Cheese on the Black Market

Every day, FavorFlav selects the most remarkable and interesting food news.

Stolen Dutch cheese on the Russian black market

Wealthy Russians want the real deal: genuine Dutch farmhouse cheese. The problem is that it is currently unavailable in Russia due to the trade boycott. As a result, tens of thousands of cheeses are being stolen from Dutch cheesemakers and offered on the Russian black market at hefty prices. In 2013, Dutch cheese worth 233 million was imported, because our farmhouse cheese is a genuine delicacy in Russia. Now that it is no longer available in supermarkets, the wealthiest order their cheese another way. The cheese gangs are true connoisseurs, because they take everything from matured to crumbly cheese. They operate like real professionals: they puncture tires, switch off street lighting and leave no fingerprints behind. The only thing cheesemakers can do to prevent this is better secure their farms against theft by installing fences and alarm systems.

Food, Art & Music at De Pier

Before the festival season really gets going, you can visit the first edition of the Reizende Sterren Festival from 29 to 31 January, featuring Food, Art & Music at De Pier in Scheveningen. During this three-day indoor food truck festival, you can of course enjoy delicious food, but also listen to performances and immerse yourself in art. The Reizende Sterren Festival kicks off on 29 January with Brandstof XL: a grand Friday afternoon drinks reception to ring in the weekend.

Bocuse d’Or coming to the Netherlands

Bocuse d’Or Nederland wants to bring the European final of the Bocuse d’Or to Rotterdam in 2018 together with a number of partners. Bocuse d’Or is a prestigious gastronomic competition in which teams from 64 countries participate. Hosting the competition would put Rotterdam on the culinary map. Over the coming months, efforts will be made to inform the business community and government about the opportunities and possibilities the competition would bring, and perhaps the Netherlands will then become the host country. Board member Joop Braakhekke: “This is a tremendous opportunity that the Dutch hospitality industry and all the suppliers connected to it should take part in.”

Sources: Het Parool, Reizende Sterren, Bocuse d’Or
Image: Shutterstock