On April 13th and 14th, AVPA – Agency for the Valorization of Agricultural Products had the pleasure of hosting the gastronomic jury sessions of the International World Edible Oils Contest , dedicated to olive oils. Over the course of these two days, four tasting sessions were conducted by oil specialist Paz Figares Mignot , in full accordance with the rigorous AVPA tasting protocol. Prior to these sessions, all samples submitted for the 2026 edition — more than 200 oils — underwent an...

On March 27 and 28, 2026, in Paris, a series of three sessions was held, entirely dedicated to one of the most fascinating—and most misunderstood—teas: Oriental Beauty. Organized by Anton Tourtier in collaboration with the Agency for the Valorization of Agricultural Products (AVPA) and the Tea and Beverage Research Station, this masterclass offered a rare approach: moving beyond storytelling to reach true understanding. A tea between myth and reality Oriental Beauty is one of Taiwan’s most...

Virginie Legrand is a self-taught chef with a unique journey. Twelve years ago, she chose to reinvent herself and left secondary education, where she passionately taught literature and German, to answer a more intimate call: the world of gastronomy. Driven by a deep culinary passion for over twenty years, Virginie now creates tailor-made gastronomic experiences for her clients. Each creation is conceived as a dialogue between their sensibilities, her creativity, and a strict respect for...