Riviera’s Executive Chef Rémy Carmignani on festive dining

Executive Chef at Riviera, Chef Rémy Carmignani brings his French-Italian heritage to create some of the finest, and most exquisite dishes in his menu. Helming the menu curation for the upcoming fine dining experience with diptyque, we explore what the holiday season means to Chef Rémy, and how he translates that into creating his festive dishes.

“These two dishes remind me of my childhood”
“To bring the festive spirit to our guests at Riviera, our specially-curated menu for our So Chic French Experience: A Festive Journey of Fragrance and Fine Dining features dishes that truly bring festive cheer to the table, including:

• Loch Fyne Scottish Salmon which features Organic Japanese Spinach Cream, Kaluga Queen Oscietra and Caviar, smoked with oak chips from a retired Whisky barrel
• Le Pithiviers which highlights Poulet de Bresse, venison, foie gras, périgord and winter black truffle sauce.” He added.

“These two dishes remind me of my childhood growing up in the picturesque Montélimar in southern France.” Chef Rémy said. “Growing up, I was always surrounded by incredible fresh produce, and some of the best produce that our region had to offer always came to our dinner table at home during the festive season! The signature festive ingredients of smoked salmon, as well as the game meats like venison, and luxuriously rich foie gras, are front and centre in both of these dishes!”

Chef Remy’s holidays revolved around family and food
When asked if there is anything that acts as a Madeleine de Proust (a smell or taste that brings up memories) of his childhood holidays, Chef Rémy delightedly exclaimed that “For me, the festive season is peppered with Madeleines de Proust!”

“Some of my earliest memories are from Christmas time with my family. This was when my family, led by my grandmother, would prepare celebratory meals together in the kitchen, and delicious smells would waft all throughout the house!” He continued. “The smell of these lovingly-made dishes that the whole family would come together to make truly brings back vivid memories of my childhood — and some of the best food memories of my life!”

Chef Remy aims to help you create lasting memories through his curated food menu
“The festive season is all about love for family and creating lasting memories with our loved ones! With our menu, I hope to encapsulate the warmth and cheer of my childhood Christmas memories to each and every guest — with each course being a festive feast for both the eyes and the palate!” Chef Rémy concluded.

Join Riviera and diptyque on A Festive Journey Through Fragrance and Fine Dining this December! Have both your tastebuds and olfactory scent stimulated by the fine culinary skills of Chef Rémy with his specially curated menu, and diptyque’s luxurious scented candles. Participants will also walk away with a special So Chic tote bag and a diptyque surprise!