Philippe Olivier An exceptional cheesemaker
It's fair to say that Philippe Olivier comes from a family of cheese-makers: his grandfather, father, uncle, brother, nephew and son are all cheese-refiners. Meet one of France's most talented master cheesemakers.
Rue Adolphe Thiers, right in the heart of Boulogne-sur-Mer's pedestrian district, the sober, elegant front of Philippe Olivier's shop is an unmistakable eye-catcher.
A world of flavors
Between passion and research
His library: 300 books devoted to... cheese, that's how erudite our host is. We learn, for example, that the orange color of mimolette dates back to a decision by Colbert to differentiate French production from that of Holland, during the war between the two countries. Philippe Olivier's interest in this vast history has turned him into a discoverer. He rediscovers forgotten cheese recipes and works with small producers to recreate them. Such is the case of Monsieur's cheese, originally made by a certain Monsieur Fromage (hence the name), then completely forgotten before being rediscovered and made again in Ile-de-France.
Learning to love cheese
And when asked how to get people to love cheese, he answers: "Cheese isn't just a question of taste, it's also a question of education, a bit like wine. You have to learn to taste.
A cheese culture?
As you can see, Philippe Olivier believes in a genuine cheese culture. To "get his message across", he publishes a monthly newsletter. Les news de Philippe Olivier, in which he guides his customers in their discovery of cheese.
He also talks about his idea of happiness: a simple, quality product. He is also a member of the cercle des fromages affineurs, a group of 15 French cheesemakers who share their maturing methods, addresses, etc., as well as advice on the terroirs and wines of their regions, and above all, help each other. One of Philippe Olivier's dreams? To create cheese culture clubs like those for oenology, to perpetuate this formidable human adventure.
Tips for enjoying cheese to the full
Practical info: Fromageries Philippe Olivier
62200 Boulogne-sur-Mer
59000 Lille
Tel : 03 21 31 94 74
Directed by Bienvenue chez Sophie Gourmande
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