Famed for more than just its tangy mustard, Dijon is also home to excellent wines and delicious cuisine. Nestled in the Burgundy region of France, Dijon is close to a wide range of great ingredients for its local cuisine which pair excellently with the local complex red wines. Every year Dijon is also host to one of France’s largest food festivals, the Dijon International Gastronomy Fair. The fair is known throughout France and can be a great way to eat your way through a weekend in the Burgundy region.
La Foire (aka the Festival)
The fair, which will be held from October 31 through November 11, 2008, will include more than 500 exhibitors and is expecting more than 200,000 visitors. With hundreds of booths by both amateur and professional cooks, new products in the field of food and wine and lots of delicious things to try, this fair cannot be missed. The event will also have cooking demonstrations for those interested in learning a few new cooking tips while chowing down on the professionally prepared food.
International?
You may be wondering, “If this is a festival based on the great local food and wines, why is there the word the International in the title?” Each year, the organizers of the fair invite one foreign country add a touch of exotic to the festivities and take part in the foodie events in Dijon. In 2008, the guest country will be Thailand. A Thai village within the fair will add color and flare to the events. Artisans and cooks will show their products and guests at the fair can sample spicy, sweet and tangy Thai dishes alongside traditional French ones. There will even be a massage parlor in the true tradition of the east, where fair goers can get massages in between bites. There will also be salon de thé (tea room) where guests can sip traditional Thai teas and be serenaded by a musician. Song and dance performances will also be held in the pavilion for the entertainment of guests.
Dates and Hours
The event will be held from Friday, October 31-Tuesday November 11
Hours will be 10 am-8pm
October 31, November 1, 4,7,8 and 10 doors will be open until 11 pm.
Tickets: Entry costs 5.20 Euros (so worth it).
>>For more information on this year’s annual Dijon International Gastronomy Fair
Getting there
There is a direct TGV high speed train which leaves from the center of Paris to Dijon several times per day. There are also many TGV lines from other major French cities. This is probably your best bet.
>>For train schedules, visit the official SNCF web site
Dijon is also well connected to the French highway system, so it is easy to reach by car on several different of the major autoroutes.
>>For a complete map and list of French autoroutes, visit France’s official autoroute page
