The World Cheese Contest Comes to Town!
Every year, the Mondial du Fromage brings together cheese and dairy professionals from around the globe to celebrate a vibrant and fascinating craft. And let’s face it — many of you, passionate cheese lovers, would love to join in!
To open up the experience to everyone, we’ve created a special “beyond the walls” program right in the heart of Tours, hosted by Villa Rabelais in partnership with the International City of Gastronomy.
On the agenda: tastings, workshops, talks, film screenings… Everything you need to dive into the world of cheese — no professional badge required!
THE VILLA RABELAIS
The Villa Rabelais, House of Gastronomic Cultures, is an address dedicated to the culinary heritage of France and elsewhere. Gastronomy, understood as the art of fine eating and drinking, for all, while respecting the planet, is an element of popular culture dear to the French, a distinctive identity recognised by foreign visitors. The Villa Rabelais was created following the inclusion of the French gastronomic meal on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2010.
PROGRAMME
Discovering cheese in books and literature
Saturday 13 September from 10.30am to 12pm
Villa Rabelais
Bring the whole family to the Bibliothèque Gourmande (Gourmet Library) for a fun-filled morning on the theme of cheese making ! Discover the secrets and expertise of cheese-makers during an entertaining activity followed by a tasting session, suitable for children aged 8 and over.
Tariff: 5€ per adult/child pair
Dinner from 4 hands - Cheeses from the North
Saturday 13 September – Dinner
Restaurant Martin Bleu, 34 Avenue de Grammont, Tours
Enjoy a unique culinary experience during a dinner from 4 hands at this restaurant in Tours. Chef Florent Martin and Virginie Dubois, the world's best cheese maker in 2021, combine their talents and creativity to offer you a memorable gourmet evening.
Competition for the best recipe using cheese from the Centre-Val de Loire region
Monday 15 September
Villa Rabelais
Reveal your creativity by sharing your best recipe using Touraine cheese and promote one of our region's iconic cheeses!
Registration required: kilien.stengel@villa-rabelais.fr
Include the link to the rules or the PDF document
CYCLE: CHEESE, A HERITAGE
Queijo minas gerais, Brazilian heritage
Thursday 11 September at 6.30pm
Villa Rabelais
Discover the history and secrets of this artisanal cheese, a symbol of Brazilian gastronomy, while exploring its variations and cultural impact. An evening to awaken your taste buds and immerse yourself in ancestral know-how, at the heart of the sweet flavours and melt-in-the-mouth texture of this cheese.
Etivaz, a Swiss alpine cheese
Monday 15 September from 6 to 7.30pm
Villa Rabelais
Swiss alpine cheeses, products originating from the mountains and pastures, invite you on a culinary journey. Between tradition and expertise, discover unique flavours shaped by the wild nature of the Alps. An evening to savour the purity of an exceptional terroir and immerse yourself in the history of these distinctive cheeses.
Saint Nectaire, a diverse palette
Monday 15 September from 7.30pm to 9pm
Villa Rabelais
Behind the same appelation lies incredible diversity ! Discover the many facets of Saint-Nectaire cheese. Between differences in terroir, varied ripening processes and expertise, each cheese tells a different story and reveals unique flavours. A gourmet immersion to understand how one product can be transformed into an infinite variety of tastes.
Registration (Hello Asso link)