Chicago, IL – Together with the American Cheese Society (ACS), Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine celebrates American Cheese Month in October, the first ever national celebration of American artisan cheese and the farmers, cheesemakers, purveyors and chefs who bring American artisan cheese to the table. Throughout the month of October, Pastoral will collaborate with the American Cheese Society (ACS), the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB), plus farmers, cheesemakers, purveyors and chefs throughout the region to host a variety of special events, free tastings, fundraisers and exclusive offers that celebrate the quality and craftsmanship of American cheese.
The American Cheese Society (ACS) created the first ever American Cheese Month to recognize and raise awareness of the quality and diversity of American cheeses; to support and promote well-made cheese, local foods, family farms, traditional cheesemaking methods and sustainable production models; and to help generate funding for the American Cheese Education Foundation (ACEF) which educates people about the art and science of artisanal and specialty cheese. American Cheese Month will be held annually each October, with special events and promotions planned in cities across the country. The American Cheese Society kicks off its first ever American Cheese Month in its home base of Denver, Colorado, at the Brewers Association’s 30th Annual Great American Beer Festival.
“The burgeoning artisan cheese movement in North America inspired us to open Pastoral back in 2004, and we continue to be delighted and motivated everyday by the growing number of American artisan cheesemakers from regions throughout the U.S. who now receive not only national acknowledgment, but international recognition and awards as well,” said Greg O’Neill, co-founder and co-proprietor of Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine. “We’re eager to spread the word on the quality and craftsmanship of American cheesemakers and create dialogue on sustainability, eating locally and supporting traditional cheesemaking practices.”
As part of American Cheese Month’s local celebrations in the Midwest, Pastoral is working together with the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB) and other local industry enthusiasts to create the first ever Wisconsin Cheese Week (Sunday, October 9 – Sunday, October 16) with a series of special events that celebrate Wisconsin cheesemakers and the bounty of their work. Pastoral kicks off Wisconsin Cheese Week with a two-day staff retreat to Wisconsin sponsored by the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB)—designed specifically for Pastoral’s more than 50 employees—to visit select artisan cheesemaking operations in Wisconsin, experience a special pairing dinner and a variety of educational programs that will further enhance the Pastoral team’s expertise in artisan cheese. Wisconsin Cheese Week special events that are open to the public include an exclusive dinner at The Purple Pig to support the American Cheese Education Foundation (ACEF), co-hosted by Pastoral (Meet the American Cheesemaker—Dinner with Saxon Creamery’s Jerry Heimerl on Tuesday, October 11); a guided cheese and beverage tasting at Kendall College to benefit the American Cheese Education Foundation (ACEF), hosted by Pastoral, the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB) and Marion Street Cheese Market with cocktails by Death’s Door Spirits, beers by Goose Island Brewery and artisan cheeses from cheesemakers throughout Wisconsin (Great Wisconsin Cheese and the Beverages That Love Them on Sunday, October 16); and a variety of free tastings and demos during the week at Pastoral’s three store locations, all with artisan cheesemakers from Wisconsin. More information and all event tickets are available at pastoralartisan.com or by calling any store location.
In addition to American Cheese Month’s Wisconsin Cheese Week festivities, Pastoral will host additional free tastings and demos during the month at all three store locations featuring American cheesemakers from throughout the country. Pastoral will also collaborate with more than fifteen of Chicago’s best restaurants and food purveyors on an American Cheese Plate Benefit to offer special American Cheese Plates featuring artisan cheeses made throughout the U.S. Participating restaurants and purveyors feature their own American Cheese Plate available on menus throughout October, and donate five percent of proceeds from all American Cheese Plate sales to the American Cheese Education Foundation (ACEF). Select restaurants and purveyors include Atwood Café, Blackbird, The Bristol, Dill Pickle Food Co-op, Goose Island Brewery, Hot Chocolate, Lula Café, Nightwood, Northdown Café and Taproom, Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine, Perennial Virant, Publican, The Purple Pig, Sable, Terzo Piano, Vie and Wave among others. All participating restaurants and purveyors—plus other local restaurants that feature American artisan cheeses—are included on Pastoral’s American Cheese Plate Map, available at all Pastoral store locations and online at pastoralartisan.com.
TO SUPPORT THE AMERICAN CHEESE EDUCATION FOUNDATION (ACEF) AT PASTORAL, visit any Pastoral store location throughout October and make a contribution in the donation box displays.
