What: The 4th Annual Carolina Mountain Cheese Fest, to benefit the WNC Cheese Trail.

Why: The Carolina Mountain Cheese Fest advances the mission of the WNC Cheese Trail, a non-profit organization that promotes the production and sale of local cheese, facilitates consumer education and encourages tourism to the region.

Where: Highland Brewing Company in Asheville, NC

When: Sunday, April 29 from 12 P.M. to 5 P.M. with purchase of an early entrance, "The Big Cheese" ticket  ($25) or 1 P.M. to 5 P.M. with purchase of General Admission ticket ($14)

Tickets: https://wnccheesetrail.ticketspice.com/carolina-mountain-cheese-fest

A celebration of all things cheese returns to the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina on Sunday, April 29, 2018. Highland Brewing Company of Asheville, NC, will once again host the Carolina Mountain Cheese Fest for a day of family-friendly, cheese-filled fun!

From pop-up tastings and pairings, to hands-on activities and guest speakers, Cheese Fest has something for everyone!

The Carolina Mountain Cheese Fest advances the mission of the WNC Cheese Trail, a non-profit organization that promotes the production and sale of local cheese, facilitates consumer education and encourages agritourism to the region.

There will be events scheduled throughout the grounds such as:

• Local chef cook-offs with a "celebrity" judge panel
• Kids Corral with family-friendly activities
• Petting zoo
• Cheesemaking demonstrations
• Cheese pairings and tastings
• Yogurt-making demonstration *New to 2018*

​“The Big Cheese" early entry ticket ($25) and General Admission Ticket ($14) covers all activities including cheesemakers and other vendors, family activities, workshops and demonstrations but there will be additional ticketed events due to limited seating availability. "The Big Cheese' ticket also grants on-site parking for the festival.

​Farmstead Fondue with English Dairy Cheese and XYZ Spirits | Marion, NC
Sunday, February 11 | 3 PM – 5 PM | $30
 
Join the English Farmstead Cheese and XYZ Spirits crews for a Valentine's Day themed fondue cheese and spirit pairing. Three savory specially crafted fondues will be paired with select wines, ciders, and beers from XYZ Spirits. After dinner, enjoy a tour (weather permitting) to see the heart of the English Farmstead Cheese operation including the cheese room, cave, and dairy. Following dinner, try three additional sweet cheeses, chocolate and caramel pairings with select wines, ciders, and beers. Event is 21+.  No pets are permitted.  Appropriate footwear and outerwear is suggested.

What: Asheville City Market - Winter
When: 9 AM - 12 PM every Saturday
Where: Asheville Masonic Temple in downtown Asheville

The Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project's (ASAP) tailgate market, Asheville City Market, heads indoors for the winter to the Asheville Masonic Temple in downtown Asheville. 

Nightbell is an American small-plate restaurant  with a craft cocktail bar and a focus on local Appalachian ingredients located in downtown Asheville.

Nightbell sources food and cocktail ingredients from small, local farms whenever possible. While menu items may come and go, the regional cheese plate  is a year-round mainstay that rotates between WNC cheeses and accompaniments seasonally.

​Nightbell's regional cheese plate is shown below with the Chocolate Lab from Looking Glass Creamery (right) and Spinning Spider's Stackhouse (left) as well as rye-herb crackers, and sorghum pecan brittle.

Oh the challenges of storing your cherished cheese! There are many conflicting reports on the best way to preserve cheese, however one piece of invaluable advice reigns above all: cheese needs to breath and needs to be protected from drying out.

If you can keep this in mind when storing your cheese, you'll do ok no matter what method of storage you choose.

So what are your options?

What: The North Asheville Tailgate Market
When: Saturdays 8 AM - 12 PM
Where: UNC Asheville (UNCA) Campus Commuter Parking lot P28 Enter UNCA from WT Weaver Blvd. traffic circle. Market is first lot on the right. Follow signs for additional parking.

​Western North Carolina is a hot spot for wonderful produce, farm raised meats, local cheese, and artisan products.

By: Katie Moore

What better way to celebrate the holidays than with a cheese board?

I am often reminded about a holiday gathering from years ago when I carefully crafted and then transported a fantastic cheese board full of local and international cheeses. It really was a lovely board, everyone was impressed, and it looked exquisite on the table surrounded by autumn fruits and vegetables.