Cheesemonger Invitational Descends on NYC
The Cheesemonger Invitational will hold its annual cheese party-meets-competition in New York City on June 25 at BK Steel, 319 Frost St. For those who love cheese, and the people who bring you the cheese, this event features table after table of the world’s finest cheese from France, Italy, Switzerland, Holland, Spain, Belgium, Sweden, England, Germany, California, Wisconsin, Vermont and New York. Literally tons of cheese. Rarely can anyone sample so many cheeses from so many places at the same time.
But it is not just an all you can eat stuff your face with cheese extravaganza. Thirty-eight cheesemongers representing cheese shops from 30 cities will participate in a private competition that kicks off in the early morning when the cheesemongers run through a decathalon of professional skills:
1. A written test focused on the science of cheese
2. A blind taste test to identify various cheeses
3. An aroma test of both common and unique scents
4. A cutting test to cut a perfect quarter pound of cheese
5. A wrapping test to wrap a perfect quarter pound in cheese paper
6. A wrapping test to wrap a half wheel in plastic wrap
7. A salesmanship test at a mock cheese counter while helping a customer
8. A perfect beverage pairing with cheese
9. A perfect plate where they create a composed cheese plate
10. A perfect bite featuring an amuse bouche of cheese
Doors open at 3 p.m. while the mongers are finishing the preparation of their “Perfect Bite” of cheese, which the guests get to eat. At 5:30 p.m., one of the largest wheels of cheese ever seen is rolled out and ceremoniously cut. At 6 p.m., the finalists compete through the final rounds of the competition, which will include: speed cut, speed wrap, perfect cut, perfect wrap, cheese trivia and answer their least favorite question, “What is your favorite cheese?”
“We are so excited to return to Brooklyn to showcase our country’s best cheesemongers,” says event founder Adam Moskowitz. “Cheesemongers are legendairy. They save the milky way on the daily and deserve to be celebrated. This sounds crazy but when a cheesemonger cuts a perfect quarter pound of cheese on stage the room erupts in cheers as if the national women’s soccer team just scored a game winning goal. Yup, we made cheesemongering a sport.”
Winners will receive a cash prize, a trip to visit cheesemakers in Wisconsin, Vermont or Europe plus much more. In addition to the competition, the competing cheesemongers enjoy multiple days of private guided tasting educational workshops provided by the generous hosts of the event. A full list of this year’s hosts can be found online, including Maker to Monger, Le Gruyere AOP, Neals Yard Dairy, Cellars of Jasper Hill, Vermont Creamery, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin and The California Milk Advisory Board.
Tickets are available at www.cheesemongerinvitational.com.
The event was created by industry veteran Moskowitz to honor and inspire cheesemongers. The mongers are spotlighted in a unique competition that showcases their technical skills, encyclopedic knowledge, and passionate salesmanship. They are given the opportunity to participate in educational workshops led by the best cheesemakers in the world and then we throw one hell of a party to celebrate the finalists, watch them compete on stage, and crown one as the best cheesemonger in the country.
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