CHECK OUT PASTORAL’S BLOG, CHEESY CHAT WITH PASTORAL, EVERYDAY IN OCTOBER for a daily cheesemaker profile and featured cheese of the day. 31 days, 31 cheesemaker profiles and featured cheeses at Cheesy Chat with Pastoral http://pastoralartisan.com/blog
FOR MORE INFORMATION, visit pastoralartisan.com or call Pastoral at 773-472-4781. A full calendar of local events to celebrate American Cheese Month is also available at all Pastoral store locations beginning Saturday, October 1 (2945 North Broadway; 53 East Lake Street; Chicago French Market, 131 North Clinton Street).
FULL CALENDAR OF AMERICAN CHEESE MONTH SPECIAL EVENTS, FREE TASTINGS, FUNDRAISERS AND EXCLUSIVE OFFERS WITH PASTORAL ARTISAN CHEESE, BREAD & WINE—ALL OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
AMERICAN CHEESE PLATE BENEFIT, sponsored by Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine
Saturday, October 1 – Monday, October 31 (Participating restaurants and purveyors)
To celebrate the first ever national American Cheese Month, Pastoral collaborates with more than 15 of Chicago’s best restaurants and food purveyors to offer special American Cheese Plates featuring artisan cheeses made throughout the U.S. Participating restaurants and purveyors feature their own American Cheese Plate available on menus throughout October, and donate five percent of proceeds from all American Cheese Plate sales to the American Cheese Education Foundation (ACEF). Select restaurants and purveyors include Atwood Café, Blackbird, The Bristol, Dill Pickle Food Co-op, Goose Island Brewery, Hot Chocolate, Lula Café, Nightwood, Northdown Café and Taproom, Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine, Perennial Virant, Publican, The Purple Pig, Sable, Terzo Piano, Vie and Wave among others. All participating restaurants and purveyors—plus other local restaurants that feature American artisan cheeses—are included on Pastoral’s American Cheese Plate Map, available at Pastoral store locations (2945 North Broadway; 53 East Lake Street; Chicago French Market, 131 North Clinton Street) and online at pastoralartisan.com.
WISCONSIN CHEESE WEEK (IN CELEBRATION OF AMERICAN CHEESE MONTH)
Sunday, October 9 – Sunday, October 16
Meet the American Cheesemaker—Dinner with Saxon Creamery’s Jerry Heimerl, sponsored by
The Purple Pig and Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine
Tuesday, October 11, 6:00 p.m. (The Purple Pig, 500 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago)
In celebration of the first ever national American Cheese Month and to support the American Cheese Education Foundation (ACEF), Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine and The Purple Pig host an exclusive Meet the American Cheesemaker—Dinner with Saxon Creamery’s Jerry Heimerl. $80 per person, including a three-course dinner and wine pairings. $5 of each ticket sale will be donated to ACEF. Only 24 seats available. Purchase tickets at Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine, online at pastoralartisan.com or call 773-472-4781.
Great Wisconsin Cheese and the Beverages That Love Them
Sunday, October 16, 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Kendall College, 900 North Branch Street, Chicago)
Celebrate the first ever national American Cheese Month with a Wisconsin artisan cheese and beverage pairing event to benefit the American Cheese Education Foundation (ACEF). Hosted by Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine, the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB) and Marion Street Cheese Market, the festivities include a guided tasting featuring cocktails by Death’s Door Spirits, beers by Goose Island Brewery and Wisconsin artisan cheeses such as the award-winning Pleasant Ridge Reserve (Uplands Cheese Company), Bandaged Cheddar (Bleu Mont Dairy), Casa Bolo Mellage (Carr Valley), Dunbarton Blue (Roelli Cheese Haus) and Tilston Point Blue (Hook’s Cheese Company) among others which are all available for sale throughout October at Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine. $20 per person. For ticket information, contact Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine, pastoralartisan.com or 773-472-4781.
