Development.

Based on creativity and prestige, French gastronomy is a distinct emblem of our diplomatic heritage,

served on a silver platter by the 609 starlit kitchens which our country will be counting on throughout 2015.

Excerpts from Laurent Fabius’ speech on February2 :

"The presentation of Michelin Guide in the Quai d'Orsay is a first. It is true that the Foreign Ministry was more

used to receiving seasoned diplomats and

starred generals rather than starred chefs, but

since you made me the proposal, I readily

agreed. Why? first, because the promotion of

tourism and foreign trade are now in the

jurisdiction of the Quai d'Orsay, this was not

the case before. I wished that it should be so,

and it's done. "

Where to find the starred chefs ? : http://restaurant.michelin.fr/

New three stars restaurants :

Le Pavillon Ledoyen, chef Yannick Alléno (Paris XVIII)

La Bouitte, chefs René et Maxime Meilleur (Saint-Martin- de-Belleville)

D O S S I E R S P E C I A L

Michelin Guide and culinary diplomacy

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Thursday, 19 March 2015, restaurants all around the world will offer more than 1300 dinners to

celebrate France’s gastronomy by inviting the public to share a “French dinner”. The Goût de/Good

France initiative is being organised by Alain Ducasse and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and

International Development.

Restaurants from all over the world, from bistros to haute cuisine, were invited to apply by

submitting a menu that promoted French gastronomy: cuisine that uses fresh, seasonal and local

products; foods which are low in fat, sugar and salt; recipes which promote “healthy eating” and the

environment; and menus which give prominence to vegetables.

An international committee of chefs, chaired by Alain Ducasse and bringing together around forty

of the most internationally-renowned names in the field, approved the list of participating chefs based on

the coherence and quality of their proposed

menus.

Inspired by Auguste Escoffier, who in

1912 launched the “Dîners d’Épicure”

(Epicurean Dinners) initiative – the same

menu, on the same day, in several world

cities and aimed at as many diners as

possible. Similarly, Goût de/Good France

wishes to reproduce this beautiful idea by

seeking to involve restaurants from all

around the world.

During the project’s introductory

presentation, Laurent Fabius, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development declared:

“France’s heritage is its cuisine, its wines, (...). The Gastronomic meal of the French has been on the UNESCO

World Heritage list since 2010, but it is a heritage that should not simply be contemplated, glorified and

savoured; it is a heritage that should be built upon and showcased.”

This gastronomic journey is a perfect illustration of two important aspects of French culture:

promoting local specialties and providing openness to the world.

More informations on the official website, twitter and Facebook

Alain Ducasse is a Monégasque chef of French origin. From Gascony and Mediterranean at heart, he has been awarded the three-Michelin-star rating three times: the first at the ‘Le Louis XV’ Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo’ in Monaco (in 1990), the second at the ‘Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée’ in Paris (in 1997) and the third at the ‘Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester’ in London (in 2010).

D O S S I E R S P E C I A L

Good France operation – March 19

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For Good France in Malta, seven restaurants will propose a special menu :

Bacchus Restaurant Antoine Mamo

1, Inguanez Alley,

Mdina

21 454 981

www.bacchus.com.mt

Chez Amand Amand P.Veranneman

Seafront Qbajjar

Marsalforn, Gozo

99 423 775

www.chezamand.com

Cordial restaurant

Chez Cyrille Cyrille Darras

123 old theater street

Valletta

21 239 576

De Mondion Kevin Bonnello

The Xara Palace

Relais & Chateaux

Mdina

21 450 560

www.xarapalace.com.mt

Pegasus Saul Halevi

The Mall

Floriana

21 255 241

www.phoeniciamalta.com

Malata Restaurant

Godwin Mercieca

Palace Square

Valletta

21 233 967

www.malatamalta.com

Medina Matthew Schembri

7 Holly Cross Street

Mdina

21 454 004

www.medinarestaurantmalta.com

The Embassy of France in Malta has also edited for the occasion

a recipe book which soon will be available on our website www.ambafrance-mt.org

The Alliance française also offers a learning workshop

French around the kitchen on 24 and 26 March from 9am to 12pm..

https://www.facebook.com/events/841265105912001/

www.timesofmalta.com

D O S S I E R S P E C I A L

Good France operation in Malta

Where will you go for dinner on March 19 ?

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As part of the support for teaching of

French, the French Ambassador to Malta Ms.

