Grand Cheese Tasting at the Artisan Cheese Festival

Originally, I was going to put this review under the Artisan Cheese Festival’s page but I realized what I am about to share with you is not the same as the outdoor cheese festival.
The Grand Cheese Tasting is indoors and boasts many of the finest chefs from local and sustainable restaurants. People are in heels, people are in suits, people get dolled up for this event (Being the bay girl that I am, I was about to walk in with leggings before my partner stopped me).
The event wasn’t too crowded but busy so you want to get there a little early to make sure the vendors do not run out of food or drinks. Plus, festivities are a lot better earlier into the event. I know that the website says it ends at 9PM but by 8:30, vendors were packing up and getting ready to head out.
This cheese tasting is not your average cheese tasting. It isn’t even your average food and wine festival. It is two floors of insane, gastronomic indulgence.
Chefs have prepared modern dishes that appeal to the senses like no other. If you are tempted to stop at one booth and eat until you are full, please do not! There are two floors of crazy goodness! These dishes are vying for your attention, it would destroy them if you did not leave them room in this competition. If you are still hungry after sampling two floors worth of food, fine, go back to that booth and stalk them. Everything is perfectly done, presentation is spotless and best of all, vendors are courteous and interesting.
Last year, Chef Peter at The Lodge at Sonoma and Cowgirl Creamery took home the big win in this competition. The braised short ribs were sweet and tender. A perfect complement to the crème fraîche ice cream cones that did a little melted dance upon my tongue.
That is just one of the vendors. There are chefs putting together truffle sauce gnocchi, melted cheese strudels and creamy apple pies! A whole batch of wineries and breweries are ready to delight you with generous samples of beer and wine.
If you don’t like eating and drinking, this place is not for you. If you are lactose-​intolerant, I apologize for being such an inconsiderate jerk.
I’m used to $ 40 – 60 food and wine festivals so this $ 80 venture was a little bit steep in comparison. But if you ask me the best food and wine (and beer) festival I have ever been to? Well, Grand Cheese Tasting, you take the cheesecake.