The Tour d'Argent “duck press" is to remain in France !

La presse à Canard de la Tour d'Argent aux Grands Buffets

The Grands Buffets Narbonne, now the delighted owner of the Tour d'Argent duck press.

The goal of les Grands Buffets Narbonne (Languedoc), is to make the public aware of fine dining and they are fierce proponents of traditional cuisine. Faithful to their approach and in an endeavour to democratise the cultural heritage of the French table, les Grands Buffets have recently acquired at auction an exceptional and prestigious item, namely the duck press used by the Tour d’Argent, exclusive restaurant serving world heads of state.

An intimate ceremony
Veritable classic of French cuisine, the recipe for canard au sang (duck cooked in its blood) is a private ritual practised since the 19th century. The Tour d’Argent, venue par excellence for this ceremony, welcomed heads of state from all over world to taste the canard au sang invented in 1890 by Frédéric Delair which is prepared according to a precise ritual. Having removed the main parts of the duck, it was customary to take the carcase and crush it in a silver duck case made by Christofle. 
Now is the time to give new life to this emblem of gastronomy which will never leave French territory, despite the interest of foreign investors. « We were worried that this press would go abroad », claims Louis Privat, manager of Grands Buffets Narbonne. Their ambition? « To propose this ceremony to the public at large in les Grands Buffets, a ritual which until now has been confidential, confined to world of palatial residences and haute cuisine », concludes Louis Privat. Thanks to les Grands Buffets in Narbonne, this fine dining institution can now be revealed to the public at large.

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