Laura's Appearances
& Important Dates in the World of Cheese

May 16, 2008 1:30pm Paso Robles Inn, Paso Robles
What better way to kick off the annual Paso Robles Wine Festival than with a cheese and wine pairing? If you're planning to attend the Festival, come early on Friday and get in the mood for the fabulous Central Coast wines with these special pairings. I'll be featuring American cheeses and pairing them with the wines from Treana, Liberty School, and Austin Hope. All three wineries make excellent wines, each in their own styles, and all true to the terroir of the region. The cheeses, including one from the iconic Cowgirl Creamery, pretty much speak for themselves. In a word, they're delicious.
For info about the pairing, call 805-238-6979 x 217. Cost is $35.00.
For info about the Festival, check out their website: www.pasowine.com/events/winefestival.php

May 22, 2008 1pm Bloomingdale's, Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto
I've been lucky enough to be teamed up with fantastic cookware company All-Clad and the ever popular Bloomingdale's department store to be part of "Cooktech with All-Clad." That means that on this day at this hour, every Bloomingdale's demo kitchen across the country will be featuring my recipe for All American Cheese Strata, which is from my book, Laura Werlin's Cheese Essentials. I'll be demonstrating it myself for Palo Alto attendees. As an added Palo Alto bonus, I'll take everyone through a tasting of the eight styles of cheese as outlined in my book. Understanding those eight styles is the key to understanding every cheese in the cheese aisle and cheese store. Afterward, I'll be staying around to answer your cheese questions and sign books for you and your cheese-loving friends and family.

June 13th - 15th, 2008 Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Aspen, Colorado
I am thrilled to once again be leading the cheese seminars at this crème de la crème of events. This year, I'll be showcasing American Raw Milk cheeses in one seminar and in my seminar with wine guy extraordinaire, Brian Duncan, from Chicago's Bin 36 and A Mano restaurants,
I'll be doing Old World and New World cheese pairs. Brian will feature Old World and New World wines to go along with 'em. This year, the Classic will be 26 years old old, and you can be sure that the folks at American Express publishing who put this extravaganza on have got it down. It's a weekend of lots and lots of wine, great food, and camaraderie, but as much as anything it celebrates Food & Wine Magazine's "Best New Chefs" for 2008. It's a treat to be in the company of these great new chefs who represent the now and the future of American cooking. Even if you can't come this year, reserve your spot for next year. You'll be so happy you did.
www.foodandwine.com/promo/classic/

July 23 - 26, 2008 American Cheese Society Annual Conference, Chicago
When the founder of the American Cheese Society decided to form an association 25 years ago, he and his handful of recruits probably couldn't dream that the membership and interest in American cheese would ever get to where it is now. But with at least 350 cheesemakers and nearly a thousand members today, the American Cheese Society has come a long way. This year's conference is sure to be better than ever as we celebrate the organization's silver anniversary with the theme, Looking Back, Looking Forward. The seminar topics are fascinating, and the cheeses, well, what can I say? They're spectacular - all 1200 of them. If you're trying to plan your summer vacation or you live anywhere within 500 miles of Chicago, get thee to the Windy City for an event you won't forget. Even if you don't want to attend the whole conference, don't miss the grand Festival of Cheese Saturday night. That's where every cheese is laid out for tasting - as much as you want or can eat is yours. Think cheese orgy and you'll only begin to get a sense of what to expect. There will be plenty of wine to wash it down too.
www.cheesesociety.org

View Laura's past appearances.

Laura buys cheese from an Italian shepherd at the bi-annual Slow Food cheese conference held in September, 2005 in Bra, Italy.
Photo by Jeff Roberts.