Prepare to take your taste buds on a journey through France and beyond with Benoit’s 15th-anniversary Guest Chef Series. The iconic brasserie, helmed by world-renowned chef Alain Ducasse, has been serving up delectable French cuisine for 15 years, and to celebrate, they’re bringing together some of New York City’s culinary heavyweights for an exclusive five-week series of epicurean delights. From Michelin-starred chefs to visionary dessert makers, each week offers an opportunity to indulge in expertly crafted dishes from a rotating roster of gastronomic geniuses hailing from diverse backgrounds.
“Selecting the lineup of guest chefs for our anniversary series was a meticulous process,” Benoit New York’s Executive Chef, Alberto Marcolongo, told us. “Our goal was to celebrate the culinary diversity of NYC alongside friends of Mr. Ducasse while maintaining the essence of Benoit’s identity. We wanted to curate an experience that would resonate with our patrons and honor our commitment to exceptional French cuisine over the past 15 years.” The Guest Chef Series is sure to be an exciting dining experience for all. “Every chef has meticulously designed an exclusive dish for the occasion, promising an abundance of delightful surprises to be savored and visually admired. Truthfully, collaborating with this exceptional lineup of chefs full of cooperative spirit has been an immensely gratifying and seamless experience.”
Marcolongo has been working with Alain Ducasse for a number of years, more recently taking over the team at Benoit. “I have been the chef at Benoit since February 2022, and I have had the privilege of working with Mr. Ducasse for nearly eight years,” he said of his experience with Ducasse. “Our responsibilities will include overseeing the beginning of dinner with canapés and amuse-bouches, but the main challenge will be effectively coordinating all the chefs into one cohesive team.”
The grand finale Gala Dinner, part of the prestigious New York Wine & Food Festival, promises to be a sold-out event that showcases the finest flavors the Big Apple has to offer. “The event will be an impressive collaboration of several talented chefs hailing from the New York City culinary scene, all of whom are enthusiastic participants,” Marcolongo told us. “We hope this collective energy will infuse into the dinner series, ensuring each night is a memorable one.”
A 15th anniversary is a significant accomplishment in a city filled with delicious dining from renowned chefs who hail from every corner of the world. “Benoit has retained its quintessential French bistro persona by continuing to offer timeless dishes that have remained unchanged for many years,” Marcolongo explained. “In recent times, Chef Alain Ducasse wanted to add a slight Mediterranean influence to the menu to leverage my Italian background and shake things up a bit. Today, we often offer handmade pasta specials and other dishes that showcase a taste of the Mediterranean.”
Here’s to another 15 years of delicious dining at Benoit! “Looking into the future, I envision a continued success and relevance for Benoit as we’ve witnessed over the past 15 years,” Marcolongo told us. “We will continue to uphold our legacy of timeless excellence while keeping pace with evolving culinary trends and the dynamic preferences of our cherished patrons. Our commitment to maintaining the essence of Benoit while embracing new opportunities will assuredly shape our path forward.”
Book a seat at one of the Guest Chef Series dinners at OpenTable.
