A celebration of all things cheese and charcuterie took over a central California region as the California Artisan Cheese Festival took place from March 24–26. At the event, Laura Chenel and Marin French Cheese Co. brought a treasure trove of goodies to show off to attendees, and Marketing Communications Manager Kelley Levin is the one I go to for some exclusive insights.
“We couldn’t have been more excited to participate in this year’s California Artisan Cheese Festival! Our cheeses were featured in a couple of farm tours at Marin French Cheese Co., during the seminars throughout the weekend, and at the festival’s Marketplace on Sunday,” Kelley tells me. “We featured a number of products from each brand, including an exclusive preview of Laura Chenel’s newest Fresh Goat Cheese Log, Mango Habanero, and Marin French Cheese Co.’s award-winning Golden Gate and Triple Crème Brie.”
The new Mango Habanero is Laura Chenel’s newest goat cheese log developed in collaboration with chefs from the Culinary Institute of America’s consulting team, at the CIA at Copia in Napa, California. Consumers looking for a little bit of sweet heat will be delighted to find the cheese mixed with ripe mango and piquant habanero peppers.
Available in 4 oz logs, the new Mango Habanero is the eighth offering in Laura Chenel’s line of flavored logs. Select retailers have already placed advanced orders of the new flavor, which is hitting shelves in April across the Pacific Northwest, Northern, and Southern California. The new offering is also available for purchase at Marin French Cheese creamery and cheese shop on the border of Sonoma and Marin County or on NorthbayCreameries.com starting April 3.
“Our new cheese is great for crumbling on top of salads, folding into a dessert recipe, or elevating a cheese board,” continues Kelley. “The Artisan Cheese Festival is the perfect place to showcase our new flavor and to educate industry and consumer attendees on our delicious cheeses. It’s also an amazing time to connect with the cheesemaker community to taste and experience the products live and discuss the delicious dairy being produced in California.”
Put in collaboration with the California Artisan Cheese Guild, the Cheese Festival is an annual event comprising educational farm tours, seminars, and tasting options from the community and related industry members. The event hit its 17th iteration this year, and the Laura Chenel and Marin French Cheese family is no stranger to this artisanal festival.
“We’re proud to share our involvement in the California Artisan Cheese Guild,” Kelley imparts. “The guild’s mission is dedicated to supporting the cheesemaker and cheesemonger community through education, partnerships, and outreach, and we are always grateful for that opportunity and interaction with our industry partners.”
Keep a tab open for new products and industry events taking place in all things dairy, specialty, and deli.
