Renoir's Iconic Painting Inspires Special Menu at Historic Chatou Restaurant Amid Paris Exhibitions

The Maison Fournaise, a historic restaurant in Chatou near Paris, has launched a special menu inspired by Auguste Renoir's 1880-1881 painting 'Le Déjeuner des canotiers.' This initiative coincides with two Renoir exhibitions at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris: 'Renoir dessinateur' and 'Renoir et l’amour. La modernité heureuse.' The painting itself, on loan from the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., is being shown in Paris for the first time in 20 years. Founded in 1857 by Alphonse Fournaise, the restaurant was a popular haunt for Impressionist artists like Claude Monet, Berthe Morisot, and Gustave Caillebotte. Renoir painted nearly thirty works there, capturing its relaxed atmosphere. After closing in the early 20th century, the site was restored following its acquisition by the Ludéric group in 2022 and is now a classified historical monument. Chef Christian Le Squer, who holds three Michelin stars, created the menu featuring dishes such as fried smelt, tender chicken with vegetables, and pear in wine with vanilla ice cream. Visitors can also explore a small museum on the Île des Impressionnistes.