Béatrice le Fraper du Hellen paid a visit to St Clare

College in Pembroke. She was accompanied by the

Cultural Counselor at the French Embassy Mr

Laurent Croset.

The Ambassador was warmly welcomed by

school management, French teachers and some of

the 140 pupils learning French at school.

This visit was also an opportunity to give

books in French supplied by Biblionef

association, partner with the Embassy, to the

College library. (Biblionef Operation – French

Embassy in Malta on the association’s website :

www.biblionef.com/archives/2937 )

The Embassy wishes to give special

thanks to Ms. Doreen Farrugia, responsible for

French teaching (Education Officer at Junior

College) for organizing this visit.

In April, the Ambassador will be

welcomed in Santa Tereza College in

Mriehel by the principal Mr Robert N. Borg

and head of French department Ms Ruth

Bonello, member of the Association des

Professeurs de Français de Malte (French

Teachers’ Association).

E D U C A T I O N

Visit of Saint Clare College by the Ambassador.

French books for the library.

Ambassador Béatrice le Fraper du Hellen and Laurent Croset

with Doreen Farrugia (French E.O.), Mary-Rose Leone

(Director) and board members

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As part of its mission to promote the French language and culture, the Services of Cooperation and

Cultural Action (SCAC) of the French Embassy in Malta has brought about an unprecedented agreement

between France’s “Radio France Internationale (RFI)”, France24 and Malta’s “Public Broadcasting Services

Limited (PBS)” for the transmission of French language courses for Malta’s non-francophone listeners.

At 6pm every Friday, ‘Radju Malta 2’ broadcasts one episode of a the 25-part educational radio

drama called “Le Talisman Brisé” (‘The Broken Talisman’), an audio course produced by RFI, the French

International radio Broadcaster. This series is specifically designed to assist secondary-school-level

beginners of French to improve their audio skills. Every episode is 7 minutes in length and will feature on

‘Radju Malta 2’, (http://www.tvm.com.mt/radio/radju-malta-2/ ) every Friday at 6pm till 26 June 2015.

These episodes will also be accompanied by online grammar exercises in order to visually assist

the listeners and to keep track of the plot.

These can be found at: http://www1.rfi.fr/cours_de_francais/le_talisman_brise

This Franco-Maltese partnership will continue with the next release of :

- « Mission Paris » ( 26 episodes)

- « L’affaire du coffret » (60 episodes)

R A D I O - T E L E V I S I O N

Partnership RFI-France24 / PBS

Francophonie on Maltese airwaves

Le Talisman brisé – An African adventure to discover the French language

«Listen to the wind, that’s the Sahara crying.

She’s waiting for a man of integrity to make her green again.»

Kwamé is a South African gardener who works with Professor Omar, the man who ‘can make the

Sahara green again’, on an Agronomical Research Centre in Burkina Faso. One day, Professor

Omar is kidnapped by some mysterious visitors and Kwamé finds part of a broken talisman, left

behind by the kidnappers at the experimental garden. Where is Professor Omar and who has the

other half of the talisman? In order to save the professor and the desert, Kwamé sets off of on a

dangerous adventure to find the kidnappers. He has one major problem, however; since his French

is not up to par, Kwamé must learn to communicate in the language by following various clues…

Bonj(o)u(r) 9

WEDNESDAY 18 MARCH - 6PM - MALTA UNIVERSITY

The International Day of La Francophonie organised by the French Department

Preparation of Desserts, Poetry reading and Theatre excerpts, French Piano Music, Information on « Studying

in France »; French dishes and pastries

To participate please contact Derya Kizilgun at La Petite Auberge de France : 2340 2108

http://www.um.edu.mt/arts/french

FRIDAY 20 MARCH – 5PM - ALLIANCE FRANCAISE

A musico-literary evening organised by the Association of French Teachers in Malta (APFM)

5pm - Seminar by Prof. Carmen Depasquale « Theatre during the ‘Sun King’ era»

6pm - Excerpts from the Musical Comedy « Le Roi Soleil » (“The Sun King”)

6 :30pm - Scene from « L ‘Avare » (‘The Miser”),

by Molière, performed by the students

7pm - Activities based on the musical suite « Le Carnaval des Animaux »

(The Carnival of the Animals) by Camille Saint-Saëns

7h30 - Award ceremony for the competition on the 300th anniversary of the

death of Louis XIV, followed by closing reception and vin d’honneur

TUESDAY 24 MARCH – FROM 9AM

SAN GORG PRECA COLLEGE

The Franco-Maltese Centre organises its Franco-fête, dedicated to the Maltese secondary schools and colleges

