ShanghaiMay 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Recently, to celebrate its 80th anniversary, the premium French dairy brand Elle & Vire Professionnel® once again joined forces with Michelin-starred chef Pierre Gagnaire to host a themed gala dinner titled “80 Years of Passion, Sharing the Future of Flavor” in Shanghai. Centered around the brand’s flagship products, Excellence UHT Whipping Cream and Finesse Light Whipping Cream, the event invited long-term industry partners and key clients to partake in the celebration. From signature chocolates bearing blessings to a meticulously crafted four-course tasting menu, from a nearly two-decade-long friendship with the star chef to joyful interactive sharing, Elle & Vire not only reaffirmed its leadership in the professional dairy industry but also conveyed its brand初心 of “80 years of sincere sharing” — 80 years of walking alongside chefs, 80 years of unwavering pure quality in every product, and 80 years of steadfast commitment.
80 Years of Passion, Sharing the Future of Flavor Themed Gala Dinner
The Essence of Craftsmanship: 80 Years of Passion, Honoring Heritage and the Future in Four Acts
This gala dinner, themed “80 Years of Passion, Sharing the Future of Flavor,” distilled the brand’s 80-year journey into a new four-course tasting menu. From “Awakening the Palate” to “Warm Progression,” then “Flavor Highlight” and “Sweet Finale,” each dish served as a taste interpretation of the Elle & Vire brand spirit.
The opening course, “Awakening the Palate,” featured Sichuan No. 2 Oscietra caviar paired with a vermouth-infused seafood sauce, complemented by a silky cauliflower purée made with Elle & Vire cream and vodka-cured egg yolk. The delicacy of Eastern rare caviar harmonized elegantly with the finesse of French cream — echoing the brand’s original aspiration when it set out from Normandy eighty years ago: to bring France’s finest dairy craftsmanship to culinary creators worldwide.
In the second course, “Warm Progression,” Breton blue lobster was slow-cooked in cognac to lock in freshness, accompanied by a cloud-like potato foam. The vastness of the ocean and the warmth of dairy merged perfectly on the palate, just as Elle & Vire has consistently extracted nature’s pure essence over 80 years, remaining a trusted creative partner for chefs across different eras and countries.
Four-Course Tasting Experience at the Themed Gala Dinner
The main course, “Flavor Highlight,” featured grilled Uruguayan Pesadu M5 beef tenderloin with a creamy morel mushroom sauce. This dish paid tribute to “richness” — the brand’s 80-year legacy is not a superficial slogan but is reflected in the consistent quality of every product. Elle & Vire Excellence UHT Whipping Cream, with its excellent whipping performance, smooth and rich texture, and pure milky aroma, infused this dish with a rich yet elegant foundation.
The finale dessert, “Strawberry Pistachio Tart,” used Elle & Vire Finesse Light Whipping Cream to create a light filling, blending the freshness of strawberries with the nutty aroma of pistachios. This masterpiece of Normandy’s professional dairy craftsmanship, with 25% fat content, delivered an airy texture and delicate mouthfeel, concluding the 80th-anniversary culinary journey with a light and hopeful note — a tribute to the past and an aspiration for the future.
During the tasting, Ramses Navarro, Executive Chef of Le Comptoir De Pierre Gagnaire, provided guests with detailed insights into the creative inspiration behind each dish, vividly demonstrating the versatility and endless possibilities of Elle & Vire in various culinary applications.
Gathering Passion: Celebrating 80 Years of Deep Bonds with Chefs as Companions
Over 80 years, the brand’s most precious asset is not the length of time but the partners who have journeyed alongside it. At this gala dinner, principals from five-star hotels, high-end restaurants, and renowned pastry brands gathered together, serving as the best testament to this bond and fully showcasing Elle & Vire’s premium positioning and professional influence. The dinner featured multiple interactive segments, weaving the theme of “Gathering Passion” throughout the event.
