THE MAGAZINE 
In Copenhagen, Les Grandes Tables du Monde joined forces with The Pagoda, at the invitation of chef Viki Geunes, to bring together three leading figures of European gastronomy. With a few thrills along the way.
On November 1, 2026, Les Grandes Tables du Monde invited some thirty European food lovers to one of Copenhagen’s most iconic destinations. Nestled in the heart of Tivoli Gardens, The Pagoda hosted an exceptional six-hands dinner featuring Viki Geunes of Zilte in Antwerp, Tohru Nakamura of Tohru in der Schreiberei in Munich, and Sébastien Faramond of La Table de Pavie in Saint-Émilion.
Three chefs, three personalities, and three brilliant culinary minds, brought together for one evening. It all began with an invitation from Viki Geunes and a shared desire to take gastronomy beyond its usual boundaries. And, while we were at it, add a few thrills, both at the table and in the air.
The menu set the tone from the very first course.
The toro tuna, stunning alongside its ajo blanco. The langoustine, bold and intense, accompanied by an Esprit de Pavie red wine sauce that certainly wasn’t holding back. And that magnificent pigeon, confident enough to let the spotlight fall on a beautifully executed preparation of lentils. We could also tell you about the Wagyu pastrami, the outrageously green celtuce spaghetti, and that dazzling sole. Six creations, and absolutely no desire to pick a favourite.
Each chef expressed his own culinary identity freely, without trying to smooth out the differences. And that’s precisely what makes these encounters so exciting: three distinct worlds meeting, responding to one another, and creating, over the course of a single dinner, something none of them would have imagined alone.
In the glasses, Aaron Moeraert, sommelier at Zilte and winner of the Les Grandes Tables du Monde 2026 Liquid Creation Award, had designed the pairings. Another demonstration of his talent for making what’s in the glass far more than a supporting act. And for keeping the surprises coming, sometimes when you least expect them.
And Then, a Rollercoaster!
Because at Tivoli, it would have been a shame to spend the entire evening sitting politely at the table.
Halfway through dinner, we invited chefs and guests to leave their seats behind for a private rollercoaster ride through Tivoli Gardens. Yes, right between two courses of a fine-dining experience.
A few minutes of screams, laughter, and pure adrenaline.
A delightfully unreasonable interlude, reflecting exactly the kind of gastronomy we love to champion at Les Grandes Tables du Monde: demanding without being austere, generous, vibrant, and, above all, never taking itself too seriously.
Beyond the dinner itself, the evening captured something essential about our association. An international network of restaurateurs who share far more than a commitment to excellence.
Bringing together chefs from Belgium, Germany, and France around a table in Copenhagen, connecting their teams, their expertise, and their guests, is what brings the community we build every day to life. And a reminder that the most meaningful collaborations often begin with something wonderfully simple: the pleasure of sharing.
For one evening at Tivoli, gastronomy turned into a celebration. And what if the true luxury of fine dining was also the chance to lose control, just a little?
For once, we weren’t speaking metaphorically.
Betty Marais
