Let the Apéritif à la française dazzle you!
This celebration counters the preconceived notion that French cuisine is elitist, brings a bit of joy to today's gloomy climate and fights with personality and zest to promote the flavour of good foods. This fun-filled, unique event, organised by Sopexa and supported by the French Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, has been bringing together food and beverage professionals, curious consumers, food lovers and epicureans on the first Thursday of June for the last six years.

A kickoff party at the top of Paris on 13 May
As a sneak preview, France will kick off this 6th edition with a highly colourful and flavourful Apéritif à la française 2009 opening party on 13 May at the Eiffel Tower, in the presence of the French Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, industry professionals, the press and partners of the international operation, who will be offering samples of their products.
This year, the Apéritif à la française launch party is to celebrate innovation and local regions, and will take you to the United States, the country of honour, in the presence of Mr. Mark PEKALA, who represents the US Ambassador to France.
The Cordon Bleu international cooking school will illustrate this theme by creating a delicious aperitif that blends authentic American food and beverage products with French savoir-faire.

The rest of the world will have to a wait a little...
On 4 June, 37 cities around the globe will host the event, at B-to-B and B-to-C evening parties that showcase the products and brands of the French partner companies. Following the party, a wave of promotions is to follow at retail outlets, bars, restaurants, wine merchants and speciality shops in all participating cities.
The Apéritif à la française in the United States: 1,000 evening parties are to be held at private homes! The preselected hosts will receive a full Apéritif kit (with balloons, decorations, a corkscrew, an apron, a cheese tray, an "Acoustic France" music CD, decorative magnets and gift certificates for French food products that can be used on the two partner e-commerce sites) and the "How to host your own French Cocktail Hour" booklet. On 4 June, more than 15,000 Americans will be celebrating the Apéritif à la française!
The 1001st party will be held in the Big Apple, exclusively for the press, in a New York apartment in order to re-create the "at home" atmosphere.