This Sunday, September 29, the eighth edition of the Official Competition of the First Cheesemaker of Belgium was held. An event organized by the Belgian Cheese Federation (FBBK) as part of the Eat Festival. The objective? Promote the visibility and recognition of cheesemakers among the general public.
For the occasion, five cheesemakers from the four corners of Belgium were invited to compete to convince a jury made up of big names in the sector. Among them, Étienne Boissy (Meilleur Ouvrier de France 2004), Virginie Dhorne-Dubois (2021 World Champion of Cheesemakers) and William Horlait, winner 2022. After various tests where each cheesemaker was invited to share their world, it was finally Léo Begin who imposed himself. A transfer of title from mother to son since his mother, Véronique Socié, had already been crowned Premier Fromager in 2016.
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50 shades of milk
The theme of this day of competition? “50 shades of milk”. A subject that the young cheesemaker interpreted by creating a galaxy of 50 cheeses on a board that is both unstable and balanced, in order to reflect the complexity of the art of cheesemaking. “The galaxy is a call to travel and daydream”explained Léo about his creation. His desire? Combining patience and technicality, know-how and craftsmanship, as well as the great diversity of cheese varieties that exist.
A passion born in the Jura
“This marathon day was grueling, but winning this title is a real pleasure. Showcasing my cheese galaxy is a daily joy, and I am delighted to have this spotlight on our work,” he confided after his victory. Originally from the French Jura, Léo Begin grew up in the pastures, in the heart of the mountains. With a father who was a mountain guide, Léo developed a special bond with nature and artisanal products very early on. In 2013, in Paris, he helped open a grocery store specializing in products from his region and discovered for the first time the art of good artisanal products: wines, beers, cheeses, etc.
La Fruitière, a hybrid cheese dairy
To deepen his knowledge, he resumed studies and obtained a Professional Qualification Certificate in Creamery and Cheesemaking in 2017. It was at this time that they launched the La Fruitière project alongside their mother Véronique. The idea? Create a hybrid space between cheese shop, cheese bar and urban dairy. You can indeed sit down for a cheese tasting, a glass of natural wine, a craft beer or a more traditional fondue.
A nice track record
This award is not a first for Léo Begin, who had already won the title of Best Young Belgian Cheesemaker in 2018. In 2021, he won the “Un Fromager Un Cuisinier” competition at SIRHA in Lyon, in a pair with Grégoire Gillard ( starred chef from Barge, Brussels). A year later, he was a finalist in the Un des Meilleurs Ouvriers de France competition in Lille. More recently, in February 2024, he won the national Grilled Cheese competition at the Salon International du Fromage in Paris.
