If cooking were an Olympic sport, France would surely take home the gold! 🥇 This year’s Olympic hosts boast more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other nation, embodying a culture where food is not just a meal, but a way of life.
Among the culinary stars is Datil, a hotspot in Paris founded by Manon Fleury, a former international fencer for France. Fleury brings her athletic spirit to the kitchen, infusing her restaurant with the discipline and teamwork from her sports career. “I think I've brought some of those ideas from sport with me into the restaurant,” Fleury shares. “The ideas of collective spirit, involvement, and effort.”
A Taste of a Better Future
The Olympics have thrust Datil into the limelight, and Fleury is determined to impress foodies visiting the city. “It is certainly a moment for us,” she says. “We can show what Paris is able to do.” Beyond delicious dishes, Datil aims to make food a political statement, using it as a tool in the fight against climate change and animal cruelty.
Datil also champions gender equality in the culinary world. Fleury emphasizes the importance of having more women in the industry, not just in the kitchen but in leadership roles as well. “We need to change this idea that men should dominate the sector,” she asserts. “We need to put women in this industry and they should be in big positions. We have to fight for this equality we speak about.”
CGTN recently dined at Datil, savoring a tomato and fish soup adorned with edible petals, alongside a courgette and tuna dish. Despite the sophisticated fare, the meal was enjoyed in Olympic-record time, highlighting the restaurant’s blend of speed and quality.
The Olympics are all about pushing boundaries, and Datil exemplifies this spirit by aiming to make Paris not just a center for sports, but also a beacon of culinary excellence and social progress. 🍽️✨
