On this occasion, His Excellency Sheikh Ali bin Jassem Al-Thani, the ambassador of the State of Qatar to the French Republic, paid a glowing tribute during the banquet to engineer Jean Nouvel and his innovative work which resulted in the creation of famous architectural landmarks in many countries, in particular in Qatar, where he praised the design of the National Museum created by Nouvel which embodies the history of the State of Qatar and its constant quest for openness towards the future and towards modernity.
In contrast, His Excellency Sheikh Ali bin Jassem Al-Thani stated that Ducasse is one of the most prominent innovators in the field of French gastronomy, and that this originality is embodied in the famous chain of restaurants that he has opened in Paris, New York, Las Vegas, Washington and Doha. The ambassador recalled that Ducasse, known as "the architect of flavours", chose to set up his headquarters to be the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, and this new adventure has been enriched by the skilful blending of the flavours of Franco-Mediterranean gastronomy and Qatari gastronomy, thereby reflecting the creative interaction between Qatari and French cultures.
