Bon Fromage 2024, a festival of free French cheese starts in Sydney in just 9 days. Yes, you read right – it’s a festival where the cheese is FREE! There are even free cheese masterclasses for you to enjoy!
366 DAYS OF FRENCH CHEESE
Bon Fromage 2024’s theme is “366 Days of French Cheese across the seasons and throughout the days”.
With this in mind, the festival will show you how the seasonal diet of cows affects the tastes of the French cow’s milk cheeses. From spring’s fresh pastures giving the cheeses a creamy texture, to summer’s rich and bold flavours, each season alters cheeses’ character.
At Bon Fromage 2024, you can enjoy seasonal pairings and learn how to integrate these cheeses into various recipes, celebrating the diversity of French cheese across the seasons.
FREE CHEESES AT BON FROMAGE 2024
The centrepiece of Bon Fromage 2024 is a colossal table laden with cheese which you can eat to your heart’s content for free. The table will be topped up throughout the festival and over one tonne of cheese has been organised for the festival!
On the cheese table, you’ll find 14 different French cheeses including creamy Camembert, sharp Fourme d’Ambert, rich Comté, aromatic Langres, Époisses. There’s a flavour for every palate.
BON FROMAGE 2024 MASTERCLASSES
These free masterclasses always fill up quickly. So, if you camembert the thought of missing out, book your free place today.
Market Fresh: Seasonal pairings with a local gardener
Friday 31 May 3:30pm
The art of pairing cheese with the freshest seasonal produce. Explore the dynamic flavours that arise from combining artisanal cheeses with nature’s bounty.
The Cheese Story: from the cave to your fridge
Friday 31 May 2024 4:30pm
Uncover the secrets of cheese maturation and conservation as you learn about the intricate processes that transform milk into cheese. From aging techniques to storage methods, gain insight into preserving cheese at its peak flavour.
Morning Brie-fing: Cheese up your morning coffee
1 June 12pm
Elevate your morning coffee by learning how to incorporate the perfect cheese into your breakfast repertoire.
1 June 1:30pm
Master the art of the perfect cheesy picnic as you learn tips and tricks for selecting, storing, and serving cheese outdoors.
Cheese cutting: Don’t bite the cheese, cut it right
Saturday 1 June 2024 3:30pm
Hone your cheese cutting skills as you learn the proper techniques for slicing and serving cheese. From soft and creamy to hard and crumbly, discover the best methods for cutting each cheese family to preserve its texture and flavour.
CHEESY CREATIONS AT THE STINKY CHEESE MARKET
As always there will be a Stinky Cheese Market with lots of original cheesy creations for you to purchase. Delight in the rich flavours of a savoury Cheesy Cobb loaf and experience the comforting warmth of melted Raclette. Relish the sophistication of Emmental-filled crêpes, a decadent Brie lobster roll and savoury Comté croque-monsieurs, each crafted from the finest French cheeses and ingredients.
Bon Fromage 2024 exhibitors include:
- The French Cob Loaf
- Take it cheesy
- Lobster House
- French Kiss Crêperie
- Hot Dog Savoyard
- Frencheese with its Raclette
- Orleans Moules Frites
- Simon Johnson
- Mister Toast offer a Croque Monsieur using comté cheese or an option for vegetarians in the Monsieur Camembert with Camembert, mushroom and onion jam
- Delight Treats with its Cocoa Cow Cheese Plate with rich dark chocolate and nuts, also serving with fresh fruits (season fruits of strawberries, figs, grapes coated and half-coated with dark chocolate and nut on top), olives, dry cranberries and black sesame biscuit and more.
CHEESES TO TAKE HOME
You can also buy French cheeses such as bold Bleu d’Auvergne to luxurious Beaufort to take home at Bon Fromage 2024:
ENTERTAINMENT AT BON FROMAGE 2024
A vibrant line-up of musical performances: refined melodies of a solo violinist, the spirited beats of a jazz band, and the pulsating rhythms of a DJ set.
Friday 31 May
7:30pm – 10:30pm: French singer Christelle N.
Saturday 1 June
5:00pm – 7:00pm: Anna Weaving Collective
7:30pm – 10:30pm: DJ Frans
A FESTIVAL FOUNDED IN FRANCE
The first Bon Fromage Festival was held in 2016. It was created by the French National Dairy Interbranch Organisation (Centre National Interprofessionnel de l’Economie Laitière) CNIEL. Aided by the European Union, its aim is to showcase the variety and distinctiveness of French cheeses to Australians. They seek to expand Australian consumers’ knowledge and appreciation of French cheeses.
So, as you can see Bon Fromage 2024 is going to be un-brie-lievably grate! You don’t have to wait much Langres for it now.
KEY INFO FOR BON FROMAGE 2024
WHAT: Bon Fromage Festival, Sydney
WHEN Friday 31 May – Sunday 2 June 2024
Friday 31 May 12pm – 11pm
Saturday 1 June 11am – 11pm
Sunday 2 June 11am – 9pm
WHERE: Overseas Passenger Terminal (Cargo Hall), 130 Argyle St, THE ROCKS
HOW MUCH: Entry, cheese tastings, masterclasses and entertainment are free
MORE INFO: www.bonfromagefestival.au and www.europeancheeses.com.au
GET SOCIAL:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/Europeancheeses
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/europeancheesesaustralia/
Hashtags: #BonFromageFestival2024 #EuropeanCheeses #FrenchCheese #EnjoyitsfromEurope
For more events with links to France and the Francophonie happening in Australia this month, check out our What’s on in May
What’s your favourite French cheese?
