The DVD of Taste Le Tour 2009 is available now from the SBS Shop.

French chef, Gabriel Gaté, was back again this year presenting his delicious series of Taste Le Tour 2009, a gastronomic journey that follows the route of the famous Tour de France bicycle race held this year from Saturday 4 July to Sunday 26 July. As in previous years, Gabriel called upon his friend, Philippe Mouchel, the wonderfully talented French chef, to prepare some of the great classic dishes of French cuisine.

This year Gabriel presented six of the segments from France, commencing on the first day, Saturday 4th July, in the glorious principality of Monaco, then on Monday 6 July from the old city of Marseille. Later in the Tour on Wednesday 15 July Gabriel was in the Loire Valley next to the picturesque wine village of Sancerre, then Friday 17 July featured the stunning town of Colmar in beautiful Alsace. For the final two days Gabriel presented the Tour from the provençal hill town of Nyons next to Mont Ventoux on Saturday 25 July, and on the very last day, Sunday 26 July, he closed Taste Le Tour in Paris.

The rest of the stylish four-minute segments were presented from the terrace of The Brasserie by Philippe Mouchel, a Melbourne French restaurant where Gabriel and his team, including an accordion player and one or two gendarmes, created a great French atmosphere. Each segment begins with Gabriel discussing the specialities of the region through which the riders pass that day. Then a famous dish of the region is prepared by either Philippe Mouchel, Gabriel or an eccentric French gendarme, called François.

This year the Tour visits several countries, and during the two days spent in Spain Frank Camorra, a brilliant Spanish chef, demonstrates a wonderful seafood paella and a delicate cold soup of broad beans with ham.

France is famous for its patisseries and for three of the segments Pierrick Boyer, a talented French pâtissier, prepares some superb gâteaux.

François the gendarme also visits a French gourmet store, or ‘charcuterie’, where chef, Stéphane Langlois, prepares a country-style pork and chicken liver terrine.

Christian Maier, an award-winning sommelier and native from Alsace, recommends the best wines of each region, while Will Studd, guru of French cheeses, introduces the viewers to a selection of outstanding cheeses from France, Spain and Switzerland.