Elle & Vire 80th Anniversary Cake
The check-in segment was uniquely designed: guests signed on specially made chocolate pieces, which were then placed atop the Elle & Vire 80th anniversary cake, symbolizing that every partner is an indispensable companion in the brand’s 80-year journey. During the celebration ceremony, the Elle & Vire 80th anniversary cake made a grand entrance. Mr. Denis VERGNEAU, General Manager of Sinodis, and Mr. Pierre Gagnaire jointly signed a chocolate piece and inserted it into the cake, then together lit the 80th-anniversary installation, bringing the atmosphere to a climax.
The dinner also featured a special interactive segment called “Sharing Passion.” The host invited guests to draw questions related to Elle & Vire from a “memory box” and share their touching stories with the brand. From the surprise of first encountering Elle & Vire products to the deep bonds forged through years of collaboration, these heartfelt sharing sessions allowed guests to feel the warm connection between Elle & Vire and chefs that transcends time and borders. As the dinner drew to a close, guests shared the Elle & Vire 80th anniversary cake, with its sweet taste embodying hopes for the next decade. Finally, Mr. Denis VERGNEAU presented a model of a Normandy cow, representing the Elle & Vire brand, to Le Comptoir De Pierre Gagnaire restaurant, honoring the deep friendship between the two parties and expressing hope that this 80-year commitment to natural flavor would continue to flourish in future craftsmanship.
Mr. Denis VERGNEAU Presents a Normandy Cow Model Representing the Elle & Vire Brand to the Restaurant
In sharing his journey with Elle & Vire, Mr. Pierre Gagnaire noted that this nearly two-decade-long collaboration has always been rooted in “sharing”: sharing a love for pure ingredients, sharing the craftsmanship of culinary excellence, and sharing the warmth of sincere flavors. Mr. Denis VERGNEAU also elaborated on the brand spirit of the 80th anniversary in his opening remarks: “For 80 years, Elle & Vire has shared its natural flavor with the culinary world and chefs. This 80th-anniversary celebration is not just a tribute to time, but also a celebration of 80 years of sharing through chefs and the entire industry, the pure quality consistent in every product for 80 years, and the unwavering values and sincere commitment for 80 years.”
Sharing and Heritage: 80 Years of Sincere Partnership, Creating a New Chapter of Excellence with Chefs
For 80 years, Elle & Vire has adhered to a simple yet steadfast belief: to transform Normandy’s natural gifts into reliable creative inspiration for chefs. However, the core of this belief has never been a one-way supply of products, but rather an 80-year-long sincere dialogue and mutual achievement with chefs.
“Sharing” and “Heritage” are two key words in the Elle & Vire brand spirit. In Elle & Vire’s view, 80 years is not a number to boast about, but a culinary heritage jointly safeguarded with generations of chefs. The brand shares Normandy’s professional dairy craftsmanship with chefs worldwide, while chefs, with their talent and passion, elevate these skills into works that move people. Knowledge, experience, and passion are passed down from one generation to the next, forming the most precious foundation of the Elle & Vire brand.
This spirit of “heritage” is also reflected in Elle & Vire’s long-term, in-depth support for chefs around the world. Whether through sponsoring international events like the Bocuse d’Or World Competition, the World Pastry Cup, and the French Pastry Championship, or collaborating with authoritative institutions such as the International Pastry Association, Institut Lyfe, and the Lenôtre Culinary School, Elle & Vire is always committed to building a platform for chefs to grow and exchange ideas.
Mr. Denis VERGNEAU Delivers a Speech at the Gala Dinner
In the Chinese market, Elle & Vire, through Sinodis’s localized operations, continues to drive talent development and professional advancement in China’s culinary industry. As a distribution subsidiary of the French dairy group Savencia in China, Sinodis is not only a brand operator bringing together premium global dairy products but also a value co-creation platform connecting industry partners and providing professional solutions. Mr. Denis VERGNEAU, General Manager of Sinodis, concluded: “This year also marks Sinodis’s 30th anniversary in China. Our mission has never changed — to inspire Chinese culinary professionals to explore world-class flavors and co-create delicious experiences. In the future, we will continue to collaborate with more world-class masters like Pierre Gagnaire and emerging local culinary talents to write the next chapter of dairy products in high-end dining, moving toward a broader future together with industry partners.”