Cheese Events: Fromage Hits the Town

Solano Cellars class photo taken by Stephanie at Wasabimon.

You hear that summer is the slow time of the year, when everyone is lounging on porches and taking their time sipping mint juleps or sweet tea, but so not so with cheese events. Summer is when the big whammies are taking place, being announced, or crafted for fall or winter.

Cheese is painting the town red.

Holding the fullest bucket of scarlet paint is cheese in Seattle. Next week I’ll be heading to the large and magical American Cheese Society Conference in Washington’s fair capital, and join thousands of cheeseheads in eating pounds and pounds of fermented milk. If you don’t hear from me in a while after that, blame a lactose daze.

But the cheese events don’t stop there. The wheels keep rolling into November and beyond.

Here are some upcoming events that caught my eye.

Vermont Beer and Cheese Tasting: Against the Grain. Jasper Hill and Hill Farmstead Brewery team up in New York City on August 21st to taste through Greensboro artisan goods. Some rare, all delicious

The American Cheese Society Conference in Seattle, Washington, August 25th-29th. Learn about everything from blue cheesemaking to transhumance to beer and cheese paring. Expect a happy lactose coma. See you there!

Home Cheesemaking with Sheana Davis of Delice de la Vallée on September 1st. C’est le Cheese in Sacramento brings in some of the region’s best cheese instructors. This time, the powerhouse Davis who owns Epicurean Connection, makes Delice de la Vallée, and runs the inspiring Sonoma Cheese Festival teaches home cooks how to harness the power of fromage in their own kitchens.

Star Provisions in Atlanta, Georgia holds cheese tasting the first Thursday of every month. September 2nd rings in the next one with harvest beers and cheddars. Navigating the website is a little difficult, so call 404-365-0410 x132 for reservations. Plus, it’s Cheese Week at Star September 16 through 18th, made happy and shiny with tastings from Jasper Hill, Sweet Grass Dairy and more.

Cheese Politics Class with Carlos Yescas at Murray’s Cheese, September 11th. Cheese is more than just milk and rennet- it is history, culture, family, and politics in edible form. This tasting pits red states against blue states and takes a fresh look at cheese anthropology and politics.

A Whey a Day Cheese Tour . Thee uber- knowledgable cheesemonger and educator Anne Saxelby, September 11-12th, takes you to Washington County, New York. There, you’ll visit and taste at small cheese farms, go to a harvest festival, attend a Farm to Fork Dinner, and stay in a small in overnight. A fabulous deal.

Fromager’s Favorites at Artisanal Cheese, September 14th in New York. Maitre Fromager Max McCalman takes you through his favorites. Get your tummy ready to taste classics and cheeses you’ve never heard of before.

The Cheese School of San Francisco kicks off their Three-Day Intensive Cheese Curriculum on September 26th, and it runs through the 28th. It is a serious cheese program taught by instructor, writer, importer, and all-around cheese muse, Daphne Zepos. Also, don’t miss the school’s Harvest Beer & Cheese Fest on October 28th, with from 8-10 cheesemakers, 2 brewers, and other local culinary artisans. All proceeds benefit the California Cheese Guild.

The Riverbank Cheese and Wine Expo, in Riverbank California on October 9th and 10th has wine in the title, but the cheese is where it’s at. With top awards handed to queso fresco and Oaxaca string cheese makers, this is one festival not to be missed if you’re in SoCal.

The Wisconsin Cheese Festival: Tickets go on sale in September for this November 5- 7 th event, and like last year, they will sell out. Taste cheese from 35 artisan dairies like Uplands and Carr Valley, go on a “Green cheese” day tour, and hit up seminars Rise of the Woman Farmstead Cheesemaker.

You may have noticed that most events are from my neck of the woods. Please, expand my cheese event geography in the comment section, or email me at itsnotyouitsbrie@gmail.com for me to add your events to the list!