SONOMA, Calif. – More than 60 renowned local and national food artisans will gather to sample their best wines, craft brews and artisan cheeses Feb. 26 at the highly-respected Winter Artisan Cheese Fair in Sonoma.
Hosted by Sheana Davis, of The Epicurean Connection in Sonoma, Calif., the Winter Artisan Cheese Fair is a premier destination for foodies from around the country. More than 30 cheese companies, as well as 10 chefs, 10 breweries and 10 wineries will all sample artisan foods and spirits. Held at the MacArthur Place in Sonoma from 1 to 4 p.m., tickets are $40 at the door.
New this year, a mac n’ cheese cook-off, sponsored by Organic Valley, will feature 10 chefs dueling for the best dish. Judges Heather Irwin, Press Democrat; Kathleen Hill, Sonoma Index Tribune, and Ziggy the Wine Gal from KRSH will select the winner, with the public having an opportunity to try each dish.
Attendees will also witness the Second Annual Cheese Rolling Contest, where local celebrities compete to roll cheeses down a custom-made “cheese ramp” and vie for prizes. Wisconsin cheesemaker Chris Roelli, maker of Dunbarton Blue and winner of last year’s Cheese Rolling Contest, will kick off the races by challenging fellow Wisconsin cheesemaker Sid Cook, of Carr Valley Cheese, to the first cheese rolling duel.
In addition, at 2:30 p.m., attendees have the opportunity to enjoy a guided cheese tasting with author and San Francisco Chronicle columnist Janet Fletcher, who specializes in spotlighting the trends and profiling the people who make Northern California such an exhilarating place to cook, eat and work.
Winter Artisan Cheese Fair participants include:
• Artisan and Farmstead Cheeses: Bi Rite Market and Creamery, Bleating Heart Cheese, Canyon Market, Cheese Plus, Carr Valley Cheese Company, Laura Chenel Chevre, McClellands Dairy, Nicasio Valley Cheese Company, North Bay Curds and Whey, Oliver’s Market, Organic Valley, Rainbow Grocery Cooperative, Redwood Hill Farm, Roelli Cheese, Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company, Vermont Butter and Cheese Creamery, Weirauch Creamery, Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.
• Craft Brews: Marin Brewing Company, Moonlight Brewing, Moylan’s Brewery, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Rogue Ales, Uncommon Brewers.
• Wines: Chandelle Vineyards, Claypool Cellars, Crush Pad, Dutton Estate Winery, Eric Ross Winery, Hamel Family Wines, Idell Family Vineyards, Leveroni Vineyards, Highway 12 Vineyards and Winery, Kendall Jackson, Winery Sixteen 600, Spann Vineyards, Viansa Winery.
• Mac & Cheese Cook off Chefs: Depot Hotel, Hot Box Grill, Jimtown, Meritage, Kendall Jackson, The Epicurean Connection, The Red Grape, Wild Thyme, Zazu.
• Coffee & Tea: provided by Taylor Maid Farms
Additional artisans are being added each day to the event line-up. In addition, several local non-profit associations plan to attend, including the California Artisan Cheese Guild, League for Historic Preservation and Sonoma Valley Girl Scouts.
For more information about the Winter Artisan Cheese Fair and the Ninth Annual Sonoma Valley Cheese Conference, email sheana@vom.com, call 707- 935-7960 or visit www.theepicureanconnection.com.
The Winter Artisan Cheese Fair and Ninth Annual Sonoma Valley Cheese Conference thanks this year’s sponsors: Bi Rite Market & Creamery, Canyon Market, California Artisan Cheese Guild, Carr Valley Cheese Company, Cheese Market News, Cheese Plus, Cheese Underground, Culture, Delice de la Vallee, Food Matters Again, Laura Chenel Chevre, Oliver’s Market, Organic Valley, Roelli Cheese, Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery, Rogue Ales, The Epicurean Connection, Tony’s Fine Foods, Vermont Butter and Cheese Creamery, Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Wisconsin Cheese Originals and Zingerman’s Family of Businesses.
Sheana Davis—chef, cheesemaker, caterer, culinary educator, and owner of the The Epicurean Connection Shop in Sonoma, California—has been enthusiastically supporting the artisan and farmstead cheese movement for 20 years. Her Ninth Annual Sonoma Valley Cheese Conference, drawing industry leaders from across the United States, is scheduled for Feb 25-29, 2012 in Sonoma, California. www.theepicureanconnection.com
Source: Winter Artisan Cheese Fair