The Big Cheese

Description

Fromage, queso, sir, ost. In whatever language, from whatever region of the world, on May 17, Sunset Foods celebrates all things cheese with its third annual Big Cheese event.

Visit either Sunset's Long Grove or Lake Forest locations from 10 AM to 2 PM to sample and purchase gourmet cheeses and accompaniments from around the world. The Big Cheese is not just a tasting event, it's a grand tour of cheese with some of the best artisanal guides in the business.
Guests are invited to take a walking tour and talk with any of the two dozen artisanal cheese makers who will be on hand.

From Spain, the cheeses will include creamy but firm Manchego, and hardened, mix-milk Iberico. Italy's herbed and truffled Sottocenere is sure to be a taste adventure, and BelGioioso's tangy Parmesan is among the best of its variety. "One of the things that make cheese so amazing is that no matter how closely you copy a recipe, you can never completely capture the flavor of the original. There's only one Parmesan, Gruyere or Monterey Jack," says Sunset's Vice-President of Marketing Thaddeus Tazioli. "It's like a fine wine; the grass the cows graze on, the sub-climate, and countless other factors all combine to give each cheese its own unique character". The French, of course, will be well represented with pillowy Cremeux de Borgnogne, the Pyrenees unique Ossau Iraty, made entirely from sheep's milk, and one of the youngest varieties of French cheese, Tomme Crayeuse. Laura Chenel's goat cheese (Chévre), the orange rinded, mild Port Salut, and rich double-créme Fromager D'Affonois round out a stellar selection. Pungent Bleu cheeses from France, Denmark, and the U.S, including Roth Kase's Buttermilk Blue will be available, as will Danish Castello and the flirty flavor of their Burger Bleu slices. Many North American cheese-makers' wares will be offered: Black Diamond, Maytag, Carr Valley and Deer Creek will be among the featured brands. Pairings for all of the marvelous cheeses are as varied as the cheeses themselves.

Volpi Chubs salami and Dalmatia's fig and fig & orange spreads are just some of the accompaniments Sunset Foods will suggest and have on hand for tasting. Learn to speak the language of cheese May 17 from 10 AM to 2 PM at either Sunset Foods' location.