The City of La Rochelle is renewing its participation in "Le Grand Repas", a national event that allows children to discover a menu created by a local chef. On Thursday, October 8th, the city's school catering chefs will collaborate with Damien Chomont, chef of the restaurant l’Astrolabe, who will be the patron of this gastronomic operation.
Supported by the network of collective catering managers (AGORES), this initiative will take place in school restaurants, crèches, and middle schools in the Charente-Maritime department. For the duration of a meal, the cafeterias will transform into veritable restaurants, where children, accompanied by animators and ATSEM (early childhood education assistants), will actively participate in the setup: setting tables, writing menus, and engaging in games centered around seasonal fruits and vegetables.
The objective is to introduce children to foods that are sometimes less popular, by preparing them in ways that make them appealing. Last year, dishes such as "crispy white fish papillote with sweet potato and cauliflower" and "poached pear pavlova" were a great success. This year's menu will include a goat cheese crisp on toast, marinated chicken with sautéed rice and autumn vegetables, and for dessert, a caramelized apple flan with fleur de sel from the Île de Ré.
"Le Grand Repas" strives each year to introduce a diversity of flavors, textures, and aromas, while promoting sustainable eating habits based on local and seasonal products.
La Rochelle's school catering stands out for its commitment to sustainable and accessible food. The city exceeds the objectives of the EGalim law, with 52% of products being sustainable or quality-labeled, including 30% from organic farming, an approach recognized by the "Territoire Bio Engagé" label. Collaboration with local producers and participation in the Territorial Food Project strengthen the links between agriculture and collective catering.
To ensure accessibility, the city applies social pricing. More than 80% of La Rochelle's schoolchildren eat at the school canteen daily. For the year 2025, the cost of a meal is €12.32 (including €2.58 for food costs), while family contributions are modulated according to income, ranging from €0.10 to €5.85 per meal for the 2026/2027 school year.
