ATL By DayGourmet Foods International

Autumn in Atlanta officially kicked off this past weekend with an amazing variety of events throughout the city. From the Fall Fest in Candler Park to the Mimosa Festival at Atlantic Station, residents definitely knew where to have fun.

For the Gnome Queen, I attended the 6^th Annual Cheese Fest Atlanta over in the Historic Fourth Ward Park.

And let me tell you, it was fantastic.

Started in 2012 by Gourmet Foods International, this year’s event provided attendees with: 4 huge Tasting Tents, the Meltdown Competition featuring popular Atlanta chefs “grilling it out” for the coveted People’s and Judges’ Choice Awards, VIP Pairing Sessions, Live Entertainment, and a whole lot of cheese.

A special aspect of this year’s event also included a portion of all proceeds going to the local nonprofit: Giving Kitchen. Giving Kitchen’s mission is to provide emergency financial assistance to restaurant workers and their families while in need through the Giving Kitchen Crisis Grants.

The event kicked off around 5 P.M. with a light bit of rain; however that didn’t stop attendees from munching on over 100 different Vendor’s samples and goodies. While several of these Vendors were either local or from the States’, many also traveled from Europe and South America. With an assortment of cheeses, olives, charcuteries, crackers and more, the Cheese Fest Atlanta came prepared.

The Gnome Queen began her Cheese-Quest at the Tasting Tents which had an amazing variety of cheeses, ranging from Goat’s and Cow’s to Lactose-free options as well.

While I won’t play favorites on which types of cheeses I prefer (because all cheese is delicious), the Gnome Queen definitely enjoyed the variety of “sharp”, tangy, and pepper-based cheeses as well as many of the more goat and soft cheeses. Some of these came from: Vermont Creamery, Cypress Grove, Rio Briati, Parlano, Sartori, and a collection of vendors from Proudly Wisconsin Cheese.

I even got to try some of the Award-Winning Blackberry Farm’s goat cheeses which were without a doubt amazing.

Two notable pimento cheese-makers came locally from food service company: Suga’s and the restaurant: Home grown. Home grown provided their Award-Winning pimento cheeses which included original and jalapeno.

As someone who has an absolute love for mascarpone cheese, BelGioioso did not disappoint either.

I even went back for thirds.

For those who came specifically for the non-cheese items such as olives, crackers, sauces, and charcuterie, Cheese Fest Atlanta had you covered.

Local meat-boutique: Spotted Trotter had a mouth-watering variety of samples to choose from as well as a Pig and Pint Pairing later on.

Busseto, Principe “The Prosciutto Family” and Creminelli also had a succulent collection of meats and crackers to choose from.

Divina, Pickled Pink, and Delallo came ready with plates of olives, veggies, peppers and fruits.

While Rustic Bakery, Venus, Thinster’s, Cello, and ParmCrisps produced the crackers, cookies and breads.

From Chaza Bros. came some savory Hot Sauces;

Goodson with the Pecan Butter;

Pepper Lane provided the Spicy Jellies;

And Lazzaris brought the fig sauce. Lazzaris also supplied a boozy shot of Fourth Ward Distillery Vodka with juiced fig.

I may have taken two or three….

Savannah Bee Co. had a variety of honey and honeycomb samples to taste while Mike’s Hot Honey had an enticing spicy-sweet margarita shot.

By 7 P.M., patrons and even the Gnome Queen began to feel the oncoming food-coma. However, the journey continued to the one and only: Meltdown Competition.

From gourmet grilled cheeses topped with ice-cream to thick mac & cheese, the Gnome Queen made sure to try everything. (Twice.)

Later on that evening, the winners of the 2018 Meltdown Competition were announced: Little Alley Steak won 1^st place for Judge’s Choice and High Road Craft Ice Cream own 1^st in People’s Choice

Congrats to the winners, and to each participant who’s food absolutely held a special place in my cheese-induced coma.

So if you’re kicking yourself for not attending the wonderful 2018 Cheese Fest Atlanta, welp better buy tickets next year.

Do you enjoy munching on various cheeses and meats from around the world? Do you take pleasure in tasting deliciously crafted beer and wines? Do you feel sophisticated when you hear the word “charcuterie”?

Well then, get ready because the Gnome Queen has the event for you!

It’s the 6^th Annual: Cheese Festival Atlanta!

Started in 2012 by Gourmet Foods International, this amazing event brings an assortment of national and international artisan cheese makers’ right here to Atlanta. The event will take place from 5 P.M.-10 P.M. Friday, September 28^th at the Historic Fourth Ward Park.

As of now, General Admission tickets include samplings of over 100 cheese and meat vendors, live music from Rachel Baiman, and access to the one and only: “Meltdown Competition”. The Meltdown Competition features popular Atlanta chefs “grilling it out” for the highly honored People’s Choice and Judges’ Choice Awards.

Patrons can also partake in an education class detailing the history and fermentation process of olives hosted by Divina; a “Pig and Pint” of charcuterie and beer pairings from Spotted Trotter; and finally, the Cheesemaker Unplugged/Uncensored: Meet the Maker. This session will feature cheese maker: Cellars at Jasper Hill who were awarded the 2018 “Best in Show” at the American Cheese Society Conference.

Now, for those of you who want a little bit more cheese-time with a specific drink pairing, then the VIP tickets are just for you. These tickets will include a seat in one of three select VIP-only pairing sessions and a VIP-only item upon festival entry. The pairing sessions comprise of a Beer, Wine or Champagne option and will have a variety of times offered throughout the evening.

For the Gnome Queen, an amazing aspect of this delicious event includes a portion of all proceeds going to the local nonprofit: Giving Kitchen. Giving Kitchen was started in May of 2013 by local community Chef Ryan Hidinger and his wife Jen Hidinger in response to Ryan’s stage-four cancer diagnosis.

Giving Kitchen’s mission is to provide emergency financial assistance to restaurant workers and their families while in need. Through the Giving Kitchen Crisis Grants, over 1100 workers have been served not only in Atlanta, but in 47 counties across the state of Georgia.

So, if none of that sparked your interest in attending the wondrous Cheese Festival, then you are not only cold and heartless, but clearly you don’t appreciate the value of cheese, meats, and alcohol.

To Purchase Tickets: https://www.bigtickets.com/e/gfi/cheese-fest-atlanta

To Make a Donation to Giving Kitchen: https://connect.clickandpledge.com/w/Form/d11bff52-0cd0-44d8-9403-465614e4f342