Who are we ?

Michaël Belissa, founder.

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Michaël Belissa

Founder of FIF, Michael is the initiator of this project.
Owner of a cheese dairy and restaurant in the Ile-de-France region in France, Michaël Belissa is a Master Cheesemaker and Knight of the National Order of Agricultural Merit. He is a member of the FFF (French Federation of Cheesemongers).
He was a judge at the first MAF (Best Apprentices of France) Cheesemonger competition in 2020, at the first "Best Cheesemongers of Italy" competition in 2022, and a French judge at the "Club des Gourmets" international cheese competition in Madrid in 2024.
He also presented the "Lyre d'Or" competition in 2022 and 2024.

Michel Fouchereau

michel-fouchereau

Michel Fouchereau

Michel Fouchereau is a master cheesemonger and Best Cheesemonger of France of 2004.
He is president of the cheese-making class of France’s best craftsman and a Knight of the National Order of Agricultural Merit.
He is also a patron of the festival and co-organises the cheese workshops and master classes.

Sébastien Crouzat

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Sébastien Crouzat

Sébastien Crouzat is a pastry chef and the 2005 French Bakery Champion.
He has also worked as a chef baker and pastry chef in some of Paris's top establishments, and since 2023 he has been the Manager for Pastry Operations for Qatar Airways.

Nathan Maiolino

nathan-maiolino

Nathan Maiolino

Nathan Mailoino is a pastry chef and an instructor.
He is in charge of the "Cooking with Cheese" workshops and has been executive chef of Poggi and brothers since 2024.

Laurent Dubois

laurent-dubois

Laurent Dubois

Laurent Dubois is a French cheesemonger of excellence.
He was awarded the title of Meilleur Ouvrier de France in 2000, thanks to his "Pyramid of Flavours" of 120 cheeses.
In 2021, he co-founded the « Fondation pour la biodiversité fromagère », a charitable foundation dedicated to promoting and preserving raw milk cheese under the Fondation de France.

Arnaud Sperat Czar

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Arnaud Sperat Czar

Founder and President of the Foundation for Cheese Biodiversity since 2021, and Publisher at Profession Fromager (magazine and books) since 2002.

Susan Sturman

susan-sturman

Susan Sturman

Susan Sturman is a cheese educator, teaching with Mons Formation since 2012. She developed the Certified Cheese Professional exam for the American Cheese Society. She has judged at most of the world's major cheese competitions and is a contributing editor for Profession Fromager publications.

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We learn, discover and share.

Michaël Belissa

The Festival’s team

Our team draws from a pool of experts

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The International Cheese Festival organizes cheese-focussed events, including competitions, master classes, public tastings and classes, visits, and exchanges.
Members of our panel of experts:

  • Chefs from renowned restaurants.
  • Meilleurs Ouvriers de France fromagers and pâtissiers
  • Cheesemakers
  • Chefs de Cuisine
  • Chefs Patissiers

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