J'ADORE LE FROMAGE - CHEESE FESTIVAL AT SOFITEL PLAZA MANILA

        Have you ever seen so many French cheeses in your life? This was my first time to see this much cheese, and also my first time to see it in so many weird forms and colors. But I tried some of it and they were really really delicious!!!!! They're part of the magnifique collection of the Cheese Master himself, Maître Fromagier Gérard Poulard! (One of the jolliest and most down-to-earth masters I have ever met!)

        This is all part of Sofitel's J'Adore Le Fromage at Sofitel Philippine Plaza from the 9th of July until the 13th! Sofitel brings a hundred and one types of unique artisanal cheese from France just in time for the upcoming Bastille Day celebrations. Sofitel is an Ambassador of French gastronomy because it is the only French luxury hotel brand. So it's only fitting for them to hold an amazing festival dedicated to cheese, which is "the part of the core of a French man's DNA". 

        Now I realize why Sofitel invested so much in Spiral Cafe's very famous cheese room. General Manager Adam Laker says it was a gamble for them to create a room dedicated solely to cheese. They go through 1 ton of cheese every month to replenish this premium cheese wonderland. And they were worried that it wouldn't be a hit. But apparently, Filipinos love it! If I had a hundred bucks every time I would hear "Cheese room palang busog na ako!" (The cheese room alone makes me so full!) when talking about Spiral's huge buffet with 21 dining ateliers, I would be rich haha!

Anyway back to the Cheese Festival...

        During the launch, Sofitel's Executive Chef Eric Costille (He's French as well) expresses how delighted they are to discover how much Filipinos appreciate these premium cheese, and so they decided to kick it up a notch this July by flying in Maître Fromagier Gérard Poulard for the Bastille Day celebrations! It's awesome because Gérard Poulard is a big name in France when it comes to cheese. He's known to have an amazing collection of fine cheeses and is sought after both by gourmands and fine dining restaurants world wide! So cool!

        Maître Fromagier Gérard Poulard is such a jolly person, and he had no hesitation in having his photo taken kissing the love of his life: His cheese collection! Hahaha! He's so nice and so cool!

Here are just some of the highlights from the cheese collection that Sofitel flew all the way from France...

French AOP (Appellation d'Orgine Protegee) Cheeses:

Banon

Cantal Salers vieux Morin

Chevrotin des Aravis Fermier

Coulommiers Suzerain

Ticodon and Reblochon Fermier

Popular Cheeses :

Abondance thones fermier AOC

Boulette d'Avesne Blanche Leduc AOC

Camembert Fort

Comte Reserve Fort

Munster

Reblochon Fermier

Roquefort Baragnaudes

Ossau Iraty Basco

Pont Lèveque Suzerain

Rare Cheeses:

Saint Felicien Coupelle Papier

Saint Felicien Tentation Vercors

Fouchtra de Chèvre

Époisses Selection Berthaut

Couronne Lochoise Cendree

Charolais Clacbitou

Brebis Saveur Du Maquis GM

Bouchon Sarment D'Amour

It would be awesome if I knew how to pronounce these hehehe. 

        For the whole duration of the promotion, different types of cheese will be sampled daily. That's over 101 in total for the whole cheese festival promo starting from July 9 to 13th. Here are the list of activities for J'Adore Le Fromage:

J'Adore Le Fromage - Over 101 types of Cheese to try at Spiral's L'Epicerie (cheese room) for Lunch and Dinner buffet guests

Dates: July 9-13, 2014

Time: Lunch and dinner

Spiral lunch starts from Php 1,980 +++

Sunday Brunch starts from Php 3,332+++ including champagne and French wine

Spiral Dinner starts from Php 2,345+++ Sunday to Thursday, Php2,545+++ Friday and Saturday

J'Adore Le Fromage - Private Wine and Cheese tasting Classes at Spiral

Dates: July 10-13, 2014

Time: 4:30pm - 5:30pm

Php1,500 net per head. Limited for 8 pax only!

A once-in-a-lifetime epicurean treat with wine and cheese tasting lessons from French Cheese Ambassador Maître Fromagier Gérard Poulard and Wine Specialist Monsieur Pierre-Marie David.

J'Adore Le Fromage - Le BAR Wine and Cheese Buffet 

Date: July 10, 2014

Time: 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm

Php 1,850 net

        An exclusive experience in sampling a selection of premium artisanal French cheese from the collection of Maître Fromagier Gérard Poulard plus 15 featured wines from all over France from the collection of Wine Specialist Monsieur Pierre-Marie David. (Especially flown from France for this event) Use your VISA card and get 20% off!

Here's the selection of Wines for the whole duration of the promotion:

Hebrard Bordeaux Blanc SEC, 2011

Lionel Osmin La Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, 2012

JM Brocard Aligote, 2011

Wolfberger Riesling, 2012

Jean Marc Brocard Petit Chablis, 2011

Château Francois De Posquieres Rouge, 2011

Lionel Osmin Le Reserved Malbec, 2011

Dekas Cotes Du Rhone St. Esprit Rouge, 2011

Herbard Bordeaux Rouge, 2010

Lionel Osmin Mon Adour AOC Madiran, 2009

AIX Rose, 2012

Wolfberger Gewurztraminer, 2011

        For reservations and inqueries, call (632) 832-6988 and (632) 551-5555 ext. 6988 or email fbreservations@sofitelmanila.com. You can also make dining reservations though this Spiral Dining Reservation link here.

And now, let me end this post with a parade of cheese and other photos from the event! Enjoy!!!

Amazed that this cheese is as old as Rain hehehe

Tanguy Gras, Restaurant Manager of Spiral

Starting my first buffet lunch with mostly cheeses! Yum!!!!

        Word of advice.... Drizzle your cheeses with this Truffle Honey! It's to LIVE for!!!!!!! *drool* It can be found inside the cheese room.

        With Yen from The Tummy Traveler, Executive Chef Eric Costille, and again, Maître Fromagier Gérard Poulard! Thanks again to Jane Santiago of Sofitel Philippine Plaza for inviting us! It was really an amazing cheesy experience! (Cheesy in a very good way!)