This weekend, the Bois de Vincennes becomes the place to taste cuisines from France’s overseas territories and beyond. From October 2 to 4, the Pavillon Gravelle hosts the 10th edition of the Salon de la Gastronomie de l’Outre-mer et des Cuisines du Monde (SAGASDOM), with Haiti as this year’s guest of honor.
For its anniversary edition, the fair is going big: more than 100 exhibitors from roughly 20 territories spread across 2,000 square meters, backed by around 50 chefs and culinary figures. Haiti takes center stage throughout the three days, with its products, artisans and heritage on display. Ivory Coast gets its own dedicated space too, called “Sublime Côte d’Ivoire.”
The fair was started by chef Babette de Rozières and is now run by Marina Marville, in partnership with the AGCOM association. The opening ceremony, set for Friday at 11 a.m., features an appearance by singer Thierry Cham, followed by two evening shows on Saturday and Sunday with Leee John and Misié Sadik.
On the food side, visitors can catch show-cooking demonstrations and work through tastings spanning Caribbean, African and French overseas specialties. Competitions take a bigger role this year, including the title of best bokit in France, the Babette Trophy, and contests built around accras and coconut sorbet.
New for this edition: SAGASDOM Beauty, a section devoted to cosmetics and natural products from the same territories, extending the trip past the plate. Family workshops and kids’ activities round out a program the organizers describe as built to pass this culinary heritage on to younger generations.
Ten years in, the fair has grown without losing its original angle: giving space to cuisines that rarely get this kind of spotlight elsewhere in the capital. Three days, one pavilion, and a lot of people lining up to try a bokit.