When Emilia D’Albero heard her identify known as, she began crying.
She had simply turn into the primary ever American to win the Mondial du Fromage, a biennial occasion held in France and recognized in English because the Cheesemonger World Cup.
While some onlookers imagine that D’Albero’s victory might change the best way that European cheesemongers take into consideration their counterparts throughout the pond, she had her personal hope: that Americans will cease pondering of cheesemongers as simply individuals who hand out free samples at grocery shops.
“At its core, the definition of a cheesemonger is a person who participates in the sale of cheese, butter, and other dairy products,” D’Albero advised NCS. But the job additionally entails “being a storyteller, and educating people about being responsible consumers. It’s definitely skilled labor.”
She added: “In Europe this is a well-respected profession, but in the US they think we work behind a deli counter.”
Contestants on the Mondial du Fromage, which is held within the metropolis of Tours, southwest of Paris, compete in 9 occasions.
Among the challenges are blind tasting, chopping a certain amount of cheese from a wheel with out measuring instruments, an oral presentation, and a written take a look at with questions that may border on the esoteric — reminiscent of recognizing a breed of goat from its picture and figuring out which cheeses its milk can produce.
For the ultimate spherical, contestants should create a 3-D cheese sculpture. D’Albero’s depicted the phases of the moon.
Winning the gold medal and the €2,500 ($2,900) prize on September 15 was an exciting second for D’Albero, who started her profession on the authentic New York City outpost of Italian meals emporium Eataly.
Now primarily based in Philadelphia, she is the gross sales and advertising and marketing supervisor for an organization that provides cheese paper and packaging merchandise.
But she mentioned that the larger victory is what this might imply for the American meals trade.
This yr was the primary time that Team USA opted to ship two ladies as their representatives. Both ladies landed on the rostrum, with American Courtney Johnson additionally winning the bronze. French cheesemonger Matthieu Thuillier was awarded silver.
D’Albero hopes that the protection of the Mondial du Fromage and her win there’ll get extra Americans considering visiting their neighborhood cheese retailer and making an attempt new issues.
“I want people to know is that cheese is for everyone,” she mentioned. “It was invented by the working class to nourish their bodies. It’s not just for fancy people, it’s something that everyone can enjoy. A good cheesemonger will never make you feel unwelcome.”
To rejoice their achievements, D’Albero, Johnson, and their companions hit the highway, touring round France and Italy to pattern as many cheeses as potential.