August « 2010 « Invest In Cheese – Frontenac, Hastings, Lennox and Addington, Prince Edward

All things Water Buffalo

Well, summer time is festival time and the Stirling Water Buffalo Festival was held this past Saturday August 28th.

It was a festive day with not a cloud in the sky and Karin Desveaux-Potters, Andrew Redden and I were ready to meet the cheese loving masses at the Invest in Cheese booth.

Evidently interest in artisanal cheese-making is experiencing a renaissance. We met amateur cheesemakers from Port Perry to Perth interested in making cheese. Some are already doing it in their kitchens; others have purchased farms to do so and want to know how to start up. Great to talk to a business owner who is excited about branching out to make cheese in an old cheese factory in Hastings County.

Good thing we will be launching “How to Startup a Cheesemaking Operation in Eastern Ontario”: a digital A-Z for anyone curious about what it takes to live the dream of making artisanal cheese.

Be sure to contact Invest in Cheese to get on the email list for updates.

Contributed by Galen Newman – Invest in Cheese Team

Tags: artisan cheese, Eastern Ontario, Hastings County, water buffalo

Posted in Cheese, Cheese Events | 2 Comments »

Taste! the Cheese

Taste! A Celebration of Regional Cuisine is coming to Picton on September 25th for the ninth year in a row and Invest in Cheese is going to be there along with regional producers of cheese and Georgs Kolesnikovs of The Great Canadian Cheese Festival.

Grab a glass of local wine and mosey on over to the “Cheese Tent” where you can purchase samples and product from local producers such as Fifth Town, Empire Cheese, Black River Cheese, plus more.

In the works: cheese with beer or cider pairing and a simple cheesemaking demo. Visit the Invest in Cheese booth for a delicious Caprese “taste” with heirloom tomatoes, basil and mozzarella di bufala from the water buffalo up in Stirling.

We will keep you up to date with more details as they become available on this blog and our facebook page and you can always follow us on Twitter @InvestInCheese

What would you cheese lovers like to experience at Taste this year?

Contributed by Galen Newman – Invest in Cheese Team

Tags: 100 mile diet, artisan cheese, cheese event

Posted in Cheese, Cheese Events | No Comments »

The Great Canadian Cheese Festival – Part 2

This is the second and final part of an interview with Georgs Kolesnikovs about the Great Canadian Cheese Festival coming to Picton, Ontario, June 4 and 5, 2011.

Q: Georgs, what is your vision for the festival?

I see it as a showcase event for Canadian cheese and Canadian cheesemakers and a great opportunity for Canadian cheese lovers to meet cheesemakers and other cheese enthusiasts in a unique setting at the Crystal Palace at the Prince Edward County Fairgrounds.

Cheese lovers will be able to taste cheese, talk cheese, learn about cheese and buy cheese from Canada’s leading cheesemakers. And have a great time.

Q: How will this play out?

Saturday will be dedicated to a keynote presentation, a choice of tasting seminars, several cheesemaking demonstrations and guided tours of the cheesemaking operations within an hour’s drive of the Festival. Attendees will be able to pick and chose the program that suits them.

Saturday evening will be a Cheese Gala, a moveable feast featuring tasting dishes prepared by Canadian chefs with Canadian cheese and paired with Canadian wines and beers. Featuring a groaning board of fine cheeses. Followed by sweet delights. With two sittings to eliminate long lines at food stations.

On Sunday, the Cheese Fair and Gourmet Market will take place with a wide variety of artisan and specialty cheeses for sampling and purchase, represented by Canadian cheesemakers from coast to coast. Vendors will include vintners, brewers, purveyors of fine foods, charcuterie and other delectables.

Q: How can folks get involved?

First mark the dates June 4th and 5th on your 2011 calendars. Our website will go live in October with program details, seminar selection and advance registration.

Until then, http://www.cheesefestival.ca redirects to a temporary page at CheeseLover.ca, where cheese enthusiasts can sign up for an email advisory of posts about cheese, the cheese scene, and the Festival.

Cheesemakers and others in the cheese business can obtain information about participation by contacting me via telephone 905.837.0102 or festival@cheeselover.ca

Or follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/CheeseLoverG