A cheesy affair: Movie and tasting event raises funds for Carolina Mountain Cheese Fest

SAY CHEESE: Katie Moore of the Cheese Store of Asheville is one of the organizers of the Carolina Mountain Cheese Fest. Xpress file photo

Cheese is something many of us take for granted. It commonly shows up in thin slices on underwhelming sandwiches after being removed from its plastic packaging or the bright orange, tasteless shreds that appear on iceberg lettuce salads at corporate steak houses.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Americans ate nearly 33.5 million pounds of cheese in 2012, and sadly, a large portion of that was from massive companies that make something that resembles plastic more than the centuries-old tradition of real cheese. When so much of it comes in convenient packages, it is easy to forget where cheese really comes from, that it is often made by hand and that it is a labor-intensive and detailed process.

Fortunately for Asheville, the WNC Cheese Trail and the Cheese Store of Asheville are willing to be our cheese sherpas and show us the way of this truly delicious and enlightened delicacy. With nearly a dozen locally owned creameries in the area, quality, craft-made cheeses are in abundance in Asheville — something both the Cheese Store and the Cheese Trail are hoping to educate eaters about through the Carolina Mountain Cheese Fest at Highland Brewing Co. on April 26. The family-friendly festival will allow local cheese-makers, mongers and eaters to come together to explore and taste the area’s fare.

As a fundraiser for the festival, the Cheese Store of Asheville will host a movie night at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, at Metro Wines. The event will include a screening of The Cheese Nun. As Katie Moore of the Cheese Store explains, “The Cheese Nun is a documentary chronicling the journey of Sister Noella Marcellino throughout the most remote cheese-making regions of France. Sister Noella is regarded as one of the leading international experts on the art of natural milk cheese-making.”

Partnering with the Asheville School of Wine, the movie night offers wine and cheese pairings, beer, popcorn and the movie screening for a ticket price of $20. The event will provide a rare opportunity to learn about local cheeses and the artisans and farmers who make it. Proceeds from the evening will support the inaugural Carolina Mountain Cheese Fest.

The fundraiser will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, at Metro Wines, 169 Charlotte St. Space is limited to 45 seats. Tickets are available here. Click  here for more details about the event. 

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

About Jonathan Ammons
Native Asheville writer, eater, drinker, bartender and musician. Proprietor of www.dirty-spoon.com Follow me @jonathanammons

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.