Award ceremonies of the competitions « Make me a poster » and « Draw me a Map »

Questionnaires based on French Language, Culture and Civilisation

http://schoolnet.gov.mt/centrefrancomaltais/

THURSDAY 26 MARCH – 6PM - ALLIANCE FRANCAISE

Documentary film « La Cour de Babel » (French with english subtitles)

Keeping her camera in a classroom, Julie Bertucelli explores the immigrant

experience of a group of international adolescents that have just arrived in France.

http://www.alliancefr.org.mt/

http://www.dismoidixmots.culture.fr/

F R A N C O P H O N I E

Week of Francophonie in Malta :

Program, from March 18 till 26

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On the occasion of the

stopover of the patrol boat “L’Adroit”

in Malta, the embassy set up a

“defense and citizenship day” on

board. This session is the last stage of

the compulsory citizenship pathway for the French

youth aged 16 to 18 since the suspension of compulsory

military service in 1996.

After a guided tour of the French Navy vessel

“L’Adroit” calling in Malta, the young “conscripts”

received a citizenship training course by Major Patrice

LANOUE, retired from the French National Gendarmerie

and security officer for the French embassy in Malta. The

opportunity for our recruits to exchange opinions on

defence, the general principles of the French Republic,

values and symbols of the nation, risks and threats for

our country and its citizens, prevention and intervention

of defence. A brief presentation of the army, the navy, the air force and the gendarmerie has been done as

well as the various options to get involved both

within the reserve and various voluntary or civic

services.

At the end of the information session, the

French Ambassador Ms. Béatrice le Fraper du

Hellen and the captain presented each participant

with a certificate of participation, compulsory to

register to exams and competitive examinations

subject to control by the public authority.

See more :

About the Adroit : Ministère de la Défense

About Journée Défense et Citoyenneté

I N T H E N A V Y

Call of French ship Adroit in Malta.

Defense and citizenship Day for French youngsters

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It is the only initiative of its kind in the world: Paris is the first city to have opened an incubator

for tourism-related start-ups. The idea makes sense, given that the French capital is the world's

most popular tourist destination, with 32.3 million hotel arrivals in 2013. The number of foreign

visitors, meanwhile, rose by 8.2% in twelve months,

reaching 15.5 million in 2013. These figures alone justify

the creation of Welcome City Lab.

Located in the heart of Paris, the 1000m² site includes

an open-plan space for collaboration and conference rooms for

the thirty or so start-ups that have been selected. The

organizations behind this initiative include the City of Paris,

the Public Investment Bank (BPI), the Paris Convention and

Visitors Bureau, and private companies such as Aéroports de

Paris, Amadeus, Sodexo, Skyboard, Galeries Lafayette, Viparis

and Air France. The start-ups also enjoy the use of an

experimentation area and a monitoring unit. In addition, facilitated access to financing enables them to

gather the funds required to expand. The incubator even has a press service to allow small and medium-

sized businesses to publicize themselves.

The entrepreneurs housed by Welcome City Lab offer a wide variety of products and services. Marins

d’eau douce, a hire company set up by two sailing enthusiasts, owns a fleet of 17 electric boats on which

tourists can sail without a licence along the 40km of navigable waterways of the Bassin de la Villette, the

Saint Martin canal and the Ourcq canal. The company Evanela, meanwhile, which already employs three

people, organizes visits to prestigious workshops of jewellers, designers and couturiers that are usually

closed to the public.

Some companies in the incubator are more traditional tour operators. Examples include Worldia,

which offers internet-users the opportunity to design a customized trip online, and Family Twist, which

markets luxury family trips to Paris, London and the châteaux of the Loire.

E C O N O M I C S

The first incubator in the world specializing in tourism

It’s in Paris

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The global success of smartphones has also encouraged certain Parisian entrepreneurs to launch

applications for passing tourists. With Mobilytrip, visitors can create a travel journal by adding photos,

videos and notes that can be shared day by day with their friends and family. SmArtapps, meanwhile,

offers audioguides and interactive guides, including interactive maps, a 360° panorama and synchronized

feeds for the capital’s main museums and monuments. The developers of Culture’Apps are promoting the

creation of the first web platform dedicated to designing applications for cultural sites. In the field of

gastronomy, thanks to the application Monrestoenpoche, it will soon be possible to order remotely from

many Parisian restaurants to avoid long queues.

