Cheese Fest 2009

On the 8th, we enjoyed hosting the continuation of Cheese Fest with Cheese Fest 2009.  A number of years ago, we enjoyed Cheese Fest year after year with one of our good friends from college.  After moving away from college, we didn’t continue the tradition of Cheese Fest until now.  We didn’t have the traditional “Cheese Stick,” but we had a good time.

Cheese Fest is a chance for friends to get together and to enjoy different types of cheeses.  We asked participants to bring some sort of cheese product or snack.  We found out that our local grocery store had a separate section dedicated to fine cheeses.  It was fun to see the different cheeses at the store when we were selecting the cheeses we wanted to bring.

Cheeses (from Wikipedia)

At this year’s Cheese Fest we had a wonderful variety of cheeses brought to the festival:

• Belletoile Brie imported from France
• Gjetost imported from Norway (Ski Queen Brand) great on Wheatables
• Dofino Smoked Gouda Cheese Wheel from Wisconsin
• Sharp  Cheddar  aged 180+ Days from Wisconsin (Kaukauna  Brand)
• Smoky  Cheddar  from Wisconsin  (Kaukauna  Brand)
• Fontina Cheese from Denmark
• Smoked Gouda
• Smoked Cheddar
• Sharp White Cheddar from Vermont
• Cheese Fondue (cream cheese, Parmesan cheese)
• White Frigo String Cheese
• Cheesecake
• Cookies made with a hint of Cottage Cheese

The Gjetost cheese was rather interesting cheese and one that we wanted to go out on a limb and try.  Gjestost is made in Norway and is a brown cheese that is reminiscent of caramel.  We tried it on a couple different crackers and bread and found that it went best with Wheatables.  We were told at the store to cut it in thin slices, and so we wondered if it was really good.  The store owner said it is good cheese but to take it in small slices.

Gjetost Best Served in Thin Slices (fromWikipedia)

We had grapes, grape juice, a berry/sherbet ice cream drink, and plenty of crackers.  One of the most popular cheeses we had there were the two Brie wedges.  And even though it’s said that Americans don’t know real cheese, I still love sharp Wisconsin  Kaukauna Cheddar.  Mmmmm good!

We also had a cheese quiz and cheese books available.  It was fun to look at descriptions of the different tastes that the cheese have.  

When we were selected the cheeses we wanted to bring, we came across a big ball of Mimolette.  It smelled so good and may be my most favorite cheese I’ve never tried.  The cheese was quite expensive, but I can’t wait to try it someday.

Mimolette Rumored to have been used as a cannonball once in battle (picture from Wikipedia)

We had a good time, and can’t wait ’til next year’s cheese fest!