“The 40 banquets”: top chefs celebrate Asterix’s birthday and support the Restos du Cœur

A Corbières wild boar back with Castelnaudary mongettes, a roasted pork shoulder with mandarins, chestnut blinis and Brocciu cream, a thyme chocolate fondant… All these recipes that will make even the most jaded of Gauls salivate can be found in a special edition of Asterix that has just been released: “The 40 banquets. At the table with great Gallic chefs”. A book that allows us to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the comic strip but also to do a good deed: helping the Restos du Cœur, with all proceeds going to the charity founded by Coluche.

The idea for this rather unusual album, which features images of all the feasts that close each opus, was born from a discussion, over a meal of course, between Romain Colucci, son of the late comedian and administrator of the Restos, and Céleste Surugue, CEO of Albert René publishing. “We discussed what we could do for the association and we came up with the idea of ​​a banquet, a moment of conviviality and sharing. For this anniversary, it’s our way of making sure that everyone is invited to the table,” says the latter.

As the reader turns the pages, in addition to the appetizing recipes, they will discover, with stars in their eyes, some of the great names in French cuisine: Thierry Marx shares his secret recipe for pancake batter, Anne-Sophie Pic prepares Lamb Tortellinis Confit with Mint and Jean-François Piège pours into the Potage Cultiveur…

“Asterix is ​​our heritage, it’s the whole French spirit”

With 13 Michelin stars for all of these establishments, Pierre Gagnaire chose a “whole endive stuffed with dried apricots and golden raisins, parmesan cream”. “It was obvious to me that I would participate in this book. The Restos du Cœur are more necessary than ever. We must never forget that if for us, food is above all pleasure, for others it is simply a vital need… And then Asterix is ​​our heritage, it is the whole French spirit, fun, sharing, cooking”, jokes the chef.

For fans, this somewhat unusual album can also be an opportunity to pass the time while waiting for the next and 41st Asterix, scheduled for 2025. “It’s on track,” says Céleste Surugue. The only certainty, barring a cataclysm: it will end with a banquet.

“Asterix. The 40 Banquets”. Ed. Albert René. 96 pages. €15.