Welcome City Lab has also opened its doors to collaborative tourism specialists. Bluenod, for example,

displays and organizes "communities" at connected events. This visual data representation service can be

used to map the participants at a congress, conference or trade fair. For those seeking culinary

authenticity, Cookening allows foreigners to be treated to a meal at someone’s home. Sejourning is a more

traditional platform on which property owners can rent out their home for short periods. Amateur film-

makers inspired by the capital can post their films about Paris online via the platform Crop the block.

“With the large number of enterprises in this incubator, we can share experiences and networks,” says the

founder of Evanela, Lucie Knappek. So long live Welcome City Lab!

Marco Rangi

www.welcomecitylab.com

https://www.facebook.com/WelcomeCityLab

http://mystartup.paris.fr/en/

At the time of the World show of Tourism, Welcome City Lab announces its new promotion of about

fifteen startups, selected within the framework of its call for candidate 2015.!

www.salons-du-tourisme.com/

http://int.rendezvousenfrance.com/en

E C O N O M I C S

The first incubator in the world specializing in tourism

It’s in Paris

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Éditeur : Ambassade de France à Malte

Directeur de publication : Béatrice le Fraper du Hellen Rédacteur en chef : Frédéric Depetris

Auteurs : Tom Tambaktis – Alice Maumont - Alexander Zammit

Secrétaire de rédaction : Laurent Fontayne

Nous contacter / Contact us :

contact@ambafrance-mt.org

Sur internet / on the web :

www.ambafrance-mt.org

Retrouvez l’ambassade sur /

Follow the embassy on : Facebook

And

Twitter

Malta Community Chest Fund Concert en partenariat

avec l’ambassade de France Le pianiste Hubert Reynouard de l’Ensemble

Télémaque donnera un concert à la Présidence au

profit du Malta Community Chest Fund. Le 7 Avril

www.mccf.org.mt/

Concert in partnership

with the Embassy of France

The pianist Hubert Reynouard from Ensemble

Telemaque will perform for the Presidency in favor of

the Malta Community Chest Fund. On April 7

De Giotto à Caravage L’exposition présente les grands noms

de la peinture italienne, du XIVe au XVIIe

siècle, redécouverts par Roberto Longhi (1890-

1970), l’une des personnalités majeures de l’histoire

de l’art italien

Au Musée Jacquemart-André, Paris

Du 27 mars au 20 juillet

www.giotto-caravage.com/fr

www.giotto-caravage.com/en

From March 27 till July 20

In Jacquemart-André Museum, Paris

The exhibition presents the great names of Italian

painting from the 14th to the 17th century,

rediscovered by Roberto Longhi (1890-1970),

one of the major figures in the history

of Italian art.

W H A T T O D O

«INTERNATIONAL SPRING ORCHESTRA FESTIVAL»

De nombreux artistes français seront présents

cette année encore au Teatru Manoel

dont l’Ensemble Télémaque

Du 7 au 11 avril. 2015

www.iso-festival.com

www.teatrumanoel.com.mt/

Several french artists including

Ensemble Télémaque,

will once again perform in Teatru Manoel

From April 7 till April 11

DAVID BOWIE IS Après son immense succès londonien,

l’exposition arrive à la Philharmonie de Paris récemment inaugurée.

3 mars au 31 mai 2015

http://philharmoniedeparis.fr/

DAVID BOWIE IS After its tremendous success in London, the exhibition is coming to Paris, in March 2015 at the brand new Philharmonie de Paris.

3 March – 31 May 2015

http://philharmoniedeparis.fr/en

120 ans de cinéma :

Gaumont, depuis que le cinéma existe Des films de patrimoine restaurés ainsi que des films prochainement à

l’affiche seront présentés en avant-première. Et des ateliers ludiques et

originaux seront proposés à toute la famille pour découvrir les origines, les

techniques et les métiers du cinéma.

Au « centquatre » à Paris du 15 avril au 5 août

http://www.104.fr/

120 years of cinéma :

Gaumont, since the very beginning

Old films restored for the occasion and brand new

films to be presented in preview.

Fun and original workshops will also be offered to

the whole family to discover the origins,

techniques and professions of the film industry.

At the « centquatre » from April 15 till August 5.

http://www.104.fr/english/