Chez Max Café, Dublin’s answer to a traditional French bistro, became Ireland’s first restaurant to be awarded the ‘World’s French Restaurant’ label. The label was awarded on Tuesday 28th February to owner Max de Laloubie at the French Ambassador to Ireland’s Residence. It was awarded in the presence of the AFMR and representatives of the French Embassy in recognition of the establishment’s ability to serve homemade French dishes with a Parisian flair.
The World’s French Restaurant is a new accolade inaugurated in 2021 for French-speaking and Francophile restaurants that promote French gastronomy, created by the AFMR (Association Française des Maîtres Restaurateurs). The aim is to promote sustainable catering, homemade food, and the use of fresh produce. Chez Max is the seventh restaurant outside of France to receive the award.
“It’s a really honour to receive this label in recognition of our contribution to promote French gastronomy, and I’m proud to continue to share delicious, homemade French dishes with the people of Dublin,” says Max de Laloubie, owner of Chez Max.
An apt occasion to celebrate
The award ceremony capped off the 2023 edition of French Food Days, a one-day trade event dedicated to bringing the taste of France to Ireland, which will see 15 producers who are hoping to increase their presence in Ireland come to Dublin.
“We created the World’s French Restaurant label to share and promote the excellence and diversity of French cuisine throughout the world,” said AFMR President Alain Fontaine. “We’re thrilled to be able to give this accolade to Chez Max and have a ‘World’s French Restaurant’ in Ireland, a country that is internationally known for appreciating high-quality food. And what better occasion than French Food Days to do so!”
A restaurant awarded the ‘WFR,’ or ‘World’s French Restaurant’ label is one that has passed a rigorous independent audit, proving that it fulfils certain criteria:
- Cooking on-site
- The use of fresh products
- A menu including French dishes
- A French-language version of the menu
- A ‘French touch’ to the décor
- Compliance with local food waste legislation
The ‘WFR’ label is open to any restaurant, from the smallest, cosiest all-day diner to the most prestigious fine-dining restaurant. Restaurants with the ‘WFR’ label enjoy being part of an international community with access to a network of likeminded professionals, exciting training opportunities, events and more. ‘WFR’ restaurants also enjoy the world-renowned reputation of French gastronomy.
