A summer day on the shores of Lake Champlain, filled with cheese tasting and culinary demonstrations. Sounds like a food lovers’ dream, right? This cheesy dream comes true each year at the Vermont Cheesemakers Festival, which will be held on Sunday, July 20th this year. With the highest number of cheesemakers per capita, it’s only fitting that this state host a daylong festival dedicated to the local artisanal scene.
The event is held at Coach Barn on Shelburne Farms in Shelburne, VT. This scenic nonprofit estate maintains a working farm and inn, in addition to hosting a variety of events throughout the year. Workshops during the day include events like “European vs. Vermont,” in which festival-goers can, “Investigate side by side comparisons of classic European regional cheeses with their upstart Vermont cousins.”
If the promise of cheese is not enough, Chef Sarah Langan of South End Kitchen at Lake Champlain Chocolates will be demonstrating how to cook with chocolate and cheese, while Brewmaster Will Gilson and Chef Steve Sicinski of Crop Bistro & Brewery in Stowe, VT will create seasonal beer and cheese dishes.
This event sells out every year, so it’s best to purchase the $50 ticket sooner rather than later, especially since it has been named as one of the best food festivals for this summer by Lonely Planet — you can get yours here! (And do stop by and say hello to the gals from culture — we’ll be there!) If you can’t make it, the Vermont Cheese Trail is a great way to experience the cheesemaking culture of the state. For more pairing ideas for cheese and chocolate or beer and cheese, grab a copy of Cheese+, our special pairings issue!
Photo Credit: Image courtesy of Vermont Cheesemakers Festival via LonelyPlanet
Molly Farrar
Molly is a web editorial intern who hails from Virginia, also known as the place with some of best ham in the world, in her humble opinion. She has yet to meet a cheese she does not like. Other interests include drinking craft beer and running, sometimes at the same time.
