Guests gathered at Cantine Divino on Thursday evening for a French dinner hosted by the Embassy of France in Uganda, marking Francophonie Month through food, story and shared conversation.
It was about coming together. About food, yes but also about conversation, connection, and the simple pleasure of sharing a table for fine dining and wine. On Thursday, the Embassy of France in Uganda invited guests to gather share a meal and experience France through taste and story.
The cocktail hour set the warm tone after which the evening transitioned as guests were ushered to elegantly laid tables on which dinner was served in three courses, each with a sense of culinary artistry.
At the heart of the evening was a speech by Her Excellency Virginie Leroy, France’s ambassador to Uganda, who introduced the meal with some notes of heritage. Through her words, each dish carried history.
The salmon terrine, she explained, traced its roots to Brittany the land of the sea, journeys and endurance. Then the boeuf bourguignon, slow-cooked and deeply layered, spoke of Burgundy’s soil, its wines, and the patience of tradition.
And dessert of a pineapple charlotte which bridged continents, drawing a subtle, meaningful line between France and Uganda. Ambassador Leroy reminded the room that meals gather people, softens differences, and opens doors to conversations that might otherwise never begin.
At that moment, the dinner felt more like an act of diplomacy. French cuisine, she noted, is not only about recipes, but about transmission of knowledge passed down, and an art of living.
And indeed, the night reflected that. Between courses, conversations deepened. What began as polite exchanges stretched into thoughtful dialogue, about culture, travel, work, and more.
By the time dessert was served, the room had settled into that rare, easy intimacy that only a good meal can create. As the night eased to a close, guests lingered a little as conversations were reluctant to end.
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