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Saturday 24 Feb 2024   

Le Crottin de Chavignol

Diving into the wonderful world of French cheeses with a favorite goat cheese: Le Crottin de Chavignol



Say hello to the wonderful Crottin de ChavignolCROT-an de cha-VEEN-yol - if you want to nail the French accent as you ask for this delicious and famous goat’s cheese!

This cheese originates from the gorgeous Loire Valley, which is in central France and just a couple of hours away by train from Paris if you’re considering a day trip. It’s one of the country’s most famous gastronomical regions, 60% of France’s AOP goat’s milk cheeses are made here, as are some incredible wines (a match made in heaven if you ask us)!

Chavignol is a tiny village in France, with only a few hundred inhabitants, but they’ve certainly made a name for themselves with this well-known and well-loved cheese. There is plenty of debate about where the name of this cheese comes from… (if you’re feeling sensitive, ignore the next few lines) there is some suggestion that it comes from the French word crotte which means animal dropping, which is the kind of resemblance it takes on throughout the aging process until the point it becomes harder and takes on a brown exterior. Food for thought!



Like the rest of our favorite French cheeses, this one is also protected by AOP status which means there are strict standards of production. It must be made from the raw milk from alpine goats which are distinguished by their glossy brown coats. People can tend to shy away from chèvre, often because they’re not familiar with the looks or flavors but don’t be deceived, the Crottin de Chavignol is a great place to start for trying something new!

One of the great things about this cheese is that it can be eaten all the way through the aging process – young or old, it will still taste great, and it picks up more pronounced flavors as it develops. Initially, the fresh cheese is shaped into a flattened cylindrical form inside a mold, after being rinsed and salted, before being matured for a few weeks in a cellar. At this stage, the taste of the Crottin de Chavignol is clean and nutty while the outside appearance is pale. Under its AOP status since 1996, it is matured for a minimum of ten days.



Your guide to indulging Crottin de Chavignol at all stages in the aging process!


It takes on a stronger smell around 6 weeks into the aging and the outside croûte hardens and darkens. During the aging process it loses about half its original size! At its most mature, the cheese takes on a natural bluey-white mold on the outside and the flavors become powerful, losing any notes of floweriness and developing rich flavors of hazelnuts and walnuts.

As much as the French are serious about their cheese, they are just as serious about how it is cut! Each cheese in France has a special way that it is cut to avoid one person being left with a less-than-ideal piece!

For circular cheeses, like the camembert and coulommier, you start in the center and work your way out. The Crottin de Chavignol should be cut the same way but as it is a smaller cheese be sure not to over-cut it, especially with aged Crottin as it can start to crumble!

Be brave and happy tasting!

Central Paris Location

Last Minute Course Places

12 Nov 2024

  • French Market Tour and Cooking Class / Marché Maubert
  • Spend the morning like the locals, with a typical Parisian experience. A full immersion in to French culture with a French Market Tour followed by a hands-on French Cooking Class right in the heart of Paris !

  • Meet at 18 Place Maubert in front of the fountain, next to Metro Station Maubert Mutualité     Time: 9:30 - 13:30
  • Price: €189.00     Availability: 3 places left

13 Nov 2024

  • French Pastry / The Best of French Pastry
  • The perfect three hour experience for those that love the ‘best of’ classic French Pastries. Enjoy creating the delights you find adorning the windows of your favorite Paris Pastry boutiques.

  • La Cuisine Paris, 80 Quai de l'Hôtel de Ville, 75004 Paris     Time: 14:00 - 17:00
  • Price: €119.00     Availability: 1 place left

13 Nov 2024

  • Evening Classes / Marais Tour and Cooking Class
  • Explore the most dynamic area of Paris, Le Marais and visit some of the finest food stores in Paris. Then, enjoy a hands-on cooking class creating a Traditional 4 course French meal.

  • La Cuisine Paris, 80 Quai de l'Hôtel de Ville, 75004 Paris     Time: 16:00 - 20:00
  • Price: €189.00     Availability: 5+ places left

14 Nov 2024

  • French Baking Classes / Le Croissant & Breakfast Pastries
  • The 'Roi' of the Parisian breakfast table, Le Croissant ! Enjoy three hours of mastering this decadent, flaky, buttery French icon.

  • La Cuisine Paris, 80 Quai de l'Hôtel de Ville, 75004 Paris     Time: 9:30 - 12:30
  • Price: €119.00     Availability: 1 place left

14 Nov 2024

  • French Pastry / Technical Tartes
  • This class is a comprehensive look at the celebrated Classic French Tarte and will have you learning techniques that you can use in your baking beyond these treats, back home.

  • La Cuisine Paris, 80 Quai de l'Hôtel de Ville, 75004 Paris     Time: 14:00 - 17:00
  • Price: €119.00     Availability: 3 places left

Nutty for Chestnuts

Saturday 26 Oct 2024

Chestnut season is upon us! From October through December, one can find chestnuts popping up throughout Paris, from market stalls to street vendors! The French are a big fan of this nut, and they use it in a plethora of ways, like ground into flour, dried, boiled, roasted, and even candied!

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Get in touch

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to call on +33 (0)1 40 51 78 18 or email contact@lacuisineparis.com    Click here for further contact details