Culinary Art and Local Wines

Village artisans and cooks face off before a jury of wise elders and gourmet chefs

Gastronomy

Natural Nectar

Traditional istillation

Ancient Recipes & Forest Dishes

Authentic Palm Wine

Local Brandy

Showcasing local specialties, leaf‑based cooking, and the subtle harmony of indigenous spices from the South.

Assessment of freshness, clarity, and aromatic bouquet from the best matango harvesters in the region

Recognition of the know‑how of traditional odontol master distillers, judged on purity and mastery of the still.

The Gastronomic Fair is a space for showcasing culinary heritage, an important showcase of local gastronomic richness. Numerous local flavors, as well as those from other regions of the country and the traditional meals of foreign communities represented at the international ‘BIA SO MENGONG’ festival, usually fill the gastronomy stands to satisfy both the curiosity and the food needs of festival‑goers. The culinary art contests and the biggest eater competitions are truly unique moments.

The culinary art contest

The best Winemaker Contest

Cooks from the canton face off live with heritage recipes, judged by chefs and elders, guardians of ancestral cooking traditions

A competition bringing together palm wine harvesters, traditional distillers, and artisans offering their local specialties to visitors and epicureans of the festival

24+

Contestants

50+

meals & wines

100%

Authentic flavors

Excellence & Authenticity

The Distinctive Flavor of Ancestral Wisdom

Each product presented in the contest reflects the intimacy of a terroir and the gesture passed down from generation to generation. The jurors evaluate the natural origin of the ingredients, the respect for ancestral processes, and the balance of flavors.

Beyond the trophy, the contest offers an exceptional showcase to highlight local producers and promote sustainable agrotourism at the heart of Mengong village.