It's American Cheese Month, So Stuff Your Face

By Anthony Todd in Food on Oct 22, 2012 2:00PM

When we say American Cheese, we don't mean Velveeta or those creepy plastic orange slices; we mean the great artisanal, local cheeses that are increasingly being created right here in our great nation. Good cheese is a pretty great reason to be patriotic, especially if election season has got you down. Here are a few events coming up this week to celebrate this most delicious of holidays.

As you might expect, Pastoral is going all out for this holiday. They've got free tastings on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. On Thursdays at their French Market location, try free samples of Consider Bardwell Farms cheese from Vermont from 4:30-6:30 p.m. On Friday at their Loop location, Uplands Cheese Company from Wisconsin will be serving samples from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Consider Bardwell Farms will be back on Saturday in the loop at 11:30 a.m. and in Lakeview at 5 p.m.

Tomorrow, October 23, Due Lire
in Lincoln Square will be hosting a cheese dinner entitled "Vino e Formaggi: A Journey from Italy to Wisconsin." Provenance will be providing the pairings for this four-course meal, starting at 7 p.m. Dinner is only $35, and wine pairings are an additional $25. Call 773-275-7878 for reservations and more information. Provenance will be selling cheese at Due Lire from 5-7, so come early.

Everyone knows that wine and cheese go well together, but what about booze and cheese? Provenance is hosting an American whiskey and cheese pairing class on Wednesday at The Grafton. The fun starts at 7:00 and includes 3 bourbons, 2 ryes and five cheeses. The whole thing only costs $20, and since a taste of the Whistle Pig Rye they are pairing with Vermont Cheddar would normally cost about $10, it's a great deal.