The ultimate experience for cheese lovers is back with New Zealand’s largest cheese event offering the chance to sample award-winning cheeses and mingle with the experts who produce them. MiNDFOOD CheeseFest will be held in The Langham Auckland’s Great Room on Wednesday March 18 from 5pm – 8.30pm.
The mouth-watering event gives you a unique opportunity to enjoy free samples of New Zealand’s finest cheese from the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards. The popular cheese sale tables are back, and guests will enjoy a complimentary Crossroads wine or Epic beer on arrival.
We have four double passes to MiNDFOOD CheeseFest to give away, valued at $30 a ticket.
To enter, simply email your postal details to trubanowski@intermedianz.co.nz with ‘CheeseFest’ in the subject line. Winners will be notified via mail. Entries close 27 February 2015.
New categories added
The battle to find New Zealand’s best cheese is set to be fierce with over 400 entries, three new cheese companies, a new cheese type, new international judges and the exciting addition of yoghurt and butter categories.
Now in its twelfth year, The New Zealand Champions of Cheese Awards bring the country’s finest specialty cheese under one roof, in the hope of winning one of 23 champion titles. This year is a stand out in award history with the new addition of yoghurt and butter categories, acknowledging the importance of these dairy products alongside cheese in retail chillers.
The future of New Zealand cheese making will also be recognised with the first Primary ITO ‘Aspiring Cheesemaker’ Award. New Zealand’s largest cheese exporters, small artisan cheesemakers, home crafted cheeses and yoghurt and butter producers, will be judged by an expert panel at The Langham in Auckland on Sunday 15th March.
“The stage is set for an incredible competition with new players, new classes and new awards. It’s also exciting to be able to showcase our amazing cheese industry with some of the world’s most influential cheese critics,” organiser of the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards, Tony Goode, said. A strong international judging team will be lead by Russell Smith, one of Australasia’s most experienced international cheese judges and renowned cheese educationalist. Thalassa (Lassa) Skinner, founder and co-owner of a magazine dedicated entirely to cheese – Culture, will join Smith this year from America, bringing a wealth of cheese knowledge on an international scale. “It’s an honour to judge the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards alongside others I hold in high regard,” Skinner said. ”Culture is keeping a close eye on New Zealand’s cheese scene, knowing there’s a burgeoning cheese industry here along with strong specialty food appreciation throughout the country. We’re eager to share this with food lovers globally.”
The 2015 NZ Champions of Cheese Award winners will be announced on Tuesday 17th March.
