Christophe Marguin auctions off his collection of royal and presidential menus

Mathilde Bourge | 2/29/24, 3:31 PM

Known as a great collector, Christophe Marguin (2 toques) will soon be parting with over 4,000 imperial, royal and presidential menus. Two exceptional dinners are being organized for the occasion.

Christophe Marguin is an avid collector. The chef of Lyon's Le Président restaurant is best known for having framed 169 jackets worn by some of the world's greatest chefs. While he has no intention of parting with these precious treasures any time soon, the president of the Toques blanches lyonnaises will soon be auctioning off his collection of royal and presidential menus.

A menu dating back to Napoleon III

Since 1986, Christophe Marguin has carefully guarded over 4,000 imperial, presidential and royal menus, spanning 150 years of history. These collectors' items include a menu from 1868 offered by Napoleon III, and one served to King Charles III of England at Versailles in September 2023. The meal for the fiftieth anniversary of D-Day, at which Bill Clinton was received by President Mitterrand, the breakfast menu for Charles and Diana's wedding, and the menu for the inauguration of the Channel Tunnel are also among the valuable souvenirs. As Christophe Marguin 's sons were not interested in this plethora of menus, the chef decided to part with them.

His collection, estimated at between 100,000 and 150,000 euros, will be auctioned on May 31, 2024 in Paris, by Maison Millon. On May 29 and 30, the menus will be the subject of an exhibition open to the general public at 3, rue Rossini, in Paris, in the 9ᵉ arrondissement.

To celebrate the sale, two exceptional dinners will be held. On March 21, 2024, at La Mère Brazier restaurant in Lyon, chef Mathieu Viannay will reproduce the menu offered to President John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Jacky by Charles de Gaulle at the Château de Versailles. On March 28, it will be Frédéric Vardon's turn to reproduce the menu offered by President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing on the occasion of the presentation of the Légion d'Honneur to Paul Bocuse, at his establishment Le 39V, in the 8ᵉ arrondissement of Paris. Reservations are already open for these two dinners!

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