The fine dining restaurant at Sofitel Rio de Janeiro is considered one of the best French restaurants in town and one of the most highly regarded in the Brazilian gastronomy circuit.  A meeting place for admirers of fine cuisine, the restaurant frequently hosts international gastronomic events with the presence of renowned chefs from around the world.  In 2007, Le Pré Catelan received the “pope” of fine dining world-wide, Alain Ducasse, who is the renowned chef of Georges Rousset.  In 2006, the restaurant received a visit from Yves Thuriès, considered one of the most important people in world gastronomy and editorial in France.  In 2005, some guest chefs were: Michel Roth, of the Ritz in Paris and Christian LeSquer, of the prized L’Éspadon in Paris.