Schuman Cheese, a cheesemaker and importer based in Fairfield, New Jersey, showcased an array of its most acclaimed cheeses to more than 1,500 cheese lovers at the second annual Cheesefest held May 19 in Montclair, New Jersey.
The event, presented by the Montclair History Center, Montclair Center and Rutgers Cooperative 4-H Program, celebrated all things cheese from how it is made to where it comes from. More than $7,000 was raised to benefit the Montclair History Center.
“The Cheesefest gives us a wonderful opportunity to share a taste of our passion for really great cheese with our local community,” said Lauren Dykes, communications manager for Schuman Cheese. “This area has a rich dairy history, and the event is a fun way to honor that history and introduce different ways consumers can enjoy our favorite dairy food.”
Attendees had the chance to explore five distinct sampling stations featuring Schuman’s popular artisan cheeses. Among the cheeses Schuman Cheese sampled at the event were:
• Cello: the company’s flagship domestic brand featuring an array of traditional Italian cheeses;
• Yellow Door Creamery: Schuman’s own specialty brand that spans fontinas and cheeses inspired by the Alps;
• Zanetti: Italian cheese from Schuman’s oldest import partner (the relationship dating back to the 1940s);
• El Pastor: a selection of unique Spanish cheeses;
• Dodoni: the world’s leading producer of authentic Greek feta.
Additional event highlights included a wheel-cracking demonstration in which an expert wielding special tools uses Old World techniques to break into a giant 90-pound wheel of cheese; a petting zoo featuring dairy-producing animals; demonstrations in the Montclair History Center’s hearth kitchen; and musical entertainment from the Watchung Mountain Riders.
