Vancouver Cheese and Meat Festival 2018 returns to Yaletown on September 1

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      One of the city’s most popular food events has released some important details, allowing eager foodies to save-the-date on their calendars.

      Vancouver’s Cheese and Meat Festival will be returning to Yaletown’s Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre (181 Roundhouse Mews) on September 1, 2018.

      The third annual cheese and cured meats extravaganza has been extremely well-loved by locals, and its limited amount of tickets are known to sell out very quickly.

      “We definitely have the demand for the tickets to go to a larger venue, but I think the heart of the festival is based on the idea that these are mom-and-pop shops, and that’s what we try and focus on,” Dave Bain, producer of the Cheese and Meat Festival, told the Straight by phone from Victoria. “We looked at expanding and we explored that, but we decided to keep it a little bit smaller and still have that grassroots feel to it, and make it really special for the people that attend.”

      The event will feature tasting sessions and seminars, where festival-goers can sample and learn about different cheese, charcuterie, and accompanying condiments from local and international vendors. Last year’s products included Iberico ham, triple cream brie cheese, plant-based meats and cheeses, grapefruit and smoked salt marmalade, and fresh pickled cucumbers, among many others.

      Two seminars have been confirmed so far: “Salt, Smoke, Cure” (which will revolve around cured products) and “Port and Stinky Cheese” (doesn’t the name say it all?).

      Each ticket-holder will receive a wooden board for food sampling and to hold their glass of wine.
      Cheese and Meat Festival

      Don’t worry about finding a solution to quench your thirst from the mostly salty goods—last year’s event showcased libations including beer, wine, sodas, gin, cocktails, and a Canadian favourite: Caesars.

      New to this year’s festival is a pairing guide created by a panel of selected chefs, grocery store managers, and distribution companies. Attendees will receive a brochure that will help them see which cheeses and wines go well together, or what kinds of meat and beer combo go hand-in-hand.

      “This year we’ll see some international products come into the Vancouver market, which is exciting for us,” said Bain. “Our focus is obviously cheese, charcuterie, and cured meats, so we’ll have a heavy emphasis on that. We’ll also have a balanced approach with the accompaniments, such as jams, pickled items, and breads.”

      The merchant list hasn’t been released, but Bain said they are looking to welcome 55 to 60 vendors this year. “The quality of the vendors keeps going up every year, and I think this year will be the same,” added Bain. “I think the biggest thing about this festival is that you get a whole welcoming community of vendors who are all excited to be there and showcase their products.”

      Tickets for the 2.5 hour tasting sessions ($55 per person, plus taxes and fees) will be available for purchase online on May 1 at 10 a.m., which will guarantee a spot for one of two time slots: 3 p.m. or 7 p.m. Approximately 1200 tickets will be up for grabs—stay tuned for more information on seminar ticket sales.

      The Cheese and Meat Festival also takes place in Victoria and Seattle. For more information, click here

      Follow Tammy Kwan on Twitter @ch0c0tam and Instagram @ch0c0tam.

      Places to go nearby

      Approx. 15 minutes away

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