Annual General Meeting
At 10am at the Grand Hôtel Roi René in Aix-en-Provence, President Atallah called the packed room of members to order for the 2026 Annual General Meeting of the Chaîne.

On the agenda were …
1. World Chaîne Day.
2. Chaîne’s International Foundation - ACCR.
3. International Competitions.
4. Ordre Mondial des Gourmets Dégustateurs.
5. Finances.
6. Election of Members of the Conseil d’Administration.
7. Election of Members of the Conseil Magistral.
8. Miscellaneous, including IT

Château la Coste
Later in the day, in exceptional temperatures, the pinnacle of the Grand Chapitre unfolded in the breathtaking setting of Château La Coste at Le Puy-Sainte-Réparade. Nestled in the Provençal countryside, this exceptional estate is where vineyards, contemporary art, architecture and gastronomy coexist in perfect harmony.

The estate offered a unique cultural and sensory experience in an outstanding natural setting of rolling hills where contemporary sculptures and vineyards created a scene of grandeur and poetry … albeit an idyllic vision interrupted from time to time by a helicopter coming and going!

Induction Ceremony
The Induction Ceremony, presided over by President Atallah and supported by International Vice-President Marie Jones as the sword bearer, saw members rewarded for long service, promoted to a higher grade and receiving their first insignia as new members. Klaus Tritschler provided his usual exemplary services calling the inductees to the stage and Carl Wachtmeister was responsible for ensuring the correct awards and ribbons were provided.

Of particular note during the Ceremony were:
- Rufus Cressend (USA) and Klaus Tritschler (Germany) inducted as Members of the Conseil d’Honneur.
- Stéphane Turpin (France) receiving the Chaîne’s Gold Award.
- Jörg Böckeler (Germany) and James D Wallick (USA) inducted as Members of the Conseil d’Administration.
- Ada Chio de la Cruz (Macau) inducted as Member of the Conseil Magistral.
- Bastien Blanc and André Nahas inducted as Bailli Délégué of Pakistan and Lebanon respectively.

ACCR Auction
Immediately after the Induction Ceremony, as Champagne and other refreshments were being served, Betty Sasenick, the Member of the Conseil Magistral who is Chair of the ACCR (Association Caritative de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs) presided over an auction in support of the ACCR’s mission. Through the generosity of distinguished international partners and the enthusiastic participation of members, 12,000 euro was raised. (Ed. See separate article published on the auction).

Gala Dinner
Once the Cocktail Reception was drawn to a close, members and their guests were guided to their places on long tables under the shade of the trees in the open air.

Thus, it was within this prestigious and inspiring environment amidst the elegance and beauty of Provence that a wonderful three days in Provence concluded.

Congratulations to all who were involved in the organisation of such a wonderful event, especially Secrétaire Générale Sabine Tachot and Chef de Projets Laura Smet from the International Headquarters in Paris. And to whoever was responsible for the weather - thank you for the glorious sunshine, even if was a little hotter than many would have preferred.

Marie Jones
Managing Editor, Chaîne News Online
International Vice-President