Photo : Maki Manoukian
Round table "Women in the Kitchen"
The Buffon Library, with the help of the Bibliothèques Gourmandes association, invites you to an exceptional meeting with chef Alessandra Montagne-Gomes.
Bibliothèque Buffon (Paris 5th)
About
The world of gastronomy is an essentially masculine one, from which women have long been excluded… and parity is still a long way off!
The magazine Papilles dedicated a special issue at the end of 2025 to the question of women in the kitchen, but also to their representation in books, on television, in cinema, in bourgeois homes, and elsewhere, to highlight their often-erased contribution to the history of cooking.
What is the place for women in restaurant kitchens today? And in culinary schools?
These issues will be at the heart of this exceptional meeting with chef Alessandra Montagne-Gomes and historians Katherine Khodorowsky and Julia Csergo.
Alessandra Montagne-Gomes: Brazilian chef, naturopath, author of the book De Rio à Paris, ma cuisine de cœur, published in 2023, winner of the "La Mazille" prize at the Périgueux Gourmet Book Festival the same year.
Katherine Khodorowsky: Historian and sociologist of food, vice-president of the association des Bibliothèques gourmandes.
Julia Csergo: Historian, who co-edited the "Elles en cuisine" issue of Papilles published in December 2025.
The round table will be followed by a Q&A session between the speakers and the public. A friendly and gourmet moment will conclude the event.
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The association des Bibliothèques gourmandes has been working for 30 years to promote knowledge of culinary culture and heritage: organizing conferences and readings, gastronomic meetings, gourmet dictations, historical dinners, the association also publishes the semi-annual magazine Papilles, which approaches the culinary arts in a multidisciplinary way.
Bibliothèque Buffon, 5th-floor auditorium.
Tuesday, December 8th at 7:00 PM.
Registration recommended on Billetweb
Our take on this event
Behind every great recipe lies a history often told without women, but the culinary landscape is shifting fast. Join an insightful conversation where a renowned chef and culinary historians deconstruct professional kitchens and celebrate the vital voices shaping food culture today.
Join the panel discussion Elles en cuisine at the Bibliothèque Buffon on Tuesday, December 8, 2026. This event explores the role of women in gastronomy, from historical exclusion to their current presence in professional kitchens and culinary schools. Featuring chef Alessandra Montagne-Gomes and historians Katherine Khodorowsky and Julia Csergo, the evening promises insightful analysis followed by an interactive exchange. Open to attendees aged 18 and over, the session takes place in the 5th-floor auditorium. Admission is free with registration required via Billetweb, and the venue is fully wheelchair accessible.
On Tuesday, December 8, 2026, from 19:00 to 20:30, the Bibliothèque Buffon hosts a discussion dedicated to women in the culinary world. Drawing on research from the December 2025 issue of Papilles magazine, the panel examines why women have long been marginalized in food history and analyzes the challenges they face in modern restaurant kitchens and culinary education.
The discussion features chef and author Alessandra Montagne-Gomes, alongside food historians Katherine Khodorowsky and Julia Csergo. The speakers will address how women are represented across cinema, literature, and domestic life. The panel discussion will be followed by a Q&A session with the public and a concluding reception.
The event is held in the auditorium on the 5th floor. Attendance is free, though registration is required via Billetweb. The event is strictly for those aged 18 and up. The library is fully accessible to wheelchair users.