FREE Wisconsin Cheese Week In-Store Demos and Tastings at Pastoral
Wednesday, October 12
FREE tasting / demo with Saxon Creamery (Cleveland, Wisconsin)
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. (Loop, 53 East Lake Street)
Thursday, October 13
FREE tasting / demo with Seymour Dairy (Seymour, Wisconsin)
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. (Chicago French Market, 131 North Clinton Street)
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (Lakeview, 2945 North Broadway)
Friday, October 14
FREE tasting / demo with Hollands Family Cheese (Thorp, Wisconsin)
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (Chicago French Market, 131 North Clinton Street)
FREE TASTINGS AND DEMOS WITH AMERICAN CHEESEMAKERS AT PASTORAL
IN CELEBRATION OF AMERICAN CHEESE MONTH
Friday, October 7
FREE tasting / demo with Jasper Hill Farm (Vermont)
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. (Loop, 53 East Lake Street)
5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (Lakeview, 2945 North Broadway)
Thursday, October 13
FREE tasting / demo with Prairie Fruits Farm (Illinois)
4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. (Loop, 53 East Lake Street)
Friday, October 28
FREE tasting / demo with Zingerman’s Creamery (Michigan)
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (Chicago French Market, 131 North Clinton Street)
Saturday, October 29
FREE tasting / demo with Zingerman’s Creamery (Michigan)
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Lakeview, 2945 North Broadway)
Note: Additional free tasting / demos will be scheduled ongoing throughout October, with American cheesemakers such as Capriole, Green Dirt Farms and Marcoot Jersey Creamery among others. Visit pastoralartisan.com for ongoing updates.
PASTORAL LOCATIONS AND HOURS
Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine – Chicago French Market
131 North Clinton Street
Chicago, Illinois 60661
312-454-2200
Hours:
Monday – Friday 10:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Sunday Closed
Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine – Loop
53 East Lake Street
Chicago, Illinois 60601
312-658-1250
Hours:
Monday – Friday 10:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine – Lakeview
2945 North Broadway
Chicago, Illinois 60657
773-472-4781
Hours:
Monday – Friday 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Shop 24/7, 365 days per year at Pastoral’s online store: pastoralartisan.com
About Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine
Pastoral, a venture of Pastoral Enterprises, LLC, is a European-inspired, authentic neighborhood cheese shop, offering the highest quality fine and artisan cheeses from America and around the world, select small production wines and freshly baked breads along with a full complement of related items such as charcuterie, olives and other accompaniments. Pastoral also offers custom gift collections, gourmet sandwiches and salads, picnics and catering. The company was founded in 2004 in the East Lakeview area of Chicago and was named in 2007 as one of six Outstanding Specialty Food Retailers by the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASFT). For more information or to shop online, visit pastoralartisan.com
About Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB)
The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB) is a nonprofit organization of Wisconsin dairy producers that promotes the consumption of milk, cheese and other dairy products made in America’s Dairyland. For more information, visit wmmb.org
About the American Cheese Society (ACS)
The American Cheese Society (ACS) is the leading organization supporting the understanding, appreciation and promotion of farmstead, artisan and specialty cheeses produced in North America. More than 1,500 members strong, ACS provides advocacy, education, business development and networking opportunities to cheesemakers, retailers, enthusiasts and extended industry. ACS strives to continuously raise the quality and availability of cheese in North America. Since its founding in 1983, ACS proudly hosts North America’s foremost annual educational conference and world-renowned cheese judging and competition. For more information, visit cheesesociety.org
About the American Cheese Education Foundation (ACEF)
The American Cheese Education Foundation (ACEF), the American Cheese Society’s sister organization, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created to educate people about the art and science of artisanal and specialty cheese. ACEF is eligible for foundation and federal grants, and may receive tax-deductible donations from individuals or businesses in support of existing and new educational efforts. ACEF funds cheesemaker scholarships to the ACS Conference and supports other educational activities of ACS that are designed for members of the cheese community. For more information, visit cheesefoundation.org
About American Cheese Month
American Cheese Month is an annual celebration of America’s diverse artisan, farmstead and specialty cheeses—and the farmers, cheesemakers, distributors, retailers, cheesemongers, chefs and educators who bring them to the table. Created by the American Cheese Society, American Cheese Month will be held annually each October, with special events and promotions in cities across the country. The goal of the month-long celebration is to raise awareness of the quality and diversity of American cheeses, as well as to increase support for family farms, traditional cheese production methods and sustainable production models. Revenue from select American Cheese Month events will support the American Cheese Education Foundation (ACEF). For more information, visit americancheesemonth.org
PASTORAL ARTISAN CHEESE, BREAD & WINE
Web site: http://pastoralartisan.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PastoralArtisan
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/pastoralartisan
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/PastoralArtisan
Blog—Cheesy Chat with Pastoral: http://pastoralartisan.com/blog
Source: Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine