Mr. Arnaud Champy has been serving as the Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) at the Embassy of France in Nepal for the past two years. He is a big-time foodie. We sat down and talked about his favorite places to dine in Nepal, his childhood memories and of course, French wines.
Firstly, how big a foodie are you?
Well, I love food. Since I live in Kathmandu, what I do is every weekend including Fridays, me and my family like to try new restaurants so it�s a big pleasure for me.
You�ve been here in Nepal for a few years now, what do you think of the Nepali cuisine?
I have been here in Nepal for two years now. I like the Nepal cuisine. It�s totally different from the French cuisine. I found it quite interesting not the spicy one though. It�s too difficult to eat spicy food. I have tried it but I found it quite difficult. But, overall the cuisine is very nice. Especially a good dal bhaat is quite nice and of course the momo which is good too.
What similarities do you find in French Cuisine and Nepali Cuisine?
It�s very hard to find similarities. It doesn�t mean that one is better than the other. It�s just very different that�s all I can say.
Since you visit new restaurants every week, any particular establishments here that you particularly enjoy?
Let�s say there are different types of restaurants. The ones in five star hotels are very good but they are also very expensive. I like the Rox restaurant in Hyatt, the Chimney in Yak and Yeti. The Old House in Durbar Marg, Le Sherpa in Lazimpat. There is one Japanese restaurant the Kotetsu in the Ambassador hotel. The Mezze by roadhouse in Durbar Marg is quite good too. I like going to traditional Nepali restaurants too. The one in Dwarika hotel is nice. I like Indian and Chinese food too. I go to Hotel Annapurna for Indian food and Soaltee for Chinese food. These are all very good restaurants but they are quite expensive. Sometimes I go with my Nepali friends and they show me some good restaurants in Patan and Thamel which I don�t know myself and I discover new restaurants in the process.
What food can we see on a regular basis on Arnaud Champy�s Plate?
Very simple food. I try to eat healthy food as much as possible. I eat a lot of salads and grilled meat and sometimes, it�s not so healthy but a pizza every now and then which I enjoy. You can find a large variety of food on my plate. Sometimes I like to eat dal makhani and naan. I like to mix it up. It depends on your idea of the day. Sometimes I eat at home and sometimes I eat outside.
What is your favorite childhood food memory?
Actually, my dad was a chef, so was my uncle and my grandfather. So my memories are full of tasty and beautiful food. When I was a child I used to go to where my father was working and order anything I wanted. I remember eating foie gras and other very classic French food. This was one of my special memories. The other one was with my family. We had a special type of holiday. Other people went to the South of France for a swim but for us it was different. We chose a region took a Michelin guide and for lunch and dinner we would dine in a Michelin starred restaurant so that was very special and a nice memory for me.
It�s no secret that a lot of people regularly indulge in a cheat-meal. Since you mentioned pizza, how often do you eat it?
Maybe once a month. It�s not very healthy eating it regularly so maybe once every one or two months.
What advice would give to those trying to adopt a healthy lifestyle?
Exercise a lot, don�t smoke and drink alcohol. Try to avoid bread, butter and really just fat in general.
As we all know, French are passionate about their wines, which is your preferred French wine? And which one is your favorite varietal in Non-French wines?
I like the red wine from Bordeaux. The Chateau Le Mac which is a Bordeaux red wine. I would have to say from Australia, Chile and California have good wines. I don�t have any particular brand but the wines from there are good too.
What is the strangest meal you have ever eaten and did you enjoy it and would you eat it again?
Yes. Previously I posted in China. Over there people eat a lot of different kinds of food. I tried worms over there. I tried it once but I didn�t enjoy it particularly. It wasn�t that good but something you try once in your life. I wouldn�t eat it again though. We were in a group and everyone was eating it but I didn�t find any pleasure eating it.
If you had a free pass to go and dine-in anywhere in the world, where would it be?
It would have to be the Le Pr� Catelan in Paris. A 3-star Michelin restaurant.
Anything else that our readers should know?
Yes actually. Champagnes. I come from that region, there are also very good champagnes in France. Many people think that a simple sparkling wine is also considered champagne. Champagne only comes from the region Champagne in France and it is very important to protect and mention this. I have seen it in a lot of countries where people serve different types of wines like Prosecco. It�s not champagne and has a very different taste to champagne. It�s still very good though. In France, when you talk about wines or champagne, it belongs to a region in France. I was talking about Chile and Australia earlier. Those wines are not related to a region, they are related to the types of grapes they use. So they can mix grapes from everywhere. For us it�s totally banned to do that. It�s a French particularity. For instance, if you drink a Bordeaux wine, you drink a wine that is made of different grapes from one particular region. It is very important to mention this.
What food can we see on a regular basis on Arnaud Champy�s Plate?
Very simple food. I try to eat healthy food as much as possible. I eat a lot of salads and grilled meat and sometimes, it�s not so healthy but a pizza every now and then which I enjoy. You can find a large variety of food on my plate. Sometimes I like to eat dal makhani and naan. I like to mix it up. It depends on your idea of the day. Sometimes I eat at home and sometimes I eat outside.
What is your favorite childhood food memory?
Actually, my dad was a chef, so was my uncle and my grandfather. So my memories are full of tasty and beautiful food. When I was a child I used to go to where my father was working and order anything I wanted. I remember eating foie gras and other very classic French food. This was one of my special memories. The other one was with my family. We had a special type of holiday. Other people went to the South of France for a swim but for us it was different. We chose a region took a Michelin guide and for lunch and dinner we would dine in a Michelin starred restaurant so that was very special and a nice memory for me.
It�s no secret that a lot of people regularly indulge in a cheat-meal. Since you mentioned pizza, how often do you eat it?
Maybe once a month. It�s not very healthy eating it regularly so maybe once every one or two months.
What advice would give to those trying to adopt a healthy lifestyle?
Exercise a lot, don�t smoke and drink alcohol. Try to avoid bread, butter and really just fat in general.
As we all know, French are passionate about their wines, which is your preferred French wine? And which one is your favorite varietal in Non-French wines?
I like the red wine from Bordeaux. The Chateau Le Mac which is a Bordeaux red wine. I would have to say from Australia, Chile and California have good wines. I don�t have any particular brand but the wines from there are good too.
What is the strangest meal you have ever eaten and did you enjoy it and would you eat it again?
Yes. Previously I posted in China. Over there people eat a lot of different kinds of food. I tried worms over there. I tried it once but I didn�t enjoy it particularly. It wasn�t that good but something you try once in your life. I wouldn�t eat it again though. We were in a group and everyone was eating it but I didn�t find any pleasure eating it.
If you had a free pass to go and dine-in anywhere in the world, where would it be?
It would have to be the Le Pr� Catelan in Paris. A 3-star Michelin restaurant.
Anything else that our readers should know?
Yes actually. Champagnes. I come from that region, there are also very good champagnes in France. Many people think that a simple sparkling wine is also considered champagne. Champagne only comes from the region Champagne in France and it is very important to protect and mention this. I have seen it in a lot of countries where people serve different types of wines like Prosecco. It�s not champagne and has a very different taste to champagne. It�s still very good though. In France, when you talk about wines or champagne, it belongs to a region in France. I was talking about Chile and Australia earlier. Those wines are not related to a region, they are related to the types of grapes they use. So they can mix grapes from everywhere. For us it�s totally banned to do that. It�s a French particularity. For instance, if you drink a Bordeaux wine, you drink a wine that is made of different grapes from one particular region. It is very important to